Rising Costs Mean More Technology-Based Service

Many small business owners are still anxiously watching the nation’s economy to see how 2012 will shape up to be different than the last 5 years and if job loss will slow across all sectors – particularly within the restaurant industry.  Rising fuel prices are still a growing concern across all sectors that involve transportation of goods, and especially within the restaurant industry, which relies heavily on shipped products from both national and international sources.  

In an effort to cut costs and reduce spending to make up for rising fuel prices and cautious consumer spending, restaurants are seeking ways to maintain the excellent levels of customer service their customers expect with fewer staff members.  Many are finding that the best way to do this is by using technology that can streamline business operations and be an interface between the customer and the staff members, or a marketing tool.  For business operations, an example might be a client database for consistent customer contact to maintain loyalty and advertise daily specials, coupons, or events.  Other examples might be online table reservations or smartphone aps that assist in scheduling.  

Due to this growing demand for technological innovation, technology is fast becoming part of a successful restaurant’s business structure, particularly for maintaining communication with customers.  With recent trends in social networking and smartphones, restaurant owners are meeting the needs of customers with daily specials via text message and smartphone aps with menu and online ordering for home delivery.  

The National Restaurant Association’s 2012 Restaurant Industry Forecast showed consumers are interested in the services that could be provided within the restaurant, such as ordering at the table via electronic menus or using in-store kiosks. The Forecast also stated that there is significant consumer interest in ordering online, ordering via smartphone aps, and looking at online menus.