EATING OUT : RESTAURANT DINING IN NEXT NORMAL
EATING OUT : RESTAURANT DINING IN NEXT NORMAL
The Covid-19 outbreak has drastically altered the way we live. Millions of people have lost their loved ones, suffered employment loss, and more. The fear of coronavirus is still genuine, despite the availability of vaccines.
This all-pervasive fear has resulted in a mammoth financial loss, especially in the restaurant industry. The demand for eating out has dropped significantly, which has resulted in a massive dip in profit levels. You might wonder how this could be true. After all, people have still been ordering food online, and food delivery apps are thriving.
While restaurants may be back on the path to recovery, many try to stay alive in the market. The only way for them to profit is to bring back customers. While ordering food online, customers think about many things such as pricing, delivery time, etc. That's why they hold themselves back while ordering multiple items. On the other hand, when they visit restaurants, they order freely because they enjoy the atmosphere, service, and the company of other people.
Let's learn some ways to bring people back to restaurants in the new normal:
Invest in the dining experience for the sake of anxious customers
As mentioned, customers still have a sense of insecurity, despite the availability of vaccines. Therefore, it is significant for restaurant owners to make the dining experience secure for customers. For example, tables should be sanitized, and body temperature should be checked during each individual's entry, reservations should be given to vaccinated customers, staff should wear masks and gloves all the time, etc. Such steps will instill confidence in customers, which, as a positive outcome, will increase the footfall in restaurants.
Reduce wait time
The thing that annoys customers too much is the long wait time. The frustration starts building up when they wait for more than 30-45 minutes for a meal. Therefore, if you are a restaurant owner, strive to reduce the wait time as much as possible.
For instance, you can inform customers about the wait time in advance to avoid quarrels, offer complimentary snacks to keep them busy, invest in employee training so that wait staff and kitchen staff communicate effectively to get the orders ready in time, etc.
Another method is to digitize a few processes so that customers get an outstanding dining experience and give five-star ratings on social media platforms. At present, customers are allowed to reserve tables online, but you should take your game to the next level by enabling them to order their favorite food in advance when they are on their way to your restaurant.
Besides enhancing their overall dining experience, it will help your brand to stand out from the crowd and enjoy a high footfall.
Develop a new economic model
The coronavirus outbreak has significantly negatively impacted the restaurant industry's economics. The only way to sustain in the market for an extended period is to develop a new economic model. It is not tough to do if you think from a customer perspective.
For example, the way of handling operations like curbside, drive-through, etc. can be optimized, the menu and pricing of dishes can be re-architected, customer relationships can be strengthened via digital communication and loyalty programs, customer delight can be achieved by simply offering take-home food items, limited-time offers, gifts during festive seasons, etc.
Summing up
It is an arduous task for restaurant owners to bring back the old times, but they have to get out-of-the-box ideas to keep their business alive in the current scenario. Some people have started to come out to live their life exactly as they were before, while others are still cautious. Therefore, it is imperative to go the extra mile to instill confidence in people to draw their attention.
For more insights on how technology and digital transformation solutions can help your business bounce back, check out Cogent Info's blog section today.
