In the process of running a busy and swift business or a fast-casual restaurant, efficiency is deemed to be the most crucial factor. It is for this reason that in today’s restaurant context, more and more self-ordering kiosks are coming into place to complement already efficient staff with the intention to boost efficiency and sales. It is, however, important to understand that restaurant kiosk is more than just efficiency, but rather a mode to provide more control to the customer by means of letting them customize their meal with some privacy included.

This, of course, means some good news for the restaurateur. Research suggests that when people order in private, they are much more likely to purchase a large-sized meal, purchase more add-ons and in general, order more items. Benefits of having self-order kiosks placed more strategically.

• Improve the efficiency of service

If you, in fact, have a restaurant that is full of activity and always crowded with customers in long lines, waiting to order, undoubtedly, this will agitate hungry customers and also be very hectic for your staff. Eventually, it might lead to customers being disappointed and not visiting your restaurant. A self-ordering kiosk lets your customers order and pay leisurely which eases the very long lines in front of the cashier. This enables a rather straight positive impact on sales revenue as the restaurant is now able to get more orders and at the same time maintain a satisfactory customer experience, while at the same time averting pressure from staff and thereby leading them to be more productive.

With the ever-rising mobile payment usage such as Google Wallet or Apple Pay, your customer standards for convenience are much more than before and it is up to you as a restaurateur to deliver. Ask yourself these 2 questions: will a 10 people long queue with a cashier and a manual keypad satisfy customers? The answer is a big fat NO. Then ask yourself will the ability to instantly enter and pay for your order and not have to wait in line for ages satisfy you? It’s a YES to that.

• Boost sales revenue

Studies say that the visual presentation of the menu in an attractive way tends to bolster a customer’s appetite. With just the touch of a screen, customers are now persuaded to purchase more items easily and efficiently. And to add even more flavor, restaurants are able to smartly display items with high margins in the kiosk menu first which will raise the likelihood of customers actually purchasing the items.

Rather than depending on your staff to promote your high margin food items and expensive add-ons, your kiosk does it for you! Available add-ons in each menu can be shown to customers which will increase their probability of adding toppings, a side or even making their purchase a combo meal which all adds up to larger check size. A study has found that when customers did their own orders at McDonald’s and Taco Bell, check sizes rose by 30% and 20% respectively. After having a run-through your POS reports from the kiosks, you will be happy to see that the little effect these minuscule add-ons have, go a long way. I mean, take Taco Bell who is sitting on 20% more money made by orders made on their digital app compared to their human cashiers!

• Improve the accuracy of your orders

With your customers choosing and submitting their respective orders, the chance of error in orders will greatly reduce. The visual display on a kiosk is a great way to eradicate miscommunication between the customer and human cashiers mainly due to customers definitely knowing what they are ordering and not having the need to return their order saying it is incorrect. Also, the kitchen will not have to waste time on preparing the wrong meal and you as a restaurateur will not have to face any angry customers with long faces.

• Reduced Front-of-house labor expenses

People are often confused and worried that the kiosks will be replacing human staff and making them redundant. While kiosks can be used to take care of many front-of-house tasks, this does not mean they are making human staff redundant. Alternatively, kiosks can be used to aid front-of-house staff during the busiest hours. Labor can also thereby be used to reduce the waiting time of customers by preparing more meals at a time. Kiosks are not a replacement for people, rather a tool to help restaurants operate more efficiently.