Posts

6 Ways to Improve the Customer Experience in Your Restaurant

StrategyDriven Managing Your Business Article |Improve Customer Experience|6 Ways to Improve the Customer Experience in Your RestaurantEven the most successful restaurants can struggle to keep customers happy. In fact, according to a recent study, as many as two-thirds of Americans have left a restaurant without feeling fully satisfied with their experience. To turn things around and win back disappointed customers, you first need to identify the issues currently hurting your restaurant’s rating on Yelp and other review sites.

Once you have a clear idea of the obstacles impeding your customer service, you can begin implementing solutions. In this article, we’ll discuss 6 ways to improve the customer experience in your restaurant.

Improve employee satisfaction

It’s vital that your employees are content and happy at work. If they’re not, it will prevent them from providing the optimal customer experience. It’s also worth noting that there are many low-cost ways to increase employee appreciation and improve work satisfaction. Here are a few ideas:

  • Provide an opportunity for staff to offer feedback about company policy or service
  • Offer a flexible schedule for personal time off
  • Emphasize teamwork, collaboration, and cooperation
  • Create opportunities for professional development
  • Provide ample opportunity for staff to have input on company matters
  • Incorporate cross-department training opportunities

Introduce digital ordering

One way to improve customer experience in your restaurant is by introducing digital ordering. This technology can help you eliminate waiting times for customers, increase the accuracy of orders, and reduce operating costs.

A restaurant ordering system is a huge convenience for customers. Digital ordering eliminates wait times and makes it easy for customers to place orders anytime with just a few clicks on their phone or computer screen.

Digital ordering also helps restaurants avoid mistakes when taking orders because all information is stored electronically instead of written down on paper forms that have a tendency to get mixed up or lost. This reduces the likelihood of sending out incorrect orders and saves time for both staff and customers by eliminating the need to double-check every item on an order form before handing it over to the kitchen staff.

Allow deliveries

One of the most common requests from restaurant customers is the ability to order food to be delivered. With digitalization comes the ability to offer delivery services. Now, diners don’t have to leave their homes to enjoy your delicious cuisine. Allowing delivery can also be beneficial for you as a business owner. For example, if you own a chain of restaurants, you could use one location as a distribution center for your other locations in the area. This would save you money because it would cut down on overhead and allow you to keep more of your profits.

In addition to improving customer service, deliveries are an excellent way to increase revenue and profits. Some restaurants that offer delivery services see as much as 15 percent higher profit margins than those that don’t. Offering delivery benefits everyone involved: customers get convenience, employees earn tips, and business owners can make more money without increasing overhead costs.

Streamline your menu

We understand that you want to offer customers various options, but too many choices can be overwhelming for many diners. There’s no need for customers to feel confused or overwhelmed when they order from your restaurant.

The best way to provide customers with the convenience of ordering dishes they know and love is by streamlining your menu. Offer a few items that you do well and make them available in different styles, cooking methods, and ingredients. This will eliminate confusion and give people the opportunity to choose something they might not have considered before.

Introduce loyalty schemes

A loyalty scheme can be as simple or complex as you need it to be. You could offer points based on the amount spent in a single transaction, or you could have a tiered system where customers earn more points for consuming more each time.

You could also consider linking your reward scheme with other brands. For example, if you have a coffee shop that offers free Wi-Fi, you might offer discounts on food when customers spend an hour working at the café on their laptops. This would be to strengthen customer ties by encouraging them to use your services in tandem with another brand.

Be open and responsive to feedback.

The first step to improving your restaurant’s customer service is to be open and responsive to feedback. As a restaurateur, you have the power to change your business for the better by implementing a new system or adjusting the way you interact with customers. If you are constantly listening to customer feedback, you can create a more positive experience for them in the future.

Flexibility Like No Other: Why the Hybrid Work Model Is the Future

StrategyDriven Managing Your People Article |Hybrid work model|Flexibility Like No Other: Why the Hybrid Work Model Is the FutureDuring the recent pandemic, quarantining meant working remotely to keep businesses productive as the world shut down. As a result, many companies scrambled to support remote workers and keep their company doors open. As a result, management and workers soon discovered remote work offers many benefits. Offering both flexibility and functionality, the hybrid work model is ideal today and in scenarios for the future.

Heads in the Cloud

Supporting remote workers during COVID-19 meant investing in cloud Hybrid Workplace Software to ensure real-time collaboration and updates from any location. Working in the cloud is secure and collaborative with the proper software solutions. As a result, workers appreciate the opportunity to choose their work hours based on their schedules and energy levels. Plus, employees on the go can access work updates from any device, including tablets and smartphones.

Increased Employee Satisfaction

Satisfied employees tend to be more loyal and productive, benefiting businesses by putting in their best efforts each day. A hybrid work model is desirable because workers plan their schedules rather than staying in an office for most of their week. The opportunity to work at home and collaborate at the office is the ideal mix to inspire employees and give them the flexibility to achieve the best possible work-life balance.

Effortlessly Increase Productivity

After generations of management attempting to improve productivity, the hybrid work model is the answer. When employees have greater control over their schedules, they become more productive. In addition, the ability to handle personal responsibilities and work when they have the highest energy levels ensures employees always bring their best when working. Plus, the cloud software helps management and employees stay connected to provide the necessary transparency and ensure projects are completed on schedule.

Improve Mental Health

Supporting optimum mental health is crucial for modern employers in a world filled with unexpected stress, ranging from natural disasters to a pandemic. Offering a hybrid work model gives employees essential time to process stressors without bringing anxiety to the workplace. As a result, employees’ time in the office is more meaningful and collaborative. Additionally, workers away from the office have an equal opportunity to collaborate remotely through cloud software.

Support Continuous Learning

Finally, a hybrid work model supports continuous learning. Consider the time it takes for workers to get dressed and commute to and from work every day. Some employees gain hours in their day when they work remotely. The extra time in a worker’s schedule can be used for continuing education classes, training sessions, and personal enrichment.
Additionally, companies offering educational incentives show they support their team members and want them to succeed. When employees feel valued, they do their best work at all times, which is a competitive advantage for progressive companies that realize the value of adopting a hybrid work model. Team members who continue educational opportunities bring their talents to benefit the business.

Beyond supporting employees’ success, a hybrid work model helps companies maximize resources and save money. Fewer workers in the office mean less space is required and the need for utilities is reduced. Plus, happier workers are more productive, helping companies gain a competitive advantage. Invest in software today to support the inevitable hybrid work model that top talent will demand in the years to come.

4 Tips to Improve Your Business Performance

StrategyDriven Managing Your Business Article |Business Performance|4 Tips to Improve Your Business PerformanceAll businesses should regularly monitor their performance and look for ways to increase efficiency, improve processes, and maximize revenues. Fortunately, some simple planning can quickly boost business performance and help you achieve your goals and objectives. Here are four tips to improve your business performance:

1. Evaluate your business performance

The first step is to evaluate your current business performance. This will give you an overview of your company and help you identify areas for improvement. You will also be able to gain a realistic idea of how close you are to achieving your intended business goals. You can use a variety of business metrics to help you assess your company’s performance. According to Chron, the following indicators can be used to evaluate business performance – key operations variables, market performance, customer returns, and product quality and returns. Monitoring your company’s performance against your business goals will help you achieve continued growth and remain competitive.

2. Focus on employee satisfaction

Employee satisfaction levels will have a significant impact on your staff’s overall performance in the workplace. Happy employees will be far more motivated and eager to do a good job. Whereas unhappy employees are likely to lack enthusiasm and be less inclined to go the extra mile at work. With that in mind, finding ways to improve employee satisfaction can be a reliable way to boost a company’s overall performance. Luckily, there are several ways that employers can increase employee engagement and improve workplace morale. Here are a few ideas:

  • Give employees greater responsibility and autonomy when it comes to their work tasks.
  • Offer flexible work schedules to help staff maintain a healthy work-life balance.
  • Support your team but avoid micromanagement.
  • Reward your staff for hard work with incentives such as shopping vouchers, bonuses, and additional vacation days.
  • Hold regular performance meetings and be transparent with employees about their career progression.

3. Invest in marketing campaigns

Marketing campaigns are an essential way to build brand awareness, increase sales conversions, and boost earning potential. For that reason, all companies should focus on implementing strategies to improve their marketing performance. Ideally, businesses should experiment with a variety of marketing techniques to help them determine the most effective way to reach their audience and promote their brand. All marketing campaigns should be closely monitored to maximize results and ensure that advertising budgets are being well spent. Some of the highest performing marketing strategies to fuel business growth include social media marketing, SEO marketing, and email marketing. You can make your online marketing campaigns even more effective by gaining marketing data lists from specialist companies such as Lead Lists.

4. Outsource business tasks

Outsourcing specific business tasks can be an extremely effective way to boost business efficiency levels. You should keep in mind that trying to do everything yourself is likely to harm your business performance. Whereas outsourcing will ensure that specific tasks are being managed by experts, thus allowing you additional time to focus on improving other vital areas of your company. Some business tasks to consider outsourcing includes digital marketing, customer support, blogging, and cybersecurity.