10 Rules of a Resilient Restaurant

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One of the key takeaways for business owners during the pandemic has been the importance of being able to adapt to change and unforeseen events. Restaurants have amazed us all with their innovative strategies and determination during a period when the chances of closure were at a much higher risk. Communities have banded together to support these enterprises in return.

We’ve seen eateries adjust in order to succeed, by doing things like:

  • Elaborating a delivery/takeout-only business strategy
  • Designing outdoor dining areas
  • Changing their interior design to comply with regulations and enhance safety
  • Inventing new ways to keep their revenue and business afloat
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10 rules of a resilient restaurant

Establish efficient takeout and delivery systems 

Following Covid, many restaurants have opened online sales channels and transitioned to food delivery services to keep their businesses afloat. Even though restaurants are opening their doors again, now that governments are easing covid restrictions around the world, customer needs have changed. 

They now prioritize safety and enjoy contactless option payments as well as the ability to order from wherever they are with just a few clicks. Restaurants that don’t adapt their business strategy to respond to these needs will quickly fall behind. 

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Pay attention to restaurant layout

Flexible seating and displays are a great way to make your restaurant’s interior design more resilient. Equally, the use of movable glass dividers is an excellent way to respect social distancing and provide peace of mind to both customers and restaurant personnel.  The ability to move these glass walls/partitions is important because it provides flexibility. For example, if tables need to be pushed together to seat a large family, the barriers can be adjusted to accommodate the new seating arrangement. 

Adapt your menu

Your menu says a lot about your restaurant. When you open a food delivery restaurant, you need to pay special attention to adapting your menu to delivery systems. Furthermore, utilizing food portioning technology, it is critical to offer deals and keep prices under control. 

It’s also clever to pre-stock or order a large quantity of reusable cutlery and plates. You can go to successful fast service and meal delivery restaurants, assess their goals, take notes, and incorporate their strategies to optimize your menu.

Develop innovative strategies

Innovation has always been a must in the restaurant sector, and is now more necessary than ever in the post-COVID environment. Below are some notable innovations taking place in the restaurant industry:

  • Labor streamlining and the abolition of labor specialists: Employee cross-training has long been viewed as a cost-effective strategy, and it remains so in the current context.
  • New mobile apps: Mobile marketing and operations are still critical for businesses dealing with the pandemic. The operating environment will continue to be influenced by advancements in app capability and the creation of new industry-specific apps.
  • Automation and robotics: By automating tasks, new technological advancements will help lower both product and labor expenses. White Castle is currently trialing Flippy, an automated burger-flipping robot that has reduced food waste while increasing customer satisfaction by delivering a consistent product at faster rates.

Expand what you offer

Panera Bread launched a $ 8.99/month all-you-can-drink coffee subscription service earlier this year. When combined with delivery, it gives guests a reason to return to Panera every time they crave coffee.

Restaurants began offering meal kits and subscriptions during the coronavirus closure. Meal kits are appealing not only because of their novelty, but also because they reduce interaction between the restaurant staff and the food. The latter can provide comfort to visitors concerned about virus transmission while still providing a high-quality, low-effort meal.

Leverage technology

In these trying times, having the appropriate technology may make or destroy a business. It not only assists restaurateurs in optimizing operations, but can also increase traffic and revenue. Consumers expect restaurants to provide digital ordering and payment platforms for convenience and security in today’s climate. 

Digital restaurant orders have surged this past year. It should be a priority to implement and optimize a user-friendly online ordering system. To ensure that clients have the information they need, update websites and web listings with the latest menu, hours of operation, and phone number.

Other technologies highlighted by The National Restaurant Association include contactless payments that reduce person-to-person transactions, self-order kiosks that shorten lines and give customers a way to place their order with minimal contact, and guest engagement loyalty program apps that motivate customers to return. Adopting these technologies can assist restaurants in resuming operations, running smoothly, and providing a secure eating experience.

The digital customer experience is critical for developing loyalty and gaining repeat customers. Customers can be engaged through personalized offers, and consumer data can be used to make decisions about what to market, how to remodel the menu, and more.

Spread the word through social media

People frequently use social media to learn more about your company. Hosting flash sales, prizes, or even exciting window display presentations or events is one approach to increase foot traffic to your restaurant. For example, you could say that the first 15 individuals who come into your restaurant on a specific day will receive a free gift. 

This can also help spread the word about your company, expand your social media presence, and, as a result, boost your revenue. Equally, you should consider increasing your Internet marketing efforts and launching specials and offers campaigns, so that your online presence grabs the attention of your customers. Make changes to your online information and delivery times. Create campaigns for your current consumers and inform them about your most recent specials and promos.

Ads on social media and Google might help you find new consumers. Customers are spending far more time online than they have in the past. Restaurants should be present where their clients are, whether it’s on YouTube, Instagram, or Google. If you don’t advertise on these channels, you’re missing out on a chance to interact with your target demographic.

Pay attention to branding

Unless you’re a mom-and-pop company with deep roots in your neighborhood, most restaurants need to make an impression with their interior design. This isn’t to say that every restaurant should have unusual wall colors, but it does mean that your interior design should be deliberate and reflect your brand. Remember that your restaurant’s design must tell a captivating tale. The best way to improve the inside of your restaurant is to include your story – be it through posters, decorations, or atmosphere.

10 ways to increase your restaurant profits

Develop a relationship with the community

Restaurants should talk about how they give back to their communities. For their daily meals, customers all over the world rely on Internet orders. Restaurants have risen up and stretched out to help the nation at a time like this. Zomato created a social media campaign about how much they appreciate their delivery drivers for providing such an important service.

Aside from offering 24-hour delivery, there have been reports of restaurants providing donations and meals to hospitals and low-wage workers. Restaurants have even assisted grocery and retail businesses in the transportation and storage of goods. Share such inspirational stories with your customers on your social media accounts and website. A good relationship with the community yields loyal employees and customers.

Manage your inventory efficiently

Inventory is your restaurant’s lifeblood. Improper inventory management can therefore be fatal. Your restaurant can lose sales and tarnish its reputation if it has too little inventory. On the other hand, having too much inventory is a significant expense for your business and necessitates additional storage space. Excess inventory raises the danger of waste as well.

Restaurant inventory management is a process that allows you to keep track of the  materials and supplies you have on hand for shifts in real time. You will be able to place more cost-effective food, beverage, and supply orders as a result of your efforts. Inventory management is critical to your day-to-day operations as well as your long-term objectives.

Maximize your profits through an inventory app

An inventory app like no other

To grow in a post-Covid environment, you need a good inventory app. RapidBar can help you optimize your business. Here’s how:

  • Features that can help you save money: By automatically calculating and regulating drink costs, you can better manage your restaurant or bar’s profit margins.
  • Batch Recipes: You can create recipe preparations and track costs as ingredients are added. Batch information and restaurant bar recipes are also available on a daily basis through our app for better stock control. The software enables real-time access to retail sales and inventory counts, preventing errors and count anomalies.
  • Easier purchasing: Orders are controlled directly in the app, with filters for par levels and out-of-stock items.
  • Improved collaboration: For better control, you can assign permissions to several users in the mobile app. Co-workers can count inventories but don’t have access to information they don’t need.
  • Data is accessible from any location: With quick access to all the inventory data you need, you can make better business decisions for your bar or restaurant.

All this and more can be achieved with RapidBar’s inventory management app. By using it, you can take your restaurant operations to the next level and thrive in a dynamic post-Covid environment.

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