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Embed Digital Menus & Online Ordering in Your Website: 5 Effective Methods
With takeaway trends constantly evolving, staying ahead of the curve has become more important than ever. Self-ordering kiosks have emerged as the latest trend in the restaurant and hospitality industry, revolutionizing how customers place orders.
The days of waiting in long queues just to place your order at a takeaway are over. A new approach to ordering via self-ordering kiosks has emerged, streamlining the process. Self-ordering kiosks are here to stay, with leading brands like MacDonald’s embracing this innovative approach to ordering. In this comprehensive guide, we bring you everything you need to know about these revolutionary self-ordering kiosks, including how they work, their benefits, and their applicability across different stores.
Understanding Self-Ordering Kiosks
As new solutions emerge in the hospitality industry, kiosk ordering systems have become a game-changer for takeaway stores and eateries with limited dine-in space. The streamlined design and intuitive interface of kiosk systems cater to the fast-paced nature of takeaway operations, providing customers with a convenient and hassle-free ordering experience. In such settings, where speed and accuracy are paramount, kiosk ordering ensures a seamless process from menu exploration to payment.
One key functionality that sets kiosk ordering apart is its ability to effectively promote the menu and empower customers to customize their orders. These interactive systems showcase vibrant visuals of the menu items, enticing customers with appetizing images and detailed descriptions. Customers can then personalize their orders to meet their preferences, adjusting ingredients or portion sizes with ease. The ordering process is further streamlined as customers navigate through the intuitive interface, making selections and modifications effortlessly.
What’s more, kiosks facilitate the payment process, allowing customers to complete transactions securely and promptly. Upon completion, customers receive a digital or printed receipt with a unique order number, ensuring a smooth and organized order fulfillment. The combination of these functionalities positions kiosk ordering as a valuable asset for takeaway-oriented businesses or those with limited dine-in spaces.
How Kiosk Ordering Works
As initially stated, kiosk ordering systems empower your customers to be in charge of their takeaway or eat-in experience. Here is a quick guide on how kiosk ordering works:
The takeaway business strategically places a self-serving kiosk.
The customer places an order by selecting items on digital menu on the touchscreen.
The customer customizes the order to their needs.
The customer selects a payment method and proceeds to pay.
The order is transferred to the kitchen or point-of-sale (POS).
The cashier delivers the order to the customer, or the customer picks up the order at the collection point when it’s ready, depending on the business’s mode of operation.
5 Benefits of Self-Ordering Kiosks
Kiosk ordering systems benefit both the customer and the business. Here are some advantages of self-ordering kiosks:
Reduced Wait Times
Self-ordering kiosks significantly reduce wait times by avoiding long queues. Instead of waiting for a staff member to collect their orders, customers have the freedom to place orders as soon as they access the kiosk. They can order and pay for their meals and drinks electronically without having to interact with the staff, which can be time-consuming. Also, it is easier for customers to tailor their orders to their preferences, regardless of how busy the restaurant is. They can quickly navigate the menu and customize orders without having to consult with a staff member. This results in seamless and faster ordering.
Improved Order Accuracy
In a traditional ordering model, order inaccuracies were common. This often resulted in conflicts and dissatisfied customers. However, the self-ordering kiosks enable customers to place orders by themselves. With an intuitive and interactive interface, these kiosks allow customers to accurately place orders. What’s more, they get an opportunity to confirm their orders before proceeding to pay. This eliminates the probability of a customer or employee committing a mistake when placing or taking the order.
Enhanced Customer Experience
Modern customers expect more technology and innovation in every business. And self-ordering kiosk systems are one of the innovations that capture customers’ attention. Instead of waiting to be served, self-service kiosks allow customers to be actively involved and in charge of the ordering process. This fosters a sense of empowerment and satisfaction. Also, these kiosks are easier and more convenient for customers and allow for more personalized ordering experiences.
Improved Efficiency
Initially, restaurants and hospitality businesses often experienced long queues as customers had to wait before placing orders. However, self-ordering kiosks have revolutionized ordering by automating the process. For instance, when a customer places an order on the kiosk, it goes directly to the main service area or kitchen. This means no employees are required to collect customer orders. Instead, employees focus more on processing and delivering orders within the shortest time possible, minimizing operational delays. As a result, it improves operational efficiency, making the business more successful.
Cost Savings
Kiosk ordering systems help address the issue of rising labour costs. These kiosks automate the ordering process, allowing customers to place orders without the help of a staff. Therefore, businesses require fewer employees to help customers with ordering. This significantly reduces labour expenses by lowering overhead costs. Also, it helps address the labour shortage problem.
Which Stores Can Use Kiosk Ordering?
Kiosk ordering systems provide an easy-to-use and convenient option for those who wish to place orders without human assistance. Here are some stores which may find kiosk ordering systems useful:
- Takeaways that do not offer
- Fast-food joints or quick-service restaurants
- Entertainment venues (e.g., Theme Parks and Cinemas)
Besides restaurants and entertainment venues, kiosks can be effectively deployed in other areas, such as retail stores with high traffic and transportation hubs.
Factors to Consider When Launching a Kiosk Ordering System
Here are some key considerations when launching kiosk ordering for your store:
User-friendly interface
Kiosks are used by a diverse set of customers, and not all are tech-savvy. Therefore, you should design an intuitive and easy-to-navigate interface to ensure all customers can place orders seamlessly.
Attractive digital menu
When setting up your digital menu, ensure to put the right level o. Use attractive images, write clear descriptions of your offerings where necessary, include allergen information and offer the right number of personalized options. If you are working with tourists or people that speak multiple languages, ensure to translate your menu.
Integration with POS systems
How well does the kiosk integrate with existing POS systems? Ensure the kiosk ordering system is compatible with existing systems for smoother order processing and inventory management.
Maintenance and support
There’s always a possibility that your kiosk ordering system will malfunction or break down. Therefore, implementing a robust maintenance plan and providing timely support is essential as it helps address issues promptly. This can help reduce downtime in case of an unexpected system failure.
Sufficient staff training
When launching a kiosk, ensure your staff is thoroughly trained to help customers with kiosk operations should any need arise. Also, ensure they can handle complex inquiries to facilitate seamless customer support and avoid costly errors.
What Payment Options Does Kiosk Ordering Systems Support?
Kiosk ordering systems support a wide range of payment options, enabling customers to seamlessly pay for their orders. Here are some payment options that are supported by kiosks:
Contactless payment
These are payment options that allow customers to pay using contactless methods such as mobile wallets, credit cards, QR codes, and Near Field Communication (NFC) technology. This option further enhances convenience as customers will only need to wait for their orders to be processed rather than going to pay at the cashier’s point.
Cash payment later
Kiosks can be customized to allow customers to pay for their orders using cash when they pick up the order from the cashier. While this option is suitable for those who prefer using cash, it may lead to some delays, especially during peak hours, when customers will have to queue as they wait to pay for their orders. However, this is suitable for businesses that don’t want to impact their way of issuing receipts and prefer the customer to order on a kiosk and pay at the cashier.
Conclusion
It’s no secret that kiosk ordering has become a transformative technology providing numerous benefits. However, businesses must understand how it works, its benefits, and its applicability to successfully harness the power of kiosk ordering to improve customer experience and satisfaction. Also, they must consider several key factors, such as user-friendliness and integration with existing systems, to ensure seamless adoption of kiosks into their stores. As we look forward, kiosk ordering systems will become more popular, especially in the hospitality industry, thanks to their ability to improve efficiency, customer experience, and productivity while minimizing overhead costs.
GonnaOrder: Transforming Your Kiosk Ordering Experience
GonnaOrder provides an easy-to-launch kiosk proposition that supports ordering and payments. Therefore, restaurants can expand their channels beyond takeaway, dine-in, and delivery and introduce the kiosk self-ordering mode. See how GonnaOrder has transformed the kiosk ordering experience in Cappuccio Café Craft in Athens.