4min
A market study conducted by Roland Berger points to one conclusion: restaurants need to go digital to overcome challenges and to boost their numbers.
A market study conducted by Roland Berger points to one conclusion: restaurants need to go digital to overcome challenges and to boost their numbers.
Is restaurant tech really in full play? Yes, but not as much as one would think. Despite the pandemic having accelerated the need for tech, there’s a long way left to go, as the restaurant industry is still lagging and remains one of the least digitised today.
It’s a missed opportunity considering all the useful tech services on offer. And Roland Berger’s key findings suggest just that.
Closures (more than 17k in 2020), reduced covers, sales battered, breaking-even (let alone profits) difficult to come by… the last two years have been particularly difficult for food service businesses hindered by health and safety restrictions, and the challenges of COVID.
Business as a whole plummeted (-34% in 2020 vs 2019) and 2022 was supposed to be a fresh start. But restaurants interviewed expect sales to decrease by 57% and are not counting on things returning to “normal” before 2023.
Convenience has become something people now expect, as most have come to know food delivery and mobile groceries all too well.
In these challenging times, with everything at stake, equipping yourselves with tech tools is no longer a question of ‘if’, but ‘when’. Digitising the customer journey is what will make your restaurant thrive in the long run.
Integrating with Uber Eats, Deliveroo, JustEat and other delivery platforms has certainly helped, but according to the study, these are not enough to overcome the financial strain restaurants face.
They need to go further. Step 1. Start by choosing the right partners and understand which will be useful for your particular business and which will allow you to boost sales whilst optimising costs.
Considering this, payment via QR codes should be an ally of choice. With countless advantages, one should not underestimate the positive impact this can have on your restaurants.
But why should you adapt, and what’s at play? It’s about widening the gap between a meal out at a restaurant and one consumed at home thanks to deliver and click & collect. It’s about the experience.
Using a QR code payment solution, like sunday, allows diners to view the menu and pay in a matter of seconds. For restaurants, this has a direct impact on basket size and operational efficiency. Among those interviewed, sales were up 5 to 10%.
Why? Because customers now have more time to eat and drink, without feeling the usual rush associated with getting the bill and paying on time. It’s a new, ultra affordable tool.
For starters, the flat card transaction fees are lower. In addition, it’s an easy way to navigate current staff shortages rippling the industry. Whilst you can continue to serve your customers with the same level of service, it also aims to attract potential new hires, promising less time spent taking payments and more time offering service all whilst bringing in more tips.
Today, 34% of restaurants are equipped to accept mobile payments and 24% even take orders with the help of specific tools. These numbers are likely to increase over the next months and years to come.
At sunday, we like to think of QR codes as the new salt and pepper. Since launching our solution, more than 4,000 restaurants have installed QR codes on their tables.
Why? Because this new way of settling the bill in a few seconds makes the lives of our partners so much easier, without forgetting that it’s boosting financials, all whilst improving the customer experience.
Wait staff spend less time processing payments and can spend more time focusing on service and on taking care of tables.
As diners manage paying the bill themselves, they are also more inclined to order a dessert or coffee knowing full well they have the time. Average basket size across partners has increased by +12% on average, and subsequently so has total revenue. One can’t forget tips, which are up 40% when a meal is paid through sunday.
sunday is an example, among others, where technology actually creates value for restaurants. Going digital does not mean compromising on customer interactions or service quality. On the contrary, it’s exactly tools like sunday that compliment service and build on meaningful dining experiences.
These allow businesses to refocus efforts on the things that make a difference and to consistently deliver a memorable customer experience. This is what will make people opt for a meal at a restaurant table rather than one on their sofa with a takeaway. And this is exactly the kick restaurants need to get back in the game.
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Your customers can view the menu and pay the bill in 10 seconds
