Why Your Restaurant Needs an App
January 21, 2019We know, you’re a restaurant owner, not a developer or programmer. Let other people worry about apps, you just want to run your restaurant!
The truth is if you want to have a successful establishment, you have to take advantage of the technology that brings people in. The good news is that it doesn’t have to be hard, and the upside can be enormous!
Here’s why your restaurant needs an app, and how it will benefit your commercial kitchen.
Build Your Brand With Loyalty Programs
One of the easiest and best way to use an app is to create a loyalty program with it. No more having to manually punch cards, figure out how to track points, and more. Instead, do everything electronically through the app!
This also gives you maximum flexibility with your program. You can have points redeemable for a variety of items, giving the customer a lot of choices without straining your commercial kitchen.
A loyalty program helps build your brand and gives customers a reason to come see you again and again.
Allow Ordering Ahead With a Restaurant App
People love speed and convenience, so why not give it to them with a restaurant app? Allowing folks to browse your menu at their convenience and order ahead is a get additional sales. Some folks will never come to your restaurant – or will only come occasionally – but they may order takeout regularly.
Making this an option with an app is an easy way to integrate these orders with the normal work for your commercial kitchen to ensure your kitchen equipment is used efficiently. The ordering systems can be integrated, and the time of pickup can be part of the order.
Encourage additional revenue with little additional overhead by having an app where customers can order ahead!
Advertise Specials and Use Location-Specific Targeting
Having an app allows you to reach out to your customers in two unique ways. First, you can have app notifications that let your users know that you have a special, coupon, or other great deal. You can even use a notification to simply remind customers that their favorite food is ready to be ordered!
You can also use geo-location and targeting and deliver specific pop-up ads to users phones when they are within a specific range of your restaurant. You wouldn’t want to overuse this feature, but a nudge to come visit you when they are already in the area can definitely improve your sales.
Allow Restaurant Reservations
If your restaurant takes reservations, you know that some events and holidays have the phone ringing off the hook. Why not make it much easier for your commercial kitchen and your staff by allowing reservations on the app?
Having a calendar that updates real-time and shows available slots saves time and hassle for everyone. It also cuts down on mistakes and helps avoid overbooking.
An app is a great way for everyone in a party to determine when they can get together and schedule the reservation – saving your staff from endless calls, callbacks, and moving reservations.
Your Commercial Kitchen Needs an App!
From ordering to loyalty to reservations, an app can benefit your commercial kitchen in many ways. Best of all, once you’ve got the foundation, you can add additional features as you decide to roll them out.
Test out deals, try new menu items, or even poll your customers about what they’d like to see. An app has endless possibilities!
As you grow you’ll probably need additional restaurant supplies and equipment. We’re here to help. From cooking equipment to smallwares, we can get you the quotes you need. Contact us today!
Renovations: Keeping Your Restaurant Supplies & Costs in Check
Every restaurant owner has to face the reality of renovations at some point. Usually, this is good news – your restaurant is growing, or is successful enough that you can expand. Sometimes it’s just a matter of keeping up with the times, replacing old and damaged...
Build Up Your Employees with Fun Perks
Your employees do a lot for you. You depend on them to follow protocols, serve customers with kindness, and keep your commercial kitchen in top shape. Of course, you provide them with a great working environment. But why not thank them in additional ways – with fun...
Commercial Kitchen Fun: Almost a Dozen Ways to Cook Eggs
Cooking an egg might be one of the most basic kitchen skills around, but that doesn’t mean there’s only one way to do it. If you serve breakfast, you’re probably familiar with quite a few of them. But almost a dozen? That’s worthy of its own egg-only menu! Don’t...
Restaurant Equipment Spotlight: Using Tech to Promote Your Restaurant
You’ve got a great location. Your restaurant equipment is in great shape, and you have excellent employees ready to serve. Your menu is on point, and you’re ready to bring a top-level dining experience to your community. So… where are the customers? Having an...
Holiday Marketing for Your Restaurant
It’s never too early to think about how you plan to market your restaurant for the holidays. Your strategy will vary a lot depending on what type of establishment you have. The restaurant supplies you’ll need will also depend on the type of marketing campaign you...
Things to Instagram About Your Restaurant
A picture is still worth 1,000 words, especially when it comes to marketing. While customers taking endless pictures of their food to post online may frustrate your staff, the truth is it gets the word out about your restaurant. However, you don’t have to rely on your...
Choosing the Right Refrigerator for Your Commercial Kitchen
People who buy refrigerators for their homes often spend weeks researching different models and finding exactly what they need. It’s a major investment for many homes, and it pays to get it right! In your commercial kitchen, you may feel that you don’t have that kind...
Tips for Managing Restaurant Inventory
Does the thought of keeping track of every ingredient and piece of kitchen equipment in your restaurant make you want to hide your head under a pillow? You’re not alone. Keeping track of everything is time-consuming and often overwhelming. And you know how much your...
Restaurant Supplies: Getting Started With a Food Truck
While restaurants grow slowly, the food truck industry has been rocketing with 7.3% growth between 2012 – 2017. Food trucks are great for entrepreneurs because they have a relatively low startup cost and annual overhead compared to other businesses. Customers who...
Commercial Kitchen Fun: Restaurant Bloopers
Making mistakes is part of being human. However, sometimes these mistakes are pretty funny and deserve to be shared with others. There are many things that may not have been funny at the time, but in retrospect give you a smile and reason to be more gentle with...
Kitchen Equipment Spotlight: What You Need for Concession Stands
Tis the season for high school football and other fall festivals. Are you in charge of stocking concessions for your local team’s games? Or are you considering opening a concession stand at a local sporting venue, outdoor event, or pool? If you want to provide...
Kitchen Supplies: Should You Go Local With Ingredients?
If you own a restaurant in Little Rock, you’ve certainly heard of the trend toward going local. Local kitchen supplies, local ingredients, even local art as décor. There are a lot of great reasons to buy local – your money will stay in and support your community, for...
Commercial Kitchen Fun: Why Salty & Sweet?
All cooks who consider making desserts know that salty and sweet is a winning combination. Salted caramel shows up in hundreds of recipes. Candy bars combine salted nuts with chocolate. We dip French fries in ice cream. We put pineapple on pizza. People even put salt...
Restaurant Equipment Spotlight: Ensuring Safety in Your Restaurant
A lot happens in your restaurant every day. You have people coming and going all the time. Your employees are constantly moving around, and customers are entering and leaving throughout the day. Unfortunately, with all that activity, there’s also a lot that can go...
Questions to Ask Before You Invest in Kitchen Equipment
When you invest in kitchen equipment, you want to make sure you’re getting exactly what you need and that it will last you a long time. It can be overwhelming to think about everything you need when you’re starting a restaurant. Even if you’re just trying to add or...