Self-ordering kiosk technology is emerging as one of the most popular trends in restaurant operations.
Top QSRs such as – McDonald’s, Chipotle, Shake Shack, KFC, and most recently BurgerFi, are turning to self-service kiosks for various reasons.
Restaurant automation is becoming a norm, from self-ordering kiosks to digital menu display boards, and integrated point of sales systems.
Self-ordering kiosks at restaurants give control back to the customer
According to Tillster’s 2019 Self-Service Kiosk Index customer usage of kiosks rose in restaurants between 2018 and 2019.
Furthermore, it showed approximately a third of customers prefer to use kiosks when line lengths between kiosks and cash registers are equal, and more than half would opt to use a kiosk if its line is shorter.
They also determined the growing appeal of kiosks seemed to occur across all age groups. Customers recognize the time-saving benefits of restaurant kiosks, and you should, too!
And that was 2019, before 2020 forced contactless ordering became the norm. Coming out of that time means customers are even more used to kiosks.
There are many reasons why customers prefer to order using a kiosk. It provides a safe and convenience contactless method to place an order without feeling pressured.
Why more and more restaurants are investing in self-ordering kiosk software
There are several benefits to self-service restaurant kiosks, whether you’re an owner or an investor. Here are just a few of those positives.
1. Restaurant Automation Systems Increase Efficiency
When self-service kiosks, payment capabilities, kitchen display systems, menu display software, and other communication points are fully integrated via restaurant automation, efficiency increases.
A customer orders via a mobile POS system or restaurant kiosk and pays there. Then, the order is sent to the kitchen display system, and the food is prepared. Finally, their order is put in a food locker or another easy-to-grab place.
As the customer places and verifies their order, conflicts are fewer, and lines are shorter.
2. Employee safety
Face-to-face interactions can result in germs passing between patrons and employees. If an employee gets sick, one of two things happens:
- They call in sick, and management and other workers scramble to cover them. This could result in overtime pay for others.
- They come into work sick. This is a choice nearly every food worker has made. Unfortunately, this can result in many sick staff members and, potentially, illness spreading to customers.
Using a self-service kiosk to lower the risk of employee illness can save a lot in lost time, revenue, and (perhaps) lawsuits over spreading illnesses or dings from the health department.
3. Costs Go Down, and Revenue Goes Up
Lower operation costs and higher revenue are two of the biggest benefits of investing in restaurant kiosks.
While AI systems do have upfront costs, they should pay for themselves over time.
Costs are lower because fewer employees are needed. Requiring fewer employees also means you’re better prepared for labor shortages.
Plus, these automated setups can shorten work hours, even if restaurant hours remain the same, as they can help count out tills at the end of the day.
Revenue may also increase because restaurant kiosks increase tickets by a significant margin via upsells, shorten lines so more customers can get through in a day, and lower inventory loss because customers personally review their orders.
Key Features for Restaurant Kiosks
No matter what type of restaurant you want to invest in or open, you should ensure it has the best possible kiosks. To ensure this, you should look for specific features. Here are some essential things a restaurant kiosk can include.
1. Cloud-Based POS Software
A crucial aspect of successful restaurant kiosk software is the use of cloud POS.
Unlike previous POS systems, which often involved face-to-face contact, manual inventory, and customer data gathering, newer systems do all of this automatically. Furthermore, since the information is saved to the cloud, you know it’s safe in case of a power outage.
GRUBBRR’s POS systems are cloud-based and highly efficient, though our kiosks can also integrate with your current POS if you want to keep it—a win for you either way!
2. Upselling Capabilities
Restaurant kiosks providing automated upselling can give your sales a nudge in the right direction. Through conversational AI and personalization settings, you may find your average tickets jump by a significant amount through upsells alone!
3. Ability to Integrate
Restaurant kiosk software should be able to integrate with a variety of other restaurant technologies, including your current POS system or a new one, cash recyclers, kitchen displays, and anything else that may come your way.
GRUBBRR integrates with a ton of partners, so our kiosks have you more than covered.
4. Instant Menu Updates
Few things make customers more annoyed than when they place an order, wait, then find out part of their order is out of stock. The moment an item or ingredient is gone, you can update your restaurant kiosk—and, with GRUBBRR, your menu board—to reflect this. This should keep customers happy and reduce employees’ need to handle dissatisfaction.
5. ADA Compliance
Complying with the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) is both a legal and ethical thing to do. While your employees likely already know how to work with customers with disabilities, your restaurant kiosks can, too.
GRUBBRR strives to be as inclusive as possible, so our restaurant kiosk software and hardware offer feature like a mouse or trackpad and headphone jack.
Experience the Benefits of Restaurant Kiosks for Yourself
Forbes’ Alicia Kelso describes what has happened in the self-ordering kiosk space as a “swift swing of the pendulum.” This is the exact kind of trend investors should be on the lookout for – emerging technologies on the up and up.
This isn’t restricted to those in the restaurant field, though. Nearly any industry can benefit from the use of self-service kiosk software.
Whether you’re opening, expanding, or investing in a restaurant, check out what restaurant AI products GRUBBRR has to offer. Schedule a demo today.
FAQs
What impact will kiosks have on ordering in restaurants?
Self-service technology makes shopping efficient in many ways. It allows customers to make contactless and faster transactions. They can avoid long lines and browse the online catalog for product information.
Why don’t restaurants use kiosk to order food?
Customer preference for using self-service kiosks is different for different age groups. Millennials are more likely to use self-service checkouts compared to boomers. Therefore if a restaurant traditionally has more boomers clientele, kiosks may not be an ideal option.
How many restaurants use kiosks for ordering?
The number of restaurants using kiosk technology is rapidly growing. From major QSRs to local restaurants, businesses are considering the kiosk technology for its many benefits.
