Posted by Tim on September 12, 2010
It's common for restaurant employees to be familiar with the daily specials or a new dessert that hasn’t yet made it to the menu, but are you using your wait staff to their fullest when it comes to promoting your online ordering system?
Maybe not.
Make sure that your waiters and waitresses can inform customers about your online menu and ordering site. Talk about how convenient it is for customers - reduced wait time, greater accuracy, and easy accessibility. You can even demonstrate it to them at a staff meeting.
Also, make sure your employees are well versed on all of the latest features. For instance, in the last few months, NetWaiter has added an ordering interface with Facebook, and more recently, the easy ability for customers to order from their mobile phones. Your employees can help spread the word about new capabilities.
Some employees may be concerned that referring customers to your online menu will reduce their ability to make tips. This is certainly not an issue. Tipping is part of the ordering and dining experience. If they help to create happy customers, they are going to get tips, and online ordering definitely makes for happier customers.
