Digitizing your restaurant: our 6-step guide

According to a study by Gira Conseil, fast food now accounts for 55% of the industry's total sales. By comparison, 15 years ago, traditional foodservice led the way at 60%. In today's changing and competitive environment, digitalization has become a major challenge. 

The adoption of digital solutions in this sector has been driven by changes in consumer behavior, as they become increasingly connected, and by the growing importance of data. Let's decipher the objectives of digitalization in the fast-food sector, and the ways in which this multi-dimensional strategy can be implemented.

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9 benefits of digitalization in the fast-food sector

What is digitalization in the fast-food industry? This refers to all the technological tools used to connect an establishment to all its stakeholders (staff, managers, customers, prospects) in order to optimize its activity and improve the customer experience. 

1. Saves time

Online ordering systems, kiosks and QR codes enable customers to place and pay for their orders more quickly and independently. The result? Queues are reduced and service is more efficient. 

2. Order accuracy 

Orders placed via online ordering or order kiosks are less prone to communication errors between staff and customers, whether verbal or written, guaranteeing greater precision.

👉 To find out more: How can you avoid cash register errors in your restaurant?

3. Reduced operating costs

Digitizing a restaurant represents a certain investment, but it can actually reduce the costs associated with taking orders, managing employees and printing physical menus. This will help improve your establishment's overall profitability . 

4. Data collection

Applications, online orders or your own website make it easy to collect data, which you can then use to send personalized marketing campaigns to your customers and make strategic choices. The aim here is to increase customer satisfaction and build loyalty. 

5. Customization

Digitizing your restaurant allows customers to personalize their orders according to their preferences. They can remove ingredients, add supplements and choose specific dietary options, without increasing the risk of error.

6. Simplified inventory management

The digital solutions you have chosen, or will choose, are real allies when it comes to managing stocks, anticipating demand and reducing food waste.

7. Process automation 

It's impossible to talk about digitizing fast food without mentioning process automation. Say goodbye to repetitive tasks such as order taking, invoicing and stock management. These are now automated. Your staff can therefore devote themselves to higher value-added tasks such as welcoming guests, advising them, serving them, etc. 

8. Contactless payment

Digitalization usually means online and contactless payments. These two payment methods have a significant impact on the customer experience, making it more convenient and more secure .

9. Menu flexibility

Thanks to solutions such as QR codes or order terminals, you can easily adjust your online menu (out-of-stock items, weekly menu), add special promotions, and respond quickly to changing guest requests.

👉 To go further: why adopt the QR code in your restaurant?

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Digitizing your fast-food restaurant: putting it into practice 

You're convinced of the benefits of new technologies for your business, but don't know exactly how to make the digital shift? This 6-step guide should help! 

Step¹: Needs assessment

You need to start by identifying : 

• Specific areas that can benefit from digitalization : order taking, preparation, payment, inventory management, delivery, marketing.

• Your customers' digital expectations and preferences , including the ordering channels they prefer.

Step²: Selecting tools and technologies

Once you've thought about this, you can choose the technologies and tools best suited to your restaurant.

Many parameters need to be taken into account: 

- Choice of restaurant solutions such as : 

• the order terminals to increase your average shopping basket by 25 to 40%,
• the cash registers to centralize the management of your restaurant and save time with each cash receipt,
• the automatic change machines to automate the collection and return of change,
• the QR codes to increase table rotation, ‍
• production screens to increase kitchen productivity by 37%.

- Development of a mobile application offering functionalities such as online ordering, click & collect, table reservations, customer loyalty and promotions.

- Setting up a professional website where customers can access the menu, place orders online, reserve a table, consult opening hours and location, etc. 

- Create and/or manage social networks to promote your restaurant, share special offers or events, interact with your customers and gather feedback. Don't forget that a good e-reputation is a guarantee of loyalty and attractiveness. 

💡 Our Innovorder experts are on hand to support you and advise you on the ideal solutions for your restaurant. 

Step³: Installing the equipment in your restaurant

This phase requires careful planning to ensure seamless integration of digital solutions within your restaurant. Let our consultants guide you in strategically positioning order terminals, cash registers, automatic coin-operated machines, QR codes and production screens to optimize your establishment's operational efficiency.

Step⁴: Staff training 

Digitizing a restaurant is a lengthy process in which your employees need to be actively involved. It's therefore important to train them to use these tools , so that your establishment benefits fully from them, service runs smoothly, and they in turn can educate customers when necessary. 

Step ⁵: Testing, monitoring and adaptation 

Before fully deploying your digitalization strategy and the tools you've selected, take the time to carry out tests to make sure that all systems work properly and are sufficiently intuitive. Don't hesitate to gather feedback from users to fine-tune your strategy.

Step ⁶: Promote the digitalization of your fast-food restaurant

Digitizing your restaurant shouldn't go unnoticed, especially in such a competitive sector. Use it as a selling point in its own right and differentiate yourself from your competitors. To do this, make sure your customers know about your new digital features, and encourage them to make use of them by proposing special offers or benefits.

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Innovorder is the leader in digital solutions for commercial and institutional foodservice. Our team supports restaurateurs in their digital transformation with an all-in-one solution (cash register, kiosk, online ordering, KDS).