![\"q2-2011-evolving-technology\"](\"https:\/\/leapsparkagency.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2022\/08\/q2-2011-evolving-technology.jpg\" "\\"q2-2011-evolving-technology\\"")
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\nTechnology is advancing, and there\u2019s no stopping it. There\u2019s no pause button, no slow-mo, no chance to scream \u201cHold on! Wait up!\u201d And what\u2019s more, it\u2019s not just one technology that\u2019s evolving, but multiple technologies that are all converging to change the way we learn, consume, communicate \u2014 and eat.<\/p>\n
\nWhether watching the breakneck speed of mobile phone evolution, the birth of practical tablet use, or the integration of online systems into television and personal interactions, it\u2019s easy to see that we\u2019re opening doors to greater efficiencies in our everyday lifestyles. But what does it all mean for the food industry? For restaurateurs?<\/p>\n
\nClearly, keeping up with the times is no longer a simple question of if they should start integrating technologies into their locations \u2014 but how.<\/p>\n
\nWhen looking for innovative ways for technology to enhance your customers\u2019 experiences, it can be difficult to know where to start. Interactive menus, payment kiosks, in-line entertainment \u2014 there seem to be a slew of options available. One way to find the right tool for your business\u2019s needs, though, is to break down the restaurant experience into stages before digging deep to see where enhancements could be most effective. <\/p>\n
\nHere are some avenues to consider: <\/p>\n
\n\u2022 What\u2019s the first point of contact your customers have with your brand?<\/p>\n
\n\u2022 Are there ways to get your customers started on the purchase process \u2014 through online reservations or online ordering \u2014 before they even reach your door? <\/p>\n
\n\u2022 Can order time be reduced and order accuracy improved through advanced technology? <\/p>\n
\n\u2022 Is there a method of pre-ordering (whether customers are at home, standing in line, waiting for a table, or sitting at a table) that makes sense for your restaurant? <\/p>\n
\n\u2022 Is there a way to engage the customer or to begin the brand experience even when they\u2019re standing outside of your location? <\/p>\n
\n\u2022 Pagers, hand-held order taking, clever entertainment in the waiting area \u2014 there are ways to let customers know they are high on your list of priorities, even if they\u2019re simply standing in line or waiting for a table. <\/p>\n
\n\u2022 Is there a more efficient process that could help seat customers faster? Digital kiosks could allow your wait staff to update greeters on table progress and availability in a much quicker way. <\/p>\n
\n\u2022 What technologies are available to make bill payment an easier process? Would any of these allow your customers to finish up quicker or let you turn tables faster? <\/p>\n
\n\u2022 Aside from accepting cash, checks, debit cards and credit cards, merchants can now accept payment via mobile devices and interactive kiosks. How might these be adopted in your location?<\/p>\n
\n A recent Cornell University study produced interesting findings regarding technology adoption in the food and beverage industry. According to the results, frequent restaurant-goers are more likely to be technophiles than technophobes. They\u2019re also more willing to accept technology early in the restaurant experience, like when first arriving to the restaurant or when waiting for a table, as opposed to later in the experience, like during the meal or with bill payment. <\/p>\n
Technology is advancing, and there\u2019s no stopping it. There\u2019s no pause button, no slow-mo, no chance to scream \u201cHold on! Wait up!\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":40,"featured_media":2352,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"content-type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[53,45,47],"issue":[18],"collection":[6],"acf":[],"gutentor_comment":0,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/leapgroupnetwork.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2349"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/leapgroupnetwork.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/leapgroupnetwork.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/leapgroupnetwork.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/40"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/leapgroupnetwork.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2349"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/leapgroupnetwork.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2349\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/leapgroupnetwork.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2352"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/leapgroupnetwork.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2349"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/leapgroupnetwork.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2349"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/leapgroupnetwork.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2349"},{"taxonomy":"issue","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/leapgroupnetwork.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/issue?post=2349"},{"taxonomy":"collection","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/leapgroupnetwork.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/collection?post=2349"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\nWhat\u2019s more, different demographics prefer different technologies, which makes understanding your customers all the more important. For instance, a customer base more apt to adopt mobile technologies would be more likely to adopt mobile payment tools. Customers favoring tablet technologies would be more likely to interact with touchscreen kiosks. <\/span><\/p>\n
\nAnd possibly the most important finding for restaurant owners is that customers\u2019 perceived value of a new technology increases substantially after they\u2019ve had a chance to use it. So, even though customers may seem resistant to these experiences at first, they may actually be going through the initial growing pains of learning (and loving) the advancements. <\/p>\n
\nA commitment to enhancing the dining experience engenders truly innovative ways of rethinking customer interactions. Often, opportunities for such improvements can be found in the most obvious (and sometimes the most overlooked) places. <\/p>\n
\nHard Rock Cafe recently took an innovative approach to its dining surfaces by developing interactive tabletops with touchscreen capabilities. Now, customers can engage with a variety of music-based media throughout their meals. Similarly, Red Robin\u00ae Gourmet Burgers found a new way to engage customers as they wait for their tables. Aside from the wall hangings and d\u00e9cor that already reinforce the Red Robin brand, many locations now feature in-floor televisions so that patrons and small children can enjoy a new take on traditional entertainment. <\/span><\/p>\n
\nAs technology advances and continues converging, more and more innovations like these will begin appearing in restaurants across the country. Whether using a website to allow for online reservations and orders, interactive kiosks to allow for touchscreen orders and games, or mobile payment structures, the tools are there for restaurateurs to create fully integrated brand experiences.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"