Transforming the Dining Experience with Restaurant Automation Systems

A 2021 Lightspeed survey concluded that about 50% of hospitality operators in the United States and 51% in Canada indicated that they had plans to integrate various types of automation technology into their business.

Being in the hospitality business, particularly at bars and restaurants, can be quite challenging.

This paradigm shift in the ERP restaurant hospitality industry is due to the automation of restaurant task management, where efficiency and creativity are becoming the standard. Business proprietors have to comprehend the opportunities of this technological shift to keep up in the market.

Customers keep on coming and going, so when you are cooking, serving, and clearing up, there is never a dull moment. Therefore, in order to alleviate part of that pressure, more restaurants are realizing the value of implementing a system of restaurant automation.

What is a Restaurant Automation System?

New technologies and restaurant automation software are capable of automating and making efficient most of the daily responsibilities, activities, and procedures of a restaurant. Elimination of routine, repetitive processes is an effective method of enhancing the efficiency, correctness, and productivity of a restaurant operation through automation.

Examples of aspects that these technologies have the potential to enhance in the hospitality industry include:

• Online Ordering and Delivery Platforms
• Kitchen Display Systems
• Inventory and Supply Chain Management
• Point of Sale (POS) Systems
• Reservation and Waitlist Systems
• Contactless Payment Solutions
• Data Analytics
• Customer Relationship Management (CRM)
• Loyalty Programs
• Tabletop Tablets
• Employee Scheduling and Management
• Digital Menus

What is Automation in the Restaurant Industry?

In the period between 2019 and 2027, the future CAGR of the global food tech market is forecasted to be 6.0%. 

According to recent projections may even reach $342.52B by the year 2027. And by 2026, the worldwide market for food automation will have expanded at a CAGR of 7%, reaching $28 billion.

Automating a restaurant means implementing a number of systems and devices that are technological in nature in order to maximize efficiency and simplify operations. Your restaurant management may become significantly more efficient when you apply technologies, such as kitchen display systems (KDS) or point-of-sale (POS) systems.

Automated reservation and inventory management, in addition to the ordering system, help facilitate the process of an order and payment process both in the kitchen and in the front of the house. Restaurants can also have advanced techniques of automation that include self-service ordering kiosks, robots serving and cooking meals.

What are the Best Tools for Restaurant Automation?

Due to the development of automation technology, a variety of restaurant automation tools that can support various aspects of the work of the business have now become available to the restaurant industry.

For automating your restaurant, here are some popular tools:

1. Online Ordering System

Customers are able to make orders via a mobile application or web-based ordering to place orders to be delivered or picked up. Such systems automate work on orders and reduce human involvement by being integrated with the POS system in the restaurant.

A direct online ordering system makes the handling of restaurants very simple because the human factor is removed, together with related errors when taking orders by hand. There are also the details of contact and purchase history of customers being traced through direct ordering systems of the internet.

2. Point of Sale (POS) Systems

A point-of-sale system is one of the most widely known restaurant automation tools of restaurants.

The increasing popularity of restaurant point-of-sale systems is seen despite the continued usage of manual payment processing in many restaurants. Point-of-sales systems are required to automate order administration, payment processing, and the sales reports generation process. 

A self-service point-of-sale system will greatly enhance order processing, menu customization, inventory controls, and the generation of sales reports.

Here’s how you can give your staff POS system training.

3. Self-Ordering Kiosks

The use of self-service technology is not something new in the hospitality sector. However, the use of such a type of automation is quite frequently adopted in fast-casual and quick-service restaurants.

The interactive menu will also allow the customers to place their orders in self-service kiosks without the involvement of human beings, and thus, the restaurant will run lean in its human workforce.

The presence of these kiosks is especially useful in fast-food restaurants or quick-service restaurants as they increase the accuracy of ordering and make the ordering process a lot simpler.

4. Kitchen Display System (KDS)

With the introduction of Kitchen Display System (KDS) software, restaurants, and other food services will have an opportunity to streamline their kitchen operations and put them on a track that is easy to manage. Extending the use of digital screens has meant that staff in the kitchen have a chance to track down and manage incoming orders in real time since the introduction of digital screens as an alternative to paper order tickets.

This automated feature of a restaurant can significantly accelerate the order, minimize errors, not require human data entry, and enhance interaction among front-of-house staff and those in the kitchen. As an example, it is possible to pre-schedule the meals of the kitchen crew due to pop-up messages that appear on the screen whenever the orders for the food are arranged.

5. Automated Feedback System

A prominent technology for restaurant automation systems is an automated feedback system, which is software that collects, manages, and analyzes client comments. Insights gained from collecting client input are useful for apps that enhance restaurant operations and the overall dining experience.

In one convenient location, customers can review their experiences and leave comments on their orders. Customers are more inclined to visit your restaurant if they had a good experience there. Asking customers for reviews is an easy way to increase review volume. 

6. Inventory Management Software

The purpose of inventory management systems is to assist restaurants in keeping better tabs on their stock and making the most of their restaurant automation tools. These systems often include an extensive number of features that help with inventory management, accuracy of stock levels, reduction of food waste, and streamlining of procedures.

For optimal inventory management, automated restaurant back-of-house software like Xenia can monitor and regulate ingredient stock levels, automate reordering processes, and provide reports. This eliminates the need for human intervention in inventory monitoring while also improving accuracy.

7. Table Reservation Handling

Online systems enable customers to book their places in restaurants as well as reserve other facilities without necessarily having to call the premises to make the reservation. It enhances the dining experience by making the process of table reservation easier for the consumers and employees of the restaurant, thereby enabling better management of the tables.

To add value, the technologies make it easier to manage bookings and tables, so the guests are facilitated to have a smooth time in the restaurants, the tables have higher density, the waiting list is reduced, and customer satisfaction is improved. The reservation also gives the restaurant workers plenty of notice to have everything ready before the customers come.

8. Automated Employee Scheduling

A restaurant opening checklist would be incomplete without a subsection on staff scheduling. Fortunately, computerized alternatives have emerged to replace paper calendars and other traditional methods of managing restaurant worker schedules. 

Easy management of shift changes, availability monitoring, and staff schedule creation are all benefits of this simplified and practical method. Not only that, a robust platform like Xenia streamlines restaurant scheduling and cuts down on arguments and errors.

9. Customer Data Management

Customer relationship management (CRM) software enables companies to monitor the preferences of their clients and customize the services accordingly. This is the typical automated data gathering process involved in online retailing sites; this can enable better targeting of marketing, closer promotions, and the invention of client rapport programs.

Data that customer relationship management systems may store includes the total number of online orders, selected meal delivery services, means of payment, etc. Such data can be used to create reports, trace conversions, and even understand your customer acquisition means. Then, segment your customers and provide them with personalized promotions.

10. Smart Appliances

Smart equipment makes the kitchen more automated than ever. These hi-tech appliances significantly reduce the manual labor-intensive activities under the intelligent features of these appliances, which enable precise cooking and preparation.

One can observe food processors that cut and blend foods with unsurpassed speed and precision, or ovens that also cook the foods automatically to precise sizes. The equipment not only increases the efficiency of kitchen activities, but also puts out foods of high quality every time, and the cooks are free to concentrate on inventiveness and innovativeness.

11. Delivery Robots & Drones

Robots and drones can provide delivery automation, which may become more crucial in the restaurant industry. These systems cut the delivery time, and they avoid human delivery agents.

By building on real-time, autonomous delivery, restaurants will have the capacity to deliver food faster, with a high level of accuracy, and at a cheaper cost. This automation is something that is an essential component of modernizing operations, particularly in the fast-food setting, where efficiency and speed are the key components in ensuring customer contentment.

12. Inventory Management Systems

Inventory automation means that there is real-time monitoring of stock levels, hence, avoiding running out of stock due to over-ordering. Restaurants can also use these systems to integrate with POS systems and kitchen operations, so ordering becomes faster and food waste is minimized, and stocks are used with the best possible utilization.

Automated inventory management makes the business efficient because the managers always know the current inventory level, enhance inventory forecasting, and minimize waste.

13. Dedicated Mobile Apps for Managers

Restaurant managers have found it important to make use of mobile apps to assist them in making real-time decisions. These applications allow managers to monitor sales and staffing schedules and the amount of inventory in real time, wherever they are. 

These applications allow a manager to get instant access to information and tools in order to communicate with his or her team so that everyone can be functional.

Benefits of a Restaurant Automation System

There's no denying that automating certain aspects of your restaurant can help things operate more effectively. However, that is, how may automation in the restaurant industry improve operations? The top ten benefits of a restaurant automation system are as follows:

1. Increased Efficiency

Improving the structure and performance of your restaurant's operations is one of the main advantages of automating it. Automation allows for the completion of activities more quickly and with less human error. Your restaurant will function more smoothly and efficiently as a result of this.

2. Cost Savings

Cutting costs is another major benefit of automating restaurant processes. The elimination of human intervention in routine operations is one way in which automation cuts down on labor expenses. Energy and overhead costs are among the major operating expenditures that might be reduced. 

Restaurant maintenance software and similar technologies safeguard your bottom line with their inventory costing methodologies, sustainable technology, and online ordering features.

3. Improved Customer Service

The process of automation in a restaurant helps save funds and time, as well as improves the quality of food delivery service and overall customer experience.

It becomes simpler to access the kind of cuisine wanted by the customers due to the automated technology that simplifies the order process.

When some of the jobs are automated, restaurant wait staff will be in a position to provide better services to their clients. Moreover, automation helps to improve communication between the front-of-house (FOH) and back-of-house workers, which ultimately makes it easier to resolve any issues with any of the clients.

4. Greater Accuracy and Quality of Food

When compared to manual processes, automated ones often result in more precise order fulfillment. This is because automated systems, by doing away with human mistakes, effectively become gadgets that save labor. 

That way, you know your orders are being accurately taken and your meal will be cooked to perfection. Because of this, both the food and service at your restaurant will be of higher quality.

5. Increased Flexibility

Increased flexibility is merely another advantage of automating the operations of your restaurant. Automatic systems can suit your company according to the specific needs of your company. This allows you and your customers to be able to pick and choose features and services that mean most to you.

Your tech is likely to be easily upgraded as your restaurant grows and develops. This will help you keep yourself informed of the latest technological developments in the restaurant world.

6. Increased Sales

A typical approach for restaurants to boost their revenue is by automating some of their older processes. Greater consumers and greater sales are the result of automated systems' enhanced efficiency and customer service.

Ready to Automate Your Kitchen?

The hospitality industry has undergone a subtle but significant technological revolution, propelled by changing customer habits shaped by societal and economic forces. The emphasis now is on creating memorable experiences rather than just providing hospitality through ERP restaurant systems.

With the potential for a restaurant automation system to assist with both order-taking and service, the future of restaurant technology seems bright. To provide clients with innovative methods and to improve their eating experience, mobile app development services are crucial.

Restaurants, to remain competitive and provide customers with unmatched dining experiences, must welcome technological developments as they alter the industry.

Book a demo with Xenia today!