Over the recent years, technology has changed how people do business, and the hotel industry was not left behind. Like the management of a hotel, restaurants have been able to benefit from the use of technology. There are some systems and mobile apps that were developed to help restaurants manage call-ahead seating, reservations, and table management. Such systems alert the customer via an SMS text when a table is ready.
However, there is a difference between call ahead seating and a table reservation. With a reservation, a table is set aside for a customer while with call-ahead seating, this simply means that you are put on a waiting list.
Why should your restaurant offer call-ahead seating online? Well, in this article, we will explain some of the reasons why you should use call-ahead services at your restaurant.
Improve Customer Services
With a call ahead seating app, you will offer your customers a more satisfying experience, which can give you an advantage over your competitors. A call-ahead app reduces your customer’s wait time even though the actual wait time does not change.
These apps allow your customers to get the estimated wait time for a table, remove, or add themselves on the wait list. The customers are also well informed with an SMS on how long they have to wait. All these will increase customer satisfaction, thus putting you ahead of your competitors.
Improved Data Collection
When you offer call-ahead seating online in your restaurant, it provides you with a simple way of collecting customer data. You can use this data to generate different types of reports, which can offer you with crucial insight on how to run your restaurant. This data will also help you in making informed decisions on how to enhance your services.
Increase Your Income
Call ahead seating systems are developed with accurate algorithms. Hence, they reduce the number of walk-aways. You will be able to turn more tables since it will be easy for you to optimize your seating automatically. When there are no seating fees, you will earn more per customer.
Easily Affordable
Another reason you should have a call-ahead system is that they have pricing plans that are affordable for any restaurant size. The systems also run on different platforms such as PC, Mac, tablet, and phone.
Real-Time Customer Relationship
A call ahead seating system allows you to message or call your guests while they are waiting for a table. You can take advantage of this and send announcements, promotions, and targeted ads, among others.
Improve Host/Hostess Working Condition
On a busy night, your host/hostess has to deal with numerous questions such as, ‘How far am I?’ ‘I was on a call. Have you called my name?’ With these kinds of questions, keeping track of customers is a real hustle.
However, a call-ahead seating system keeps your customers informed on the updates through an SMS. They also get information about how many customers are ahead of them and how long they need to wait.
The more that you can improve the working conditions of your employees, the easier it will be to remain within the restaurant labor compliance regulations. Ensure that you are regularly checking these to keep your business on the legal side, and making sure all of your employees are working in the best possible conditions. Call ahead systems improve the host working conditions, which makes it worth it in itself.
A call ahead seating online is a technology that every restaurant needs to adopt if they want to remain competitive. The above are the reasons why you should consider offering a call-ahead seating online in your restaurant.
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