Why Can Self-Service Kiosks Benefit Your Restaurant

Because new technology is continuously entering the restaurant sector, in-house operations can alter rapidly and radically. The introduction of self-ordering kiosks into the restaurant scene resulted in a significant shift in how customers order and pay for their food.

Self-service kiosks can be a terrific way to alter your restaurant’s ordering process — but if you’re new to the concept, you may want more information to help you choose the right model for your establishment. This is where we step in.

We’ve put together a handy guide to best self ordering kiosk system to address all of your questions and provide you with a thorough grasp of this type of restaurant equipment.

What Are Self-Ordering Kiosks?

Self-ordering kiosks, also known as self-service kiosks, are restaurant equipment that allow customers to place and pay for their orders without the assistance of a staff member. They might be big, freestanding touchscreen devices or smaller, software-loaded tablets or iPads.

Customers use the kiosk to peruse menu items and add them to their virtual cart. They then pay for their order at the kiosk, which is linked to the restaurant’s point-of-sale (POS) system. Many kiosks accept credit cards as well as contactless payments.

The device will notify the chefs or back-of-house (BOH) personnel of what has to be cooked by sending a notification to the kitchen display screen (KDS). The meal is prepared by the chefs, and it is served to the diner by a server. Some kiosk solutions have additional functionality that allows customers to receive notifications on their phones when their meal is ready to be picked up from the counter.

Where Can Self-Ordering Kiosks Be Used?

Many fast-food restaurants have self-service ordering kiosks. You’ve probably seen them at McDonald’s and Taco Bell. They can, however, be used effectively in small or independent restaurants, as well as coffee shops and cafes.

Restaurant kiosk software can be employed in a variety of settings. You could benefit from using a self-ordering system if you own a quick-service restaurant (QSR), a fast-casual restaurant, or another sort of counter-service restaurant.

What Are the Benefits of Self-Ordering Kiosks?

Kiosk solutions in restaurants have various advantages. Most restaurateurs contemplating this type of technology want to improve their clients’ overall eating experience, and kiosks are an excellent method to accomplish it.

Waiting Times Have Been Reduced

One of the primary advantages of self-service kiosks is that you can cut customer wait times.

Assume your restaurant frequently has large lines during the noon rush. Customers that need to eat quickly may be turned off and go elsewhere. Your team will be able to handle more orders in less time by bringing in a handful of self-ordering kiosks, lowering wait times and increasing the customer experience.

Streamlined Ordering System

Setting up an efficient ordering system is critical for providing a smooth service. Self-service kiosk machine integrate with your POS system to streamline the ordering process.

The process is automated, rather than a waiter receiving orders by hand, transporting them to the BOH team, and manually adding them to a table’s check. The customer places and pays for their order at the kiosk, and it is immediately transmitted to the KDS. Orders are received in real time in the kitchen, and servers are not required to print checks.

Fewer Incorrect Orders

Another advantage of self-ordering kiosks is that they lower the number of incorrect orders submitted to the kitchen.

Because clients place their own orders, the possibility of misinterpretation is virtually removed. Customer orders are routed directly from the customer to the KDS, eliminating the possibility of a server mishearing or misinterpreting what the client wants.

You will not be able to completely eliminate errors. Because some clients may be unfamiliar with kiosk technology, there are going to be a few errors. However, by dramatically reducing the number of wrong orders processed, you may save money and prevent food waste. Better order accuracy translates to higher customer satisfaction. It’s a win-win situation!

Opportunities to Sell More

Kiosk software can also help you boost sales and enhance your bottom line. Some self-service kiosks can recommend add-ons to customers as they place their orders. If a consumer orders a burger, for example, you can program the kiosk software to inquire if they want fries or a drink with it.

Furthermore, research reveals that when using a self-service device, customers purchase more food since they feel less embarrassed about putting a large order. This might raise your sales and profit margins.

Labor Cost Savings

Installing a self-service checkout system in your restaurant can also help you save money on labor.

Without self-ordering technology, you’ll have to book more serving employees during peak moments to guarantee you have enough hands-on deck to handle all of your customers’ orders. However, with a self-ordering kiosk or two, you can maintain your typical personnel on the books while still getting everyone’s order to the kitchen swiftly.

Restaurant Reporting Made Easier

A good kiosk software integrates with your POS system to deliver real-time sales data updates. Every time a consumer puts an order, the software updates your sales information.

Linkitsoft, for example, integrates with Square’s restaurant POS to provide company owners with real-time sales data. It offers a live analytics dashboard that displays all of your sales over a set time period. You can filter the dashboard to see your overall sales or just the sales from each kiosk.

This feature allows you to easily track your sales and have a better knowledge of your restaurant’s monthly performance. It is very simple to export your sales data to a spreadsheet or other monitoring software.

How Much Are Self-Service Kiosks?

The cost of a kiosk varies depending on the functionality required and the type of hardware selected.

Large standalone devices are typically expensive. You’ll need to buy the necessary hardware as well as the software. The equipment alone can cost up to $4,000.

Large firms may find it worthwhile to spend because they will be able to process considerably more orders, meaning the advantages may outweigh the costs. Smaller enterprises and independent eateries, on the other hand, are unlikely to be able to justify such a large expenditure.

The good news is that there is a much less expensive option to install self-service equipment in your restaurant.

Get a Self-Ordering Kiosk for Your Restaurant

Self-ordering kiosks are an excellent method to improve your restaurant’s ordering experience. They can help you reduce erroneous orders and customer wait times, among other things.