If we didn’t change things we were going to be left behind our competition
I’m just a regular restaurant owner, but the day I decided to add an online ordering system on my restaurant’s website, marked a before and after in my business. It wasn’t about jumping on some high-tech bandwagon – it was about keeping up with the times and, more importantly, staying ahead of my competition.
Before we started offering online ordering, we had tough competition from the other restaurants around us. We knew we needed something better to steal sales away from them.
🤣 “The New Happy Hour: Think of online ordering as the ultimate happy hour—available 24/7. You're not just selling food; you're selling convenience, satisfaction, and a slice of happiness at any hour of the day.” Quote of the day
Getting to Know the Digital Regulars
It all started when I noticed a shift in how people were doing things. Everyone seemed glued to their phones, and it wasn’t just for texting or scrolling through social media. They used their devices to make life easier, from hailing rides to ordering groceries.
They were ordering takeaways and picking it up from the restaurant next door rather than us. So I started offering online ordering, and suddenly, I was reaching folks who wanted food without the fuss of a phone call or waiting in line.
Once they discovered us, it also opened up online ordering and marketing strategies that we’d never been able to offer before.
Smoothing Out the Wrinkles in the Kitchen
This new system wasn’t just a hit with my customers; it made life easier for my staff too. Gone were the days of misheard orders over a noisy line. The kitchen crew could see exactly what was needed on the screen, clear as day.
Plus, I started noticing patterns – like which dishes were hot sellers on rainy days or quiet evenings. This kind of info helped me make smarter calls on what to stock up on and what specials to run.
Making My Customers Feel Like Regulars
There’s something special about walking into a place where they know your name and your usual order. That’s the feeling I wanted to give my customers, even if they were ordering from their couch.
With our online system remembering past orders, it was a breeze to suggest a favorite dish or tempt them with something new that matched their tastes.
Getting the Word Out
I’ll admit, marketing has never really been my thing. But with online ordering, it felt like the restaurant was marketing itself. Customers could share their orders on social media, tag us in posts, or leave reviews. This helped us to attract customers in new areas beyond our existing customers, like word-of-mouth referrals but online.
Thanks to our online ordering system, we kept our current customers happy and brought in new ones, making it hard for our competitors down the road to keep up.
Check out our easy-to-follow guide before selecting an online ordering platform. Understand the potential challenges and solutions, and learn how to set up your own online ordering platform for your restaurant.
