Essential technologies and hardware for your restaurant or takeaway
As restaurants and takeaways evolve, integrating cutting-edge technology is key to staying competitive. Below are 25 essential technologies that can transform your operations, streamline processes, and enhance your customer experience.
1. Point of Sale Hardware
A reliable, fully integrated POS system manages both online and in-house orders in restaurants and takeaways, simplifying payments and reporting. Think about how intuitive the system is to use because this will have an impact on staff training.
“A new staff member actually joined last week. Within an hour, he was all good in regards to how to use the Flipdish POS, because it’s very simple.” 😇
Juhel, Phat Bite in Hackney ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
2. Online Ordering Systems
An integrated online ordering system allows restaurants or takeaways to accept takeaway and delivery orders directly from their websites, helping you avoid third-party fees while maintaining control. Owning your own direct to consumer channel is crucial for long term future proofing of your business.
“My mind was blown. I mean, I knew it was going well, but it's only when you look at the numbers – we're only on Flipdish a year and a half, and already it's making up 20% of our overall sales. It's growing at 120%, year on year.”
Aonghus O'Flaherty owner of Tucos Taqueria
3. Custom-Branded Mobile Apps
Custom branded mobile apps provide a personalised way for your customers to interact with your restaurant, enabling mobile ordering, loyalty programs, and push notifications to drive repeat business. Your logo on your customer’s screen is some of the best advertising you can get!
4. Self-Service Kiosks
Self-service kiosks enable customers to place their own orders in restaurants or takeaways, improving accuracy, reducing wait times, and lowering labor costs in fast-casual environments.
“We were looking for the absolute best online ordering system we could get. We looked at so many but there was nothing that even came close to Flipdish and what they could offer us. From the kiosk to the portal, it just works so well for us.”
Daniel Cozzo owner of Farina Pizza ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
5. Loyalty Programs
Loyalty programs help build stronger relationships and drive repeat visits through personalized promotions, points systems, and exclusive offers.
"With the help of Flipdish I have increased my sales, it's all about repeat business."
Sandeep Sood, Founder, PizzaDog (4 locations)
6. QR Code Order & Pay
QR code systems allow guests to scan and order from their tables, reducing staff pressure and minimizing wait times in restaurants or takeaways.
7. Kitchen Display Systems (KDS)
A KDS sends real-time digital updates to the kitchen, replacing paper tickets, ensuring order accuracy, and improving communication between front and back of house.
8. Customer Display Systems (CDS)
Customer display systems display order details and pricing in real-time at the point of sale, improving transparency and ensuring order accuracy.
9. Payment Devices
Secure, integrated payment devices support fast transactions, including chip, contactless, and mobile payments, helping reduce queues in restaurants and takeaways.
10. Marketing Automation Tools
Marketing automation drives engagement by automating SMS, email, and push notifications with targeted, personalized promotions to increase repeat visits.
11. Multi-Channel Order Management
Multi-channel order management consolidates orders from various platforms—whether online, in-house, or third-party—into a single system, streamlining restaurant or takeaway operations.
12. Table Reservation Systems
An integrated reservation system enables customers to book tables directly from your website or app, reducing no-shows and optimizing restaurant table management.
13. Waitlist Management
Waitlist management tools allow guests to join a digital queue and receive real-time wait time updates, reducing congestion at the entrance of your restaurant.
14. Delivery Driver Management
Managing your delivery fleet becomes easier with delivery driver management, which optimizes routes and tracks drivers to ensure timely deliveries for takeaways and restaurants.
15. In-House Table Ordering
In-house table ordering allows customers to place orders directly from their phones while seated, improving service speed and reducing the need for waitstaff.
16. Data & Analytics
Analytics tools provide insights into sales, customer behavior, and performance, enabling restaurants to make data-driven decisions to optimize operations.
17. Customer Feedback Systems
Real-time customer feedback systems capture guest opinions right after their experience, allowing you to continuously improve service and food quality.
18. Social Media Integration
Social media integration lets customers order directly from platforms like Instagram and Facebook, expanding your reach and driving online orders.
19. Digital Signage
Digital signage allows you to display dynamic menu boards and promotional content in restaurants and takeaways, keeping customers engaged and driving more sales.
20. CRM (Customer Relationship Management)
A CRM system stores and manages customer data, helping restaurants and takeaways deliver personalized promotions and communications, fostering loyalty.
21. Inventory Management
An inventory management system tracks stock in real-time, helping restaurants reduce food waste and avoid stock shortages by monitoring supply levels.
22. Staff Rota Systems
A digital staff rota system simplifies staff scheduling, optimizing labor costs and ensuring your restaurant has the right staffing during peak times.
23. Staff Payroll Management
Staff payroll management integrates with scheduling systems to automate payroll processes, ensuring accurate pay based on hours worked in your restaurant.
24. Automated Stock Ordering
Automated stock ordering tracks inventory levels and automatically places orders when stock runs low, helping restaurants and takeaways avoid overstocking or understocking.
25. Cash Drawer Systems
A cash drawer system integrates with your POS, allowing for secure and efficient cash handling in your restaurant or takeaway, improving checkout accuracy.
“Flipdish has allowed us to have a one-system approach across every franchise. It's improved our customer experience. And it has moved us into a digital age as a franchisor, this has given us a fantastic opportunity to drill down into the data provided by the system.”
Garry Tooey, Rooster’s Piri Piri (50 locations) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Conclusion
By implementing these technologies, restaurants and takeaways can optimise operations, enhance customer service, and increase revenue. Navigating all the technology options can be difficult. Flipdish is a one-stop-shop and offers a range of solutions that cater to these needs, helping restaurants and takeaways stay competitive with an all-in-one platform.
