Technology is more important than ever before in today’s world, especially in the hospitality industry. Technology can help to find new clients, streamline the dining experience, and increase restaurant revenue.
If you are not using technology to its full advantage at your hotel restaurant, here are five tech trends that you should consider implementing this year.
1. Event management software
Private events can be a huge revenue generator for restaurants. If your restaurant has any event space, either fully private or semi-private, then you should make it available for event bookings. Event professionals know that managing a private events program means handling a thousand moving parts all at once. So why not use technology to help?
Invest in an event management software platform so that you can streamline the event process without the added stress of losing notes, contacts, or essential details. Not only will a software solution help to manage events, but it will help increase revenue and repeat business. According to a survey, 74 percent of planners booking holiday events will use a venue that they have booked with in the past. How can you identify your repeat clients? Through the CRM tool of the event management software platform.
2. Online credit card processing
Years ago, the norm for paying for private event costs was to fill out a credit card payment form and hand it to the restaurant staff to pay the bill. The industry is much more technologically advanced now, and no one wants to waste time or take a security risk with manual forms. In fact, paying for all services online is just an expectation, with e-commerce sales growing nearly 10 percent in 2021. Paying for events should be no different.
Using an online credit card processing system, like Square, CloverConnect or Stripe, will allow your event clients to pay for all costs through a secured payment system in just a few clicks. This will make it easier and quicker for your team to collect payment and close out events in your books.
3. 3D Room Visualization
People are visual learners, so why not walk clients through the event experience using a 3D planning and design tool like Merri? Bring every detail to life in the form of a 3D model, from the lighting to the room setup to the silverware. Merri will help to ensure the client knows exactly what the space will look like so tweaks can be adjusted before the event day. AllSeated and SocialTables are two other planning platforms that will help bring your event visions to life.
4. Email marketing tools
Email marketing is alive and well, so using email marketing technology can help streamline the use of email for hospitality businesses. In fact, 72 percent of consumers still prefer email as the primary way of communicating with businesses, so it is important to prioritize email in a marketing strategy.
As a restaurant or hospitality business, email marketing tools like Constant Contact, MailChimp, and Personica could help reach your restaurant customers. These platforms will give you more data, more personalization at mass, and more functionality than simply sending through Gmail. Use the provided email templates to build the perfect email and monitor email results with the reporting. Combine your email marketing tool with your event management tool in order to reach out to those repeat customers who love you and bring in more business.
5. Text messaging tools
Along with email for communicating with clients, text messaging is another popular avenue to reach clients quickly. There are various text messaging platforms out there, but Kenect is a solution made for the hospitality industry. Text messaging technology can help restaurants engage with clients on various venue updates, reservation reminders, and event planning tasks.
Text messaging communication can even help to increase revenue, with the average Kenect customer increasing revenue by 6 percent in the first 12 months. There is no need to give your personal cell phone number to clients anymore when you can use a text messaging application that stores all important client conversations.
Technology can be the solution to any challenge that you are facing with your restaurant and in turn, bring in added revenue to the business. Consider implementing these trends as you begin planning for a successful spring and summer.
Jonathan Morse is the founder and CEO of Tripleseat.