Electing the best online ordering technology for your business
As the seasons change, so do we. The cooler fall weather marks the beginning of many new changes for 2020 - DIY pumpkin spice lattes, holiday-themed face masks, and did you hear it’s an election year? There are a lot of important decisions being made to accommodate the whirlwind of change that has been 2020, and for businesses in the food service industry, these decisions are particularly important.
In the early summer months, food service businesses were able to adapt to the challenges of COVID-19 by increasing their safety precautions and hosting guests in socially-distanced outdoor dining environments. This modified dining experience has been successful for the most part, but as the weather gets colder, outdoor dining increasingly becomes an unsustainable option. Even for businesses that have the space for safe indoor dining, the revenue lost by having to throttle dine-in guest capacity presents a significant challenge.
But just because guests aren’t able to dine-in with your business as easily doesn’t mean they don’t want to eat your food. That’s why having an all-encompassing online ordering system is the perfect solution to maintaining and growing your business’ revenue this fall.
There are a lot of online ordering solutions to choose from though, and just like an election, the decisions you make in the software partner you choose can have make-or-break ramifications on the future of your business. It’s important to elect for an online ordering software that’s tailored to your business, provides solutions for all the forms of dining your business provides, and is easy for both your guests and staff to use.
Online Ordering that’s Tailored to Your Business
A tailored online ordering system is one that’s completely unique to your business. These online ordering systems typically allow you to create branded online menus and feature imagery of your food on those menus.
Online menus featuring your business’ branding are an effective way to convey a sense of professionalism and build trust with prospective customers. Your online menu is essentially your digital first impression, and branded menus can go a long way in making that first impression a good one. Especially for customers that have dined-in with your business before, the familiarity of your brand’s logo, colors, and messaging is an instant indicator that your website and online ordering platform is legit.
In addition to menu branding, featuring images of the foods you offer directly on your online menu is a great way to drive sales. There’s tons of research out there supporting the idea that people make ordering decisions with their eyes, so using a visual online menu with mouth-watering images is a surefire way to entice people into placing orders with your business.
Ordering Solutions for All of Your Business Needs
Most businesses in the food service industry offer a variety of ordering options to their customers, so it makes sense that the best kind of ordering software you can choose is one that encompasses everything your business offers. Whether it’s online ordering, on-premise ordering, catering, curbside pickup, or delivery - there’s ordering software out there that’ll cover all your bases.
Lately, one of the more popular types of ordering software is on-premise ordering technology. On-premise ordering allows for dine-in customers to browse menus, place orders, and pay for meals all through their mobile devices. This technology is great for ensuring the health and safety of both your guests and staff, and it’s also a great way to attract customers who might prefer a contactless dine-in experience.
Whatever combination of services your business offers, it’s generally a good idea to limit the number of partners you use for different forms of online ordering. Ideally, using one partner for all of your online ordering needs is the best way to maintain a coherent business strategy across the board.
Live 24/7 Customer Support for the unexpected
It’s a harsh reality that during the order process, there are many things that could go wrong. Be sure to elect online ordering software that offers 24/7, live, customer support. Ensuring that you ordering software comes equipped with support helps to bridge the gap between your business and any possible operational issues, while simultaneously managing potential threats to your brand and reputation.
Providing exceptional customer support is integral to your online ordering concept to be proactive about the possibility of food arriving late, cold, or accidentally packed incorrectly. Working with a company that offers live customer support creates a safety net for when accidents inevitably happen.
Having a customer support team also helps you to manage the unexpected things that are out of your control, such as a delivery driver never picking up the order, or a driver getting lost. Working with a live customer support team means you’re always covered to focus on the most important aspects of your business.
Easy Online Ordering for Guests and Staff
Regardless of all the features that an online ordering software might provide, what’s most important at the end of the day is that your online ordering platform is easy for both your guests and staff to use.
A feature to look out for on the customer-facing end of your ordering platform is the ability to modify orders. In the same way that customers could request changes to their orders while dining-in, online menus that allow for item modifications account for all of your customers’ potential needs. Enabling item modifications on your online menu ensures that you’ll never miss out on an order because of allergies, dietary restrictions, or customer preferences.
Another customer-friendly feature to look out for is the ability to to allow guests to create an account with from your menu and website. Allowing guests to create an account makes it easy for guests to keep track of their order history, earn loyalty rewards, and place repeat orders with your business.
For your staff, you’ll want to find an online ordering software that seamlessly integrates with the tech infrastructure your business already uses. Most businesses use a mix of POS, delivery, loyalty, and payment services, so it’s smart to choose an online ordering software that works with those technologies and not against them.
Key Takeaways
With the changes that COVID-19 has brought upon the food service industry, it’s important to elect a robust online ordering system to continue to grow your business into the fall and winter months.
An online ordering software that’s tailored to your business’ branding and allows for menu imagery is a great way to build trust and boost sales with your customers.
It’s important to choose an online ordering solution that covers all of the services your business offers to ensure that you never miss out on a potential customer.
Finding online ordering technology that offers live 24/7 customer support for anything that could possibly go wrong.
Choosing an online ordering software that’s easy for both your guests and staff to use is the best way to ensure that your new technology is used effectively and successfully.
It’s Time to Cast Your Ballot
Finding the online ordering system that’s right for your business can be a long and challenging process. With so many different factors to take into consideration, and the potential long-standing consequences your business faces, it’s important to be as informed as possible when making your final decision.
Most online ordering software providers offer some combination of the features and services mentioned in this article, but it’s rare to find a software partner that offers an all-encompassing solution for every form of ordering your business offers. The only software provider that has you covered for everything your business needs, is Zuppler.
Elect Zuppler for your online and on premise ordering needs. Click the button below to speak to a member of the team!