Posted by Tim on July 17, 2013
Online ordering is the best weapon for addressing change in the restaurant industry…
The Orlando Sentinel, citing several respected industry sources, reports that restaurants that have not spent a huge amount of energy trying to capture the lunch crowd are now refocusing their efforts.
Mid-day meals typically mean lower profit margins and diners that are in a hurry. Competition for the business, however, has forced restaurants to refocus their efforts. Some restaurants are at a disadvantage here, reports the article, “… when diners eat out at lunch, they often want something quick — a problem for some sit-down chains.”
A weakness for restaurants in the lunch business is the lack of a good online ordering system. Ordering online is ideal for the mid-day customer who wants to spend a limited time away from their desk or, better yet, get it delivered.
To compete, it’s important to emphasize the convenience of online ordering to customers, either for pickup or delivery. You can do this through conversations with customers, in-store signage, messages on receipts, and email campaigns through your NetWaiter Management Console.
“A recent industry survey revealed that the lunch crowd accounts for 34% of restaurant traffic,” said Jared Shimoff, Sr. Director at NetWaiter. “If that’s part of your business, you certainly want to keep it and expand it. Online ordering is a key tool for that opportunity.”
