Introduction

In today’s fast-paced restaurant industry, efficiency and convenience are more critical than ever. Customers expect seamless ordering experiences, and self-ordering kiosks have emerged as a game-changer for restaurants looking to streamline operations while enhancing customer satisfaction.

Self-ordering kiosks are revolutionizing the way customers interact with restaurants, reducing wait times, improving order accuracy, and increasing average check sizes through intelligent upselling. Orders2me offers a cutting-edge kiosk solution designed to integrate effortlessly with leading point-of-sale (POS) systems, making it easier than ever for restaurants to upgrade their operations.

The Benefits of Self-Ordering Kiosks

1. Increased Efficiency & Speed
   
   
   • Reduces long lines and speeds up the ordering process.
   • Customers can browse the menu at their own pace and customize orders easily.
     
     
2. Higher Order Accuracy
   
   
   • Eliminates human errors that commonly occur when taking verbal orders.
   • Provides customers with clear order confirmation before payment.
     
     
3. Improved Customer Experience
   
   
   • Offers a seamless, user-friendly interface for browsing menus and placing orders.
   • Supports multi-language functionality to cater to diverse customer bases.
     
     
4. Boosts Revenue & Upselling
   
   
   • Kiosks encourage larger orders with smart upselling features.
   • Displays high-margin add-ons and promotions to increase average check size.
     
     
5. Reduced Labor Costs
   
   
   • Frees up staff to focus on food preparation and customer service.
   • Helps offset staffing shortages by automating the ordering process.

 

Seamless POS Integration

Orders2me’s self-ordering kiosks are designed to integrate seamlessly with the industry’s top POS systems, ensuring a smooth operational flow and real-time order synchronization.

Supported POS Systems:

1. Micros RES 3700 – Industry-leading restaurant POS for full-service and quick-service restaurants.
2. Micros Simphony – A cloud-based solution that enhances omnichannel restaurant operations.
3. Clover – A flexible POS system used by small to mid-sized restaurants.
4. Square – Popular among fast-casual restaurants for its simplicity and ease of use.
5. Toast – A robust POS designed specifically for the restaurant industry, offering advanced reporting.
6. Lightspeed K Series – A powerful cloud-based POS system perfect for quick-service and full-service restaurants.

By integrating with these POS platforms, self-ordering kiosks ensure that orders flow directly from the kiosk to the kitchen display system or ticket printer, eliminating manual entry and reducing errors.

How Orders2me’s Self-Ordering Kiosk Works

• Intuitive Touchscreen Interface: Customers can easily navigate menus, customize orders, and pay seamlessly.
• Multiple Payment Options: Accepts credit cards, debit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and cashless transactions.
• Custom Branding: Restaurants can customize kiosk displays to match their brand aesthetics.
• Loyalty & Rewards Integration: Encourages repeat customers by integrating with existing loyalty programs.
• Real-Time Order Syncing: Orders are sent instantly to the kitchen through the connected POS system, reducing service delays.

Case Studies & Real-World Success

Many restaurants have successfully implemented self-ordering kiosks and seen tremendous benefits. Here are a few examples:

• Deli & Café Business: Increased average order size by 25% after installing kiosks with intelligent upselling features.
• Fast-Casual Restaurant: Reduced wait times by 30%, allowing them to serve more customers during peak hours.
• Multi-Location QSR Chain: Improved order accuracy, reducing refunds and remakes by 40%.

 

Is a Self-Ordering Kiosk Right for Your Restaurant?

Before investing in self-ordering kiosks, consider:

• Customer Volume: Ideal for high-traffic locations looking to reduce bottlenecks.
• Menu Complexity: Works best for restaurants with a clear, structured digital menu.
• Staffing Challenges: Helps mitigate labor shortages and reduce overhead costs.

 

The future of restaurant ordering is digital, and self-ordering kiosks are leading the way. By integrating seamlessly with leading POS systems, Orders2me provides a powerful solution that improves efficiency, enhances customer satisfaction, and drives revenue growth.

 

Ready to revolutionize your restaurant’s ordering process? Contact Orders2me today to schedule a demo and learn how our self-ordering kiosks can take your business to the next level!

The post Self-Ordering Kiosks: The Future of Fast and Efficient Restaurant Ordering appeared first on Orders2me.

C’est été signifiant sont nombreux barbecues et événements se déroulant. Le moment est venu de profiter de ces personnels rassemblements et commencez épanouissante nouvelles personnes!

Mais comment exactement faites-vous vraiment approche quelqu’un qui attrape votre oeil à une célébration ? Dans le cas où vous fournir des one-liners fromagers présenter vous-même, ou peut-être est la vérité s’y dit un bien meilleur approche? Voici quelques conseils:

• rendez-vous amical. Vous ne devriez pas substitute le corner et l’apparence à propos, hâte de quelqu’un à parler avec vous. Souriez et circulez. Présentez vous-même tout premier. Vous ne trouverez rien plus chaud que confiance en soi et obtenir autres à l’aise parler à vous.

• obtenir intérêt pour d’autres fêtards. Poser des questions et écouter quoi que ce soit vous laissent savoir. Absolument rien dessine individus beaucoup plus que un auditeur attentif et une personne qui traite autres avec considération et intérêt .

• Tu ne devrais pas aller recherche la pièce quand tu es parler avec quelqu’un . il n’y a rien beaucoup plus insultant que d’avoir une conversation avec une personne qui n’est pas réellement intéressée avec vous. Dans le cas où vous continuez essayer voir qui plus atteint la célébration, vous ne le ferez pas link. Concentrez-vous sur individu vous parler, once êtes prêt à quitter et progresser vers une autre personne, excusez-vous poliment vous-même.

• Vous ne devriez pas ‘t traîner exactement le même personne toute la nuit. Positive, you découvert un corps vraiment attractif, mais créer vous-même aussi offert est un arrêt. Excusez vous-même et circulez, et rencontre cette personne plus tard. D’autre part, dans le cas où vous simplement parler à plusieurs les individus qui vous êtes sûr que au célébration, vous arrêter vous-même de meeting tout nouveau et fascinant hommes et femmes. Ne pas couper vous-même hors si vous avez opportunité, même si vous êtes timide. Finissez par être fort et faites circuler.

• Amenez un ailier / une femme sociale, ou get unicamente . Ne peut livrer votre giroflée ami à une fête ou peut-être vous pourrait finir up baby-sitting. Plutôt, demandez les pals socialement avertis} avoir pas de problème approche nouvelles personnes, et possédez eux présent vous. A la place, go alone. Il n’y a rien qui crie confiance comme quelqu’un qui se rapporte à une célébration par vous-même et s’engage avec new-people. De plus, divers autres célibataires savent vous êtes célibataire aussi.

cliquez ici

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With the demand for food delivery skyrocketing, it seems like using third-party delivery services is a good idea. But is it really?

Sure, these services are popular but are they really benefiting your restaurant?

With the demand for food delivery options from restaurant customers taking a recent jump, restaurants are facing a tough decision: should they sign up with third-party services or develop their own?

Of the 8.1 billion restaurant visits in 2017, 3.8 billion of those orders were taken to-go, according to Technomic. This number has gone way up since the pandemic struck.

In the past, restaurant-goers would often carry their own food to their homes or cars. Nowadays, people are increasingly replacing take-out orders with delivery orders or curbside pickups.

With this, services like GrubHub, Postmates, and UberEats have seen their customer counts rise significantly. With Grubhub boasting a whopping $997 million in revenue and Postmates earning $200 million last year–it’s not hard to see why restaurants are tempted by the lucrative deals these third-party companies offer

However, is it really worth spending all that money on these services?

Third-party delivery services normally offer their services in exchange for a percentage of every order they send to you. For example, UberEats charges approximately 30% every time someone orders food at your restaurant.

This amount can be a lot, especially for restaurants that already operate on razor-thin margins.

It may seem helpful, but it’s doing more damage than good.

30 cents a dollar may not seem much but in bulk, it can put businesses to negative. Some businesses add this percentage onto their menu prices but they often result in customers turning away.

So what’s your alternative?

Direct online ordering services can help you handle the customer-facing side of the business. Online orderings services can help you install the system on your existing POS or start from scratch and then integrate them into your website.

These services allow you to have more control over your business for the fraction of the price.

What’s best about online ordering services is that there is no commission.

Online ordering services normally offer a flat monthly rate no matter how many orders you take. This is great because it keeps the profit margins stable and you end up taking home more profits than usual.

Our customers at Orders2me save a whopping $24,000 annually on their business!

That is huge savings without actually affecting the number of online orders.

Our customers get a lot of features like, email marketing, standard order notifications, customer retention tool, and high-priority customer support and they are happy they switched.

Conclusion

With third-party delivery service these days charging higher and higher fees, it’s almost imperative to find ways to offer online ordering for your business. You need to what all successful businesses do – adapt.

The post Third-Party Delivery Services Are Costing You Money: And Here’s Why appeared first on Orders2me.

A few tips would help in boosting sales in your restaurant business.

Impress the Taste Buds

Your clients deserve tasty, delicious dishes that their taste buds cannot resist. Who won’t love going for a fancy meal? But how will you make the meals sumptuous? Preparing good and tasty food takes more than having the ingredients.

First, ensure you invest in the right equipment. These tools include a vegetable steamer, cake pans, tongs, skillets, immersion blenders, cheese graters, measuring cups and spoons, a thermometer, and a Dutch oven. They are basic but essential.

Ensure you also have the best fixings. Good food comes from the best ingredients. Get to the farmer’s market to get fresh and affordable produce. Don’t forget your herbs, too, as they add flavor to the meals.

When buying meat, ensure you get the best cuts there are. The U.S Department of Agriculture categorizes beef on eight levels. For the best results, choose the top three; prime, choice, and select.

Don’t forget to spice up your food. The flavor is what will keep clients coming over and over again. Herbs and spices give your meals an international flair with a unique essence. Besides pleasing the taste buds, herbs and spices are beneficial to the body. They contain minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants, as well as boosting metabolism. As you feed your clients, you’ll also be enhancing their overall health. A Win-Win situation.

Cleanliness is Paramount

Being a restaurant operator, you should prioritize on sanitation and cleanliness.

Note: A dirty restaurant will drastically reduce your sales!

If the restaurant does not observe sanitary rules, you risk violation on the next health inspection. It can also be a hub for food-borne illnesses. And when clients develop food poisoning from your eatery, reputation gets damaged, and profits are lost.

It’s your responsibility to keep your restaurant clean all the time. You need to have a plan for cleaning the place and be consistent. So, how do you do it?

Sanitize all the surfaces to keep germs at bay, and don’t forget the cutting boards. Aprons and chef’s coats should always be clean. All food should be in airtight containers and labeled for refrigeration. Clean grease traps, empty and clean steam tables, replace tin foil liners, and sanitize sinks, soda guns, and faucets. This should be done daily.

For weekly cleaning, use drain cleaner to flush floor drains and clean ovens as per the manufacturer’s instructions. Coffee machines should be cleaned, and walls washed. Dust ceiling fans, clean chairs, and tables, and wipe down baseboards.

Keeping the restaurant clean will attract more customers leading to an increase in revenue.

Location Matters

The location makes a difference in the success of a restaurant. Ensure you have an idea of who will be your clients. If the menu consists of falafel sandwiches, then your target clients are vegetarian eaters. It will also be an attractive spot for college and university students looking for a healthy dish. Hence, the eatery should be near a college campus. But if you want to operate a steakhouse, health-conscious eaters and students will not be ideal clients.

Visibility will also affect your sales. An alley or basement location is not an ideal spot for a restaurant. These spaces might make clients feel nervous, walking down a dark alley. Narrow storefronts, poorly placed signs, and adjacent buildings limit the visibility making it hard for the business to get more sales.

Consider the accessibility of your restaurant too. Simple tweaks like a bike rack in the parking lot will attract more customers. Figure out the side of the street with most drivers and provide ample and secure parking lot.

Review the Menu

It’s pointless to keep dishes that people are not ordering. Therefore, you need to re-invent the menu and have a strategy to have both food and drinks that clients want. You need to have a thorough understanding of your clients and also understand the local economic factors.

You may get help from a professional chef to have a winning menu. Spice it up by including the list of the core ingredients used in preparing meals. This gives customers an understanding of the elements they’re consuming.

Based on the local economy, ensure you also review the prices. If your target clients are students, then the meals should be affordable. If you’re running a steakhouse, you sure the prices will be a bit high.

Attractive Staff Attract Customers

Having appealing menus and sumptuous meals are key, but your workers send a significant tone to your guests. Staff brings excitement and energy to your restaurant. Your servers are not your slaves. They can boost or reduce sales by how they look. Treat them well by ensuring they have the necessary tools to clients.

They should be polite, professional, and courteous. Ensure they wear proper attire or uniforms. They’re a direct reflection of your business. You may also consider the color psychology for the staff uniform. For instance, blue is believed to treat pain and soothe illnesses; that’s why you mostly find medical practitioners with blue attire. Red stimulates the body and mind and also boosts circulation. On the other hand, orange increases energy levels.

Colors can also boost performance. Restaurant staff with white attire feel confident, fresh, and clean. It evokes a sense of youth and modernity. Black depicts power and luxury.

Making your staff look attractive and neat will give customers the desire to dine in your restaurant.

Cultivate a Relationship with Your Customers

The relationship with your clients should not end with grabbing a meal and walking out. Try to build a relationship by ensuring your clients feel special. You can, occasionally, send them holiday or birthday shout outs. Such messages will keep your restaurant on their mind, and be sure they’ll come back.

Final Thoughts

Undoubtedly, the restaurant industry faces tough competition. But that doesn’t mean you cannot increase your sales. With simple tweaks and stellar services, you’ll realize immense profits and watch your business grow over and beyond.

The post How to Increase Restaurant Sales Without Advertising appeared first on Orders2me.

Price Food Based on Cost

This is one of the easiest ways to price your food. In this case, you determine the entire amount that will go to a plate of food. This includes the cost of the ingredients as well as other fixed costs such as salaries, rent and utility bills. Then, distribute the costs across various meals that you make to your customers. Once you determine the cost per plate, add a small margin on top of the price. Just ensure that the profit margin is reasonable.

Triple Price Strategy

This mode of determining the price of an item is also called, good, better best strategy. You look at your men and pick a good’ popular item and then make it the cheapest. Then, look for a mid-priced item; make it a ‘better’ item. Finally, select an expensive item, which become the ‘best’ item in your menu and price it the highest. Here is an example, if you are running a fast food eatery; your good item may some fries and a salad, while the better item can be an added hamburger to the good option. The best product might be a larger hamburger, fries and salad, with a large soda.

Exotic Cuisine May Be Charged More

Most restaurants have a few exotic items in their menu. The meal could be having rare or expensive ingredients in the menu. You can play with the minds and psyche of your customers by attaching a premium price tag on the cuisine. The delicacy value of the dish, combined with the high price tag, gives your customer a notion that they are treated to a fine dining experience. For this strategy to work, the exotic food item must be done really well and the service must be at par with the perceived value.

Relative Pricing Strategy

A relative pricing strategy involves pricing high margin dishes near low margin ones to give a notion of better value to value hunting customers. For example, you may sell a plate of French fries at $0.9. This could be cheap but with a higher margin. You could put it next to a higher priced product, such as cheese fries, priced at $1.2. The product is not only higher priced, but also has a lower profit margin. Value hunters may find the French fries a better bargain. In the process, you can sell more plates of the higher profit margin items.

Including a Premium-Priced ‘Chef Special’

You can have a special item in every major category labelled as ‘chef Special’. The special feature may be because of a few exquisite ingredients or superb mix of different items. This product must show higher value to customers and come with a higher price. Ensure that the specials have a higher profit margin that the standard offers. Most restaurants have a chalkboard or a display inside the restaurant that tell customers for the special item/s of the day. You can keep changing the day’s special depending on the season and types of meals you serve.

Discounts on Complimentary Items

You can offer a discount on complimentary items in the menu to increase the volume sold of related items. For example, you may offer customers a discount when they buy a burger, French fries and a beverage to encourage them to include a beverage to their burger or French fries orders. Most restaurants will include a special offer for the combo under the individual menu items so that customers consider the discounted package.

You can implement several of these tips in restaurant pricing strategy for different items to maximize your profits. While doing so, it is good to check how the competition is pricing similar items, especially the fast food items. You can always find ways to differentiate your offering or service to justify a higher price tag for the items.

The post The Only Restaurant Pricing Strategy You Will Ever Need appeared first on Orders2me.

Social Media Is Everything

• Instagram is where you want to be, followed by Facebook
• Social paying allows more people to see your food online
• Respond to comments in a positive, upbeat way

Most businesses have a presence on social media these days, and in an age where everyone takes photos of their food, it’s important for you to stand out. Instagram is definitely where you want to be on social media, followed by Facebook. Make sure your pages are up-to-date with information about your restaurant. Post your menu, and share your specials. Try to respond to comments when you can.

Keep your social media accounts active, so they show up for people online. Keep “social paying” in mind. You can have a few customers who pay for their meals by posting pictures on social media. If they have hundreds of followers or friends, they will all see your food. Social media also can be used another way: marketing. Purchase ads on social media platforms, and get your business in front of thousands. If you feel unsure about doing this yourself, you can always hire a social media expert to help you.

Email Marketing

• Offer coupons through email
• Keep customers up-to-date on menu changes
• Do a survey to find out likes and dislikes

Take advantage of email. Have your customers sign-up for an email about daily specials or even give coupons in the emails for a special deal. You can also have people fill in forms online. Email marketing can bait your customers and allow you to reel them right in. It will also keep them coming back for more.

Connect with a company to develop a survey about your customers likes and dislikes and include a link in the email so they can participate. You can use email marketing to display changes to your menu. Many popular restaurants use email marketing to enhance their businesses. If you’re new to email marketing, experts can help you to find the best restaurant marketing strategy examples for your restaurant.

Contests and Coupons

• Contests bring in customers
• Some prizes should be coupons for your food
• Contests should require customers to share online to participate

Everyone loves a good contest, and when one of the prizes is a coupon for your restaurant’s food, you’ll give your customers double reasons to come in. We all remember the Monopoly game McDonald’s had annually for years and still talk about it. Contests don’t have to be of that scale to be popular. You could start a contest inside your physical restaurant that requires your customers to share online in order to participate.

Every friend and follower they have will see their post, leading them to know you are running a contest and potentially bringing them all in to your restaurant. Be sure to include coupons as part of the prizes. Those who win will come in for that item and wind up ordering more. Even though it’s definitely a digital world now, word of mouth is still important, and your customers will also talk about their prizes in the real word, leading to other people coming in to your restaurant and trying your food.

These restaurant marketing strategy examples will definitely help you increase your business, but there are a few other things to remember. As important as your online presence is, make sure your offline performance is just as strong. Keep your customers happy when they come in. If you aren’t experienced at marketing, look at hiring a social media expert or even a content writer to help with posts or emails about your restaurant. A professional marketing company can also help with these things and keep your restaurant competing with all the others around you.

The post 3 Restaurant Marketing Strategy Examples You Can Copy Right Now appeared first on Orders2me.

Benefits Of Marketing Online

According to studies, more people order food online or at least browse the net to compare restaurants. People also spend a significant amount of time online, in social media platforms, discussion forums, business websites and so forth. If you want to reach more customers today, online platforms offer a unique opportunity. Here are some of the key merits of marketing your restaurant online:

• Wider customer base – You can reach both local and foreign markets through websites, social media platforms and online adverts.
• 24/7 marketing – With online platforms, you can market the restaurant 24 hours a day 7 days a week.
• Affordable – Online marketing strategies are relatively cheaper to deploy compared to other forms of marketing, such as TV, radio and billboards.
• Data collection and analysis – You can gather crucial data and feedback from customers through social media, customer reviews and onsite comments
• Diversification – There are various approaches to marketing your restaurant online, including direct emails, websites, social media, landing pages, directories and many more.
• Instant services and transactions – With the help of third-party integrations and partnerships, you can provide improved customer experience and swift service to edge your competition.

How To Market Your Restaurant Online

Here are five things you can do to promote your restaurant online:

1. Create A Compelling, Well-Organized Website/Landing Page

You need a website or landing page to market your restaurant online. The site will include information about your restaurant, address, contacts, services, recipes, promotions and anything else you want to share with your customers. You need sleek, user-friendly website customers can visit to browse your specials, order meals, or see what you offer. Making the landing page attractive and compelling will help keep visitors coming back. You should also optimize the website for search engines, especially local searches. This will boost organic traffic from real customers looking for restaurants in your area.

2. Add Your Business to Google Maps and Online Directories

Google maps offer an effective way to market your restaurant online. By adding your business to Maps, you will benefit from the separate ranking Google has for sites added to Maps. You still need to optimize the website for Google maps, so your restaurant can appear in visible positions. This requires keyword optimization, link building and several other practices that SEO encapsulates. Adding the restaurant to online directories is another great way to increase your presence. Various top directories list businesses for free while others charge a small fee. You should strive to have your restaurant listed in at least five local directories.

3. Promote Your Restaurant on Social Media

Social media platforms, such as Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, have millions of users. Approached strategically, you can use social media to attract new leads to your restaurant. These platforms allow you to create a business page, share stories, pictures and videos, send direct messages, run campaigns and achieve various things that increase your online presence. You can share memorable and inspiring stories about your dishes, chefs, restaurant and community to draw more people. More importantly, social media allows you to offer customer service and follow up. Being on social media is also great for your SEO.

4. Integrate Online Ordering Systems

Online ordering systems allow customers to visit your website, order their favorite meals and wait for the delivery without having to show up at your restaurant. If you are looking to branch out and grow your business online, it helps to integrate online ordering. Besides streamlining the ordering process, these systems allow you to collect data and track your restaurant’s performance. They separate your restaurant from others, resulting in more convenient experiences. You can also benefit from the extended network and partnerships, allowing you to reach more customers.

5. Loyalty Programs, Coupons and Discounts

Coupons, discounts and loyalty programs offer an incentive to try your business and many industries use these techniques. You can run online campaigns and giveaway contests to get more people talking about the restaurant. Promo codes and discounts can provide seasonal traffic boost to your website. On the other hand, loyalty programs will keep your customers coming back to the restaurant. You can allow customers to earn points on all orders they make online or giveaways for referring new customers. Customers can then redeem the points for various discounts and advantages.

Conclusion

There are various other ways you can market your restaurant online. Some examples include reaching out to influencers, sending email newsletters, integrating a sleek online menu and investing in mobile ads and PPC, among others. It is essential to monitor how your approaches are performing and determine strategies you should drop. Not all methods will work for your restaurant, so you must understand your unique needs and goals before choosing to market your restaurant online.

The post Marketing Your Restaurant Online appeared first on Orders2me.

More customers are using smartphones and online platforms to order food, which is significantly cheaper than commuting to a brick-and-mortar eatery. Online ordering systems are also very convenient, instantly providing customers with a list of options. For restaurants, these systems provide various features that streamline order checking and tracking.

But are they worth breaking the bank? Is your restaurant in desperate need of an online ordering system? If so, how much should you pay for deployment? Below, we answer all these questions and more concerning online restaurant orders.

What Are Online Ordering Systems?

According to studies, about 70% of people order meals directly through websites and smartphone apps. Over 40% also say they are likely to pick restaurants that offer online ordering. Essentially, these systems help you set up the infrastructure for receiving customer orders online and facilitating timely delivery. In most cases, the system is an integration of various order fulfillment tools.

There are several ordering systems online, ranging from third-party providers to commission-free services. However, while finding one should be effortless, not all will suit your needs. It is still important to review all offers carefully and ensure the system aligns with your goals.

Top Benefits of Online Ordering Systems

Here are some of the top advantages that merit investing in an online ordering system:

• Improved customer experience
• Fast, convenient order fulfillment
• Increased revenue from takeaways and online orders
• Better order tracking
• Data collection and reporting
• Customer retention

Cost of Integrating Online Ordering Systems

Various factors influence the cost you will pay for restaurant online ordering systems. However, your unique business needs have the most weight. For instance, if you have no online presence, integrating online ordering for your restaurant will begin with website design and creating a presence in various online platforms. On the other hand, if you already get some orders online through your website, you can find top-rated online ordering systems to streamline the infrastructure. Some of the crucial areas to explore include:

a) The Volume of Takeaway Orders

Takeaway customers are the natural target markets for deploying online ordering systems and home-delivered meals. If you have more takeaway orders in a day, you can integrate such systems and do a price markup to accommodate the delivery cost. You will also need an easily scalable app or system capable of tracking and fulfilling multiple orders. Restaurants that generate significant revenue from takeaways are more suited to adopting online ordering systems.

b) Features and Functionality

Online ordering systems come with various features to facilitate specific processes in the order fulfillment chain. This includes POS (point of sale), payment methods, order tracking and customer support. Systems with more integrations and features cost more. As such, you should review the feature set to avoid paying for components you don’t need. You can outline the key features and functions you need for your restaurant and proceed to find an online ordering system that has these core functions.

c) Speed and Security

When it comes to service reliability, speed is one of the crucial factors to consider. The priority is to implement systems that allow swift order checking and fulfillment, highlighted by a sleek, user-friendly interface and fast transactions. Security is also a priority, considering these systems involve storing sensitive user data and financial information. Naturally, systems with advanced security features and integrations will attract a higher fee than those relying on standard protocols.

d) Pricing

Some third-party providers charge varying commissions and pre-order fees. You can also find online ordering systems provided at a low flat rate for daily. Others charge a fixed subscription fee that covers all monthly orders. With so many options, finding affordable services shouldn’t be daunting. Simply review other aspects to have a list of reliable online ordering system providers before comparing prices. This will ensure you end up with systems that meet your restaurant’s needs.

How Much Should I Pay?

It is important to outline your needs before paying for online ordering systems. You should have a clear understanding of how the system and identifying core functionalities needed for efficient online order fulfillment. The amount you will end up paying will depend on the system you choose and factors unique to your restaurant. Essentially, if you get more orders, you will end up paying more.

The plan you choose will also influence how much you pay for the system. Paying commission on every order may suit your needs but is usually very expensive. You can choose monthly subscriptions and scale up when you start getting more orders. A typical restaurant online ordering system could cost anything from $90 to $200 per month.

However, each restaurant will have a unique plan depending on size, number of orders and other factors. Most ordering systems are deployed for PC and cloud (web-based, SaaS), but the best allows you to reach smartphone users, who are the primary target for most restaurants. Email marketing and customer retention tools may also mark up the cost, but are worth it.

What Is the Best Restaurant Online Ordering System for My Restaurant?

There’s no single best online ordering system that will meet the needs of all restaurants. As such, you should focus on systems designed with your business in mind. Numerous third-party systems target every restaurant from the smallest to the largest franchises. This calls for in-depth review and comparison. You should find an ordering system that improves your branding and raises more revenue for the restaurant. It should also be scalable to accommodate growth and online order influx.

Grow Your Brand and Revenue with Orders2Me

At Order2sMe, we focus on providing efficient systems to help you fulfill online orders without breaking the bank. Unlike other systems, like GrubHub and Uber eats, that charge you commission for every order, we offer a custom monthly subscription plan to help you plan for long-term growth while saving more money on online order fulfillment.

Order2sMe will deploy your online ordering system on all devices, including Web, PC and mobile. Contact our support team today for more inquiries, including integrating an online ordering system for your restaurant.

The post Online Ordering System Budget: How much should you really be spending? appeared first on Orders2me.

As the coronavirus pandemic rages throughout the world, governments are trying to come up with new regulations to keep the virus at bay every day. The goal is to slow down the virus and eventually defeat it. Defeating it could mean several things. We could be looking at a vaccine, a disease that would go away, or another seasonal flu-like disease that would come and go. In the meantime, it is on us to act responsibly and preserve our health, as well as the health of those around us. Keep on reading and learn about the connection between action against coronavirus and online food ordering.

At this point, we have seen many dining areas close their doors, including those in Maryland, New York, and as of recently D.C. Even where there is no official order to shut down dining rooms, you should take initiative and do it. Keep your staff, your customers, and your community safe.

Closing down your dining room without ruining your business

Federal, state, and city governments are looking to protect the people. However, no one is looking to put you out of business. Even with the virus that’s hard to control, the economy needs to stay strong. Without the strong economy, we will be facing a whole different issue, during and after COVID – 19 pandemic. This is the time when we need to be innovative and resourceful. You can maintain your restaurant business by focusing on takeouts and delivery.

How do take-outs and delivery help your customers in this situation?

There are many ways you are reducing risky contact and exposure by allowing people to only have meals to go. As we are all aware by now, COVID-19 is most commonly transmitted during person-to-person contact. Another common way of spreading is via respiratory droplets which may get the virus on some of the objects an infected person was in the proximity of. Having people in your dining room means having a lot of people potentially exposed to the virus at the same time. On the other hand, with take-outs, your customers have only minimal exposure to another person, that is, your staff member. 

By also offering a delivery service, you will be doing this world a favor. Your customers will get to stay in isolation meaning less mingling and fewer chances for the virus to spread.

How do take-outs and delivery help you cope with the crises?

Even though putting a lock on your dining room sounds difficult, it is also the best solution for your restaurant. Running a business that is frequented by a great number of people could require extensive prep work at this point. You would have to introduce additional health precautions to keep your restaurant sanitary. You would also have to provide safety gear to keep your staff (and the customers) protected. Not only that this is complicated, expensive, and unattractive (with wait staff wearing surgical masks), it could also fail. You could help the situation get worse, and you could risk your business’s reputation. Keep your staff members safe and your reputation intact.

An easy – to – use online ordering system

Are you wondering where you can get an ordering system on such short notice? This is nothing out of the ordinary for us. At orders2.me we provide a direct ordering system that feels like it was custom-made for your business. Your customers will still be able to feel your spirit when ordering online. You will save time and get concise orders. The process of ordering online does not require your staff’s attention until the order is complete and you get it all in writing. This minimizes the possibility of human error happening on your side, which cannot always be said about phone orders. Register quickly by clicking here and get your online ordering system up and running in no time.

Help the nation and the world fight the crises. Stay in business but help your customers reduce their exposure to the virus. This system is so convenient that you will regret not having had a chance to use it in the past and will look forward to using it in the future.

Follow regulations, be responsible, and take initiative. Together we can work to make this pandemic a thing of the past.

The post Overcoming Coronavirus Crisis with Online Food Ordering appeared first on Orders2me.

A kitchen manager used to be the chef. However, nowadays, to get the load off the chefs, to focus more on admin and management skills, or due to the inability to hire an actual chef who could do it all, some restaurateurs opt to hire kitchen managers who are not master chefs. Despite this, a kitchen manager still knows a thing or two about cooking. What makes this position an art, is that it requires a unique set of a great variety of skills.

Organize processes

We already explained that cooking is no longer a primary responsibility of a kitchen manager. However, a kitchen manager still has to know what the process of preparing food looks like. They take part in the process of setting up stations and delegating work. Delegating means that everyone has a set of duties, which they have clearly been made aware of. This type of work requires great organizational skills, as well as great communication skills.

HR

The job of a kitchen manager is to know what each position in the kitchen entails. In addition, they need to know what type of skills/personality traits the person filling each position is to have. They will most likely be the ones interviewing new kitchen staff. Not only that, but they are also responsible for providing appropriate training when required. In addition to recruitment, they are also responsible for staff payments. These responsibilities require excellent people skills, industry knowledge, and some accounting skills. 

However, this is not where their HR work ends. They are also to evaluate the work of the kitchen staff. The manager keeps files on the staff, motivates them, reward and reprimand accordingly.

Preparing the kitchen budget

Preparing the budget for the kitchen requires serious accounting skills. A kitchen manager, as mentioned above, is in charge of the staff payments, supplies and vendor’s invoices, etc. They should always be on top of their costs and know where and how to cut back.

Supplies

The procurement of supplies requires a high level of knowledge of the amount of business the restaurant has. In addition, they need to know the rate at which guests order certain items from the menu. On top of that, it also includes the awareness of the food preparation process. Finally, there are the food storing regulations. Frankly, a kitchen manager needs a set of skills and information to make up for the fact that they cannot see the future. This should help them know how much food is to be ordered at a certain moment in time so nothing is lacking and nothing goes to waste. 

Food storage and sanitation

This means that the kitchen manager needs to know what the best way is to store food (both cooked and raw) so it maintains its freshness. In addition, they have to have the knowledge and be certified in the field of food safety and sanitation. It is up to them to frequently review and always ensure that all kitchen staff behave in accordance with sanitation standards and work in safe and hygienic conditions.

What’s on the menu?

The kitchen manager is usually the first person to know the answer to this question. They actively participate in the creation of the menu. It is their decision how to replace certain unavailable ingredients. Also, whether and how, some or all, menu items can be prepared to fit different dietary demands.. 

There are different levels of education a kitchen manager can have. However, seeing that it is hard to find a single course that will prepare them for everything they will come across in their careers, the best training comes from the experience, as well as continuing education. You are looking at a person who is a great professional, organizer, and an excellent communicator who is present everywhere at all times with business and financial acumen and clean hands.

The post The Art of Managing a Kitchen appeared first on Orders2me.

If this year you have an intention of exploring the country, or you are a tourist traveling to the US it helps to know where you can get the best bite and/or memorable dining experience. The best places to eat in the US feature a variety of cousins and ambiances for everyone to enjoy. Check out which places you will have to visit this year. This list features opinions of industry experts according to Big 7 Travel, and user ratings on Yelp.

 As winning awards doesn’t always mean popularity with the general public, the two lists only overlap by one name, which will be our number one pick. We will then present the number ones in each category, followed by the top choices for some of the most visited cities in the US.

Flight Restaurant and Wine bar – Memphis, Tennessee

A popular example of fine dining, loved by many. A luxurious dining hall can seem distant to many, yet it is warmed up by pleasant service and excellent food. If you are looking for an intimate experience, this is the right place. The tables are arranged in such a way to guarantee privacy. This is completed with a wine cellar that offers privacy, as well as a venue for private events.

San Diego

Herb & Wood

This is one of the trendiest dining experiences you will find in San Diego. The menu combines local dishes and Mediterranean cuisine. The wood-fired dishes add to the rustic charm of the place. Make your choice of the ambiance, the dining hall or the patio, it is impossible to make a mistake.

Shawarma Guys

Yelp’s number 1. It is a great place to get food from and provide your own dining experience as this is one of the best food trucks in California. They think of everything so apart from providing excellent food with smiles on their faces, they also try to provide food for everyone by introducing vegetarian and vegan dishes.

New York

Dubrovnik

A winner of the Michelin Bib Gourmand award 2020 with traditional dishes coming from the south of Croatia. Inspired by their nostalgia, perhaps, the owners have managed to bring the atmosphere of the medieval town of Dubrovnik to the urban city of New York.

Hold Fast Kitchen and Spirits

This is a warm cocktail and tapas bar. Their bites are something to be talked about. This combined with the vibe and the service is what makes this place stand out.

Los Angeles

Bestia 

This is the number one restaurant on the Big 7’s list. Not only that the food is of excellent taste and very photogenic, but it is also green and healthy. The food is prepared with local and organic ingredients. Come and enjoy this state-of-the-art food in a modern ambiance.

Pisces Poke & Ramen

This restaurant’s ambition was to create an eco-friendly chain of poke and ramen restaurants. The kitchen is run by an experienced sushi chef who used his experience to create unique tasting food and signature dishes. There are also the more common choices provided for their convenience

Washington DC 

Federalist Pig 

This is a classic American restaurant located in the nation’s capital. You will enjoy the wood-smoked barbecue and a cozy atmosphere. It is among favorite restaurants of barbecue critics everywhere. There is not much more to say until you decide to give this place a go and try for yourself.

Farmbird

Modern and somewhat industrialist setting, providing what could be a blend of modern and traditional American food. This is one of Yelp’s top picks. Their order suggestion for this place is an avocado lime salad.

Las Vegas

Honey Salt

The restaurant will provide shelter from the cities loud, bright, and busy atmosphere. A relaxed setting in which you will be able to enjoy modern American food and draft beers. A particularly rich menu can please every guest.

Karved

In their own words, Karved provides a modernized version of your favorite comfort food. They boast with their seasoned rotisserie meat and homemade sauces. Get pulled pork, Rotisserie chicken or porchetta, steak, soup, salad in sandwiches or on plates. The simple way they describe their serves puts it all together nicely. The food combined with great customer experience is what got this place on Yelp’s list. 

Chicago 

Girl & the Goat

Famous for its “palatable small plates”, this restaurant is one of Chicago’s most attractive places to eat. For a dramatic dining experience, you can watch the food being prepared in its open kitchen.

Nini’s Deli

 This is a Family restaurant. It has been with the same family for over thirty years. They are a valuable part of the local community. The customers have described it as pleasant, clean, and convenient. They offer a blend of Latin American tastes.

Combining the opinions of experts and customers, this list ensures that on your next travel, you have a safe choice of a place to eat. Many of these places managed to get on the list by, of course, providing great service and food but also staying close to their customers with online ordering and food delivery options.

The post Top USA Restaurants in 2020 appeared first on Orders2me.

Review the target market

The theme which was chosen for the restaurant you want to promote determines your primary target market. Look somewhat deeper and recognize whether there are character or lifestyle traits that could attract a less obvious target customer to your restaurant. Try to adapt your establishment or offer to include them as well. 

For example, If you are a part of the restaurant which serves Mediterranean food, apart from catering to those who enjoy the said cuisine, you could also cater to people with special diets, special needs, families, pet owners, etc. The choices are many, it only depends on which change is worth making. These minor adjustments could make you the only restaurant in your neighborhood with a vegan menu, or the best local destination for family outings.

Daily offers

Before we get into more complex thinking on the subject, start with daily specials, or daily offers. Offer certain dishes, or a combination of dishes at a modified price. Most importantly, promote it like it is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. What restaurants usually do is keep a board with a daily offer in front of the restaurant. It helps people decide if they want to eat and where they want to do it.

Lunch hour – Rush hour

Depending on where your business is located, you could easily take advantage of the fact that busy business people have to grab lunch somewhere. Visit local businesses and offer special deals for their employees at your establishment. Make an offer on the price, but also introduce a system so they could order food to be delivered to the office, or prepared and ready when they come in for their lunch. This time-saving feature will prove to be a great perk.

Host events

Present your restaurant as a perfect venue for corporate events, family gatherings, charity dinners, etc. This could bring in some additional business. You could also get some media coverage depending on the type of the event. 

Try being the host and the organizer. These events could be a part of your entertainment. You could have live musicians, stand up comedians, quizzes, contests, etc.

Remember, it is always good to keep the restaurant open to the public. If possible, keep a section of your restaurant available to those who have nothing to do with the event. This way you won’t have to turn them down and send them away to a different place.

Social media

Social media is a great advantage of our time. It has never been easier to communicate and promote. With social media accounts, you can promote your brand and show off your restaurant in the best light. Organize photo sessions of your ambiance and your food. Post about the events which took place in your establishment. Always find a reason to talk about it.

Inspire your social media followers to take an interest in what you have to say by organizing online contests. Let your restaurant  be talked about. 

Endorsement

People like the success which is why endorsement has worked like a charm across all industries for decades, even centuries probably in some ancient form of marketing. To be closer to the success, or the fact that a reputable person, or an idol even, know how to make a good choice, people will follow their steps and do what they do. Get a local celebrity to frequent your restaurant. Lure them in with your food and your ambiance. Those who respect the celebrity will probably hear about it and take their lead.

Food bloggers

Food bloggers are people who have gained a reputation by knowing a little something about the business you are in. Most importantly, food bloggers have followers who trust their advice. Invite them to your restaurant, make sure you excel with your food and your service and have them write about you in their blog. Alternatively, if you are not certain who to get in touch with, if it’s hard to get someone local to you, you can still include them in your posts or articles. Come up with a topic that may interest your restaurant guests and ask several food bloggers about their opinion. Use their opinions to write an article and tag the bloggers who participated. A well-written article will probably be featured in their blogs as well. 

One of the ways to get a hold of a food blogger is to become one. You and your associates probably have a lot to say about your experience in the field. Get people’s attention and they will want to come and see what you are all about.

When attracting new customers, we usually focus on promotion. Another thing we like to focus on is the offer. Make no mistake, both are crucial. However, so is convenience. We talked about time-saving previously in this article. Help busy people save time, or simply help people get some rest by offering user-friendly online ordering options. Tell them who you are, what you offer, how to get to you, and explain that you are in the hospitality business by being convenient. They will love you for it.

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