This is why Google is such a strong collaborative partner for us, as we’re very much speaking the same language. We’re committed to working hand-in-hand with restaurant operators to create the ultimate guest experience. This is driven by our passion to ensure a restaurant’s operation works smarter, through the use of truly creative and innovative technology solutions.

Joining forces with Google  

In 2018, we cleverly integrated with the ‘Reserve with Google’ platform, with the sole purpose of allowing more restaurants to expand their reach to hungry diners. This has resulted in more bookings for restaurants and more tables being filled efficiently and effectively. For over five years now, our ConnectSmart® Host technology has been seamlessly seating over two million guests per day. Our integration with Google simplifies the path between internet searches for your restaurant and your guests finding a seat – it really is that simple. 

Introducing ‘Reserve with Google’

In 2017 Google launched the ‘Reserve with Google’ program, with the aim of enabling consumers or fans of a particular restaurant via Google Search and Maps to quickly and easily see their options to ‘reserve a table’. The platform enables guests to view a restaurant’s availability and at the click of a button, complete a reservation which goes directly into a restaurant’s diary. Diners can also view business hours, menus, photos, takeout and delivery options, together with reviews within the restaurant’s business profile. 

What about my walk-in customers or those I can’t accommodate at time of booking?

This is the genius part of our partnership with Google. So, a guest hasn’t made a reservation, walks into your restaurant hungry and wants to eat. Human nature – we all do it! What if your guests preferred dining time simply isn’t available?  Our ConnectSmart® Host technology can immediately put them in line on a waitlist, irrespective of being at home or in your restaurant, while also being integrated with Google. Utter genius! What does this mean for you as a restaurateur? Lack of lost footfall through unavailability and most-importantly much needed revenue in the current economic crisis. Let’s also not forget regular customers with an expectation in this equation.  

Our technology will seamlessly add them to a waitlist. The guest receives accurate wait time quotes based on what’s happening at the restaurant and at that given moment – it’s live to the second. By utilizing SMS text notifications, guests are no longer restricted to the restaurant space, they can go about their lives free in the knowledge they’ve secured their booking with you and will be notified when their table is ready. 

Tell me the facts as a restaurant business – why should I choose your partnership?

It’s a fact, Google is the most utilized search engine and according to the latest statistics from Fitsmallbusiness.com, and as of August 2022, an impressive 92.70% of all searches globally happen on the Google platform. Additionally, integrating with Google puts our ConnectSmart® Host technology in front of 90% of internet search traffic. This reach dramatically increases the possibility that customers will not only find your business but also engage with it through that same ease of service. 

Is this a worthy partnership? Absolutely yes! Why? Because what QSR Automations and Google are bringing to the party is a way for restaurants to continue to innovate together, with driving that all-important footfall and revenue at a time when it is much needed for the restaurant industry worldwide. 
If you are an existing ConnectSmart® Host customer interested in driving further footfall to your business through our integration with the Reserve with Google platform, contact your account manager. Not a ConnectSmart® Host customer? No problem, we can set you up in no time and integrate you to the Reserve with Google platform. Simply contact us at sales@qsrautomations.com.

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About the Author

Jennifer Karpinksy develops processes for ensuring QSR Automations’ consumer network and partner success. Her job comprises a lot of functions, from managing data integrity to planning for future business needs, but our clients and partners know her as the main point of contact at QSR Automations. Jennifer is a veteran in the restaurant industry with over 20 years of experience. Outside of work, she spends time as a self-proclaimed amateur designer, decorating and renovating houses.

The post We Teamed Up with Google to Drive Footfall & Revenue for Your Restaurant appeared first on QSR Automations | The Global Leader in Restaurant Technology.

If you asked a random sampling of consumers what the economic outlook for 2023 is, chances are the majority would reply “not good.” That’s especially true for the restaurant industry, which has been affected by COVID-related capacity issues and labor shortages for several years now.

So that’s the bad news. What’s the good news? Industry experts suggest there’s reason to be optimistic, especially if restaurant owners consider a few key factors to protect profits and increase bottom line.

Prioritize Your Spending when Budgeting

While it is always best practice to keep balance sheets in order, it is now imperative. If your business is in debt, make paying it off a priority in your 2023 budgeting. When looking for places to cut costs, preserve anything that improves guest sentiment, and appropriately compensates staff, but get rid of any underutilized or unnecessary subscriptions, processes, and items that are draining money from your business. Take care of your guest experience and staffing needs, and the rest will take care of itself.

Invest for the Long Haul

Smart investment upfront can pay dividends later. Consider integrating systems that address business needs, such as bin management technology that minimizes kitchen waste. Other options are onboarding systems that streamline the training of new hires and reduce need for extraneous staff and off-premise ordering support that maintains a high-level of consistency.  These systems immensely contribute to guest satisfaction. Many other pain points can be mitigated with technology such as QSR Automations’ ConnectSmart^Ⓡ suite of services.

Scenario Plan for 2023

No one knows exactly how the recession will play out. Take time with your management to assess scenarios that could affect your business, and create response plans accordingly. Having a game plan and general strategies can ensure decisions are being made efficiently and not in a panic. Being transparent with your management and key players is crucial to keeping quality communication and valuing your staff’s role in the business.

Redetermine What Success Will Look Like

While Black Box Intelligence’s current research predicts that sales growth will be strong during the first months of 2023, it is expected to slow later in the year. Knowing that guests may not be able to spend as much and employee turnover is an ongoing issue in the industry, reassess what reasonable goals your business can achieve in 2023. Growth and revenue might not be as high as previous years, but this does not mean business is failing – know ahead of time what success looks like, given the circumstances from the recession. Goals may look different than they did before, but should still focus on creating a quality guest experience and valuing staff to reduce turnover.

Protect What Really Matters

Taking care of your guests and your staff are nonnegotiable. Black Box Intelligence reports that in the fast casual and quick service industry, guest sentiment towards ambiance and food are down more now than previous years. Providing a quality dining experience is the core of creating a loyal following. Reward guests who partake in surveys and respond to their reviews accordingly to provide the best experience possible. Many restaurant owners are leaning into rewards and loyalty programs for customers to show their appreciation for returning guests, and to offer a guest experience that feels personal. Now is the time to get creative in how you offer more value to your guests’ dollars.

Additionally, Black Box Intelligence’s State of Restaurant & Traffic Report shows that labor cost increases are expected to ease in 2023, but this doesn’t mean it is the time to lower competitive salaries for employees. However, there is more to valuing staff than just a paycheck – just because unemployment rates rise doesn’t mean people will stay at a job with poor working conditions. Many job seekers are looking for short term benefits, a positive workplace culture, and the ability to have a healthy work/life balance. When you take care of your team, your team will take care of guests, growing your business in every way possible.

To talk with a specialist at QSR Automations about how to protect your business in 2023, contact our Sales Team at sales@qsrautomations.com or (855)980-7328.

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About the Author

As Vice President of Sales & Marketing, Ashley manages the teams in both North America and EMEA, helping to expand the company’s global presence. He is a passionate advocate of improving guest experience within the hospitality sector and his teams consultative approach to business has enabled QSR to remain at the forefront of technology innovation. When he isn’t working, you can find Ashley training for cycling events in both USA and Europe, spending time with his family, walking his dog Jax, and supporting Manchester United Football Club.

The post Preparing for the Unknown: How Restaurants Can Weather 2023 appeared first on QSR Automations | The Global Leader in Restaurant Technology.

In May of this year, Grubhub only held 13% of food delivery market share compared to DoorDash’s 59% and Uber Eats’ 24%.  However, due to a new partnership between Grubhub and Amazon, this is very likely to change.  As of July 6, all Amazon Prime members can sign up for a free Grubhub+ membership to receive access to $0 delivery fees from hundreds of thousands of restaurants for one year.  Amazon is estimated to have over 153 million Prime members already, meaning this partnership could drastically change the food delivery game.

So, what does this mean for restaurants?

This news may be unnerving for many restaurants.  For those who are trying to manage first-party delivery, competing with a mega-business like Amazon may seem like trying to tackle a giant.  Further, Amazon products like Alexa are making ordering with this new partnership that much easier.  For restaurants relying on third-party providers to make deliveries possible, those third-party fees can make profit margins razor thin.

Although delivery is convenient for customers, restaurants know it can cause a lot of stress on business.  Aside from the logistics of how to get orders from Point A to Point B, keeping up with deliveries can wreak havoc on staff.

Don’t Panic

All this information might be a lot to digest, but don’t panic.  Statistics show that restaurants and other third-party delivery business don’t need to throw in the towel.  Consumers in the United States, across all demographics and locations, have been found to prefer ordering food directly from the restaurant if they have the choice.  Additionally, research shows that food delivery app users aren’t loyal to just one provider, but rather use multiple delivery apps to find the best deal for their favorite foods.  So, while there may be some shifts in the market share of third-party providers, consumers ultimately care about the restaurant they get their food from, not the business who drops it off at their door.

We Can Help

While there are still unknowns as to what the partnership between Amazon and Grubhub will do to the industry, there are things to lessen the impact on restaurants.  Integrating technology that  makes your off-premise processes more efficient is crucial to stay on top of delivery orders.  ConnectSmart allows for seamless communication between your kitchen, in-store POS, and third-party partners.  Two-way communication and configurable order flow allows for an optimized system with no room for confusion about where an order is and when it will be ready.

News like this partnership can be complicated, but ConnectSmart makes off-premise dining simple.

Subscribe to the blog for more interesting restaurant content!

About the Author

As Vice President of Sales & Marketing, Ashley manages the teams in both North America and EMEA, helping to expand the company’s global presence. He is a passionate advocate of improving guest experience within the hospitality sector and his teams consultative approach to business has enabled QSR to remain at the forefront of technology innovation. When he isn’t working, you can find Ashley training for cycling events in both USA and Europe, spending time with his family, walking his dog Jax, and supporting Manchester United Football Club.

The post The Demand for Delivery: How to manage the new Amazon/Grubhub partnership appeared first on QSR Automations | The Global Leader in Restaurant Technology.