Restaurant technology overview

When you hear "restaurant technology," you might imagine a futuristic setting where robots replace servers. In actuality, restaurant technology is already here to help real people, like your staff, and it’s not as scary as it may seem.

Restaurant technology can help your staff succeed in both small and big ways. Implementing tech at different touchpoints is a proven way to combat labor shortages, manage operations, and make your staff's lives easier.

This article takes you on a tour of some of our favorite restaurant tech. Here's how restaurant technology can help your staff and business thrive (and provide peace of mind).

• 47% of operators agree that automation is essential to their future success.

• Restaurant operators are expecting the labor crunch to continue at least through 2022.

• On average, restaurants use three technology vendors for their managing back-office operations.

7 ways the top restaurant delivery technology can support your staff

1. Use OpenTable for reservation management

‍Restaurant technology comes in handy when it comes to reservations. Requiring reservations helps you manage orders and increases customer touchpoints. It creates a channel for guests to send feedback about their experiences, ultimately increasing the probability of a customer returning to your restaurant. But there's only so much time in a day for your staff to field phone calls. OpenTable is an amazing platform for reservation management and smooth shifts for your staff.

2. Manage staff with ease

Restaurant technology already exists to help you manage staff like a pro. Manage your team’s schedules, timesheets, communication, tasks, tips and more — all in one place with Otter partner 7shifts.

3. Optimize your Google Business Profile

Did you know the average optimized Google Business Profile listing gets 5x more views than a listing that has not been optimized? Having easily discoverable info about your restaurant is a surefire way to decrease your staff's time on the phone. Google is essentially the modern-day phonebook and will automatically fill out the information on your page with what it finds—so first things first, make sure to edit the info on your page for accuracy.

Make sure to list the correct hours, contact info, address and upload your complete, current menu. If you’re interested in learning more about how you can create and optimize your restaurant’s Google Business profile, check out this article on the Otter blog.

4. Implement QR codes

‍The pandemic popularized the use of QR codes. Many restaurants are keeping contactless menus and ordering systems to increase efficiency for staff. In fact, QR code payments will see growth of 240% between 2020 to 2025. Set up QR code ordering so your customer’s orders can go straight from their phone to the kitchen - Otter partner ChowNow does this brilliantly. QR codes and self-ordering kiosks also lets your staff handle more orders which means more tips.

5. List your restaurant on multiple third-party apps

Do you know the average person has at least two food delivery apps on their smartphone? In 2022, it’s a must for success for restaurants to be listed on more than one delivery app.  

Being on multiple delivery platforms will increase your restaurant’s reach, boost sales, and give you a competitive advantage. The more sales your restaurant has, the more job security your staff has.

Otter partners with 17+ delivery apps, such as UberEats, DoorDash, Grubhub, ChowNow, and more so you can easily manage and add new integrations. Otter also integrates with most D2C platforms (D2C is also an amazing time-saver for your staff as it decreases phone time). Additionally, Otter integrates with over 17 POS systems – so your staff can reduce human error, save time, and manage orders with ease.

Ultimately, listing your restaurant on multiple delivery apps is strategic. Think of it this way: the more places your restaurant lives virtually, the more eyes and brand awareness you receive, which ultimately leads to more sales that drive your business and pay your hard-working staff. See a full list of Otter integrations here.

6. Use an auto-attendant

The good thing about robots is that they never scroll Instagram during a shift, get sick, act cranky or quit. Using an auto-attendant can save guests hold times and share FAQs. It also provides a better employment experiment for your staff, freeing them to focus on in-house operations. If you’re considering using auto intelligence, there are two options: Orderscape (a feature similar to Alexa) or valiant AI (a drive-thru attendant replaced with conversational technology).

7. Simplify delivery with Otter

‍Say goodbye to tablet hell with Otter. Designed to decrease delivery headaches, Otter sends your POS straight to the kitchen and lets you manage all your deliveries in one place. You can also easily update menus, unlock analytics, and enjoy automated marketing features. Handoffs by Otter also eliminates pick-up counter chaos. Trust us, your staff will thank you later when you partner with Otter.

Restaurant technology is a great way to support your staff. Managing in-house operations and delivery options is a hefty task – but implementing tech can help your restaurant run like a well-oiled machine.