The year 2021 is when almost all businesses have adapted to a more digital way of operations. With the global pandemic at hand, companies had no other choice but to go through a digital transformation in order to keep afloat, maintain revenue, and build customer loyalty.
Customers have also adapted to the situation. Based on surveys, they are more likely to prioritize speed when ordering from a restaurant online than food value or quality. Another survey showed 54% of millennials prefer a restaurant with self-ordering kiosks as it improves the overall guest experience.
With this said, restaurants are gradually transforming digitally to achieve customer satisfaction and business growth. In the following, we’ll be discussing some ways businesses can digitally transform their business towards success.
How has Digital Transformation Helped Business from Different Industries
While businesses have been gradually shifting towards digital, that process has been rushed because of the global pandemic. It can be overwhelming for companies to make this drastic change, but the good definitely outweighs the bad.
Based on statistics, incorporating digital technologies into businesses can improve aspects like financial returns and workforce diversity by 22%. Having a digitalized workplace environment increases employee productivity and efficiency, making employees’ tasks easier to accomplish.
Technological innovations such as business computers were improved to cut both time and energy in half. Innovations have been the key for employees to perform better with the task given to them.
Another primary benefit of digital transformation is data collection and analysis, as it can store and monitor important company data instead of having to do it manually. There are many benefits of digital transformation that have been overlooked by companies from different industries today.
How Digital Transformation Benefit Restaurants
The global pandemic caused by the COVID-19 virus has made the entire world take preventive measures such as quarantine and social distancing. This means that even if people have the urge to go outside, whether for leisure or necessity, it can be detrimental to their physical health.
Whenever people spend time with their loved ones on the weekend, it’s impossible not to dine in a restaurant and catch up. However, you can no longer engage in those activities, for the time being, making restaurants adjust toward digital operations.
Through changes such as online ordering systems and contactless payment, it’s more convenient than ever for customers to order food and beverages whenever they please. These adjustments have paved the way for a digital customer experience all over the world.
3 Ways to Digitally Transform Your Restaurant Business
1. Contactless Payments
Statistics show that contactless payments are likely to triple to approximately $6 trillion worldwide by 2024, compared to just $2 trillion this year. With the occurring pandemic, social distancing must be observed at all costs. When people refuse to leave their homes to withdraw money, contactless payments must be implemented if a restaurant business wants to thrive.
2. Online Ordering Systems
As lockdowns have been implemented all over the world, people have resorted to online ordering systems. Not only has it proven to be more efficient and convenient, but the majority of people save the hassle of drive-thru by taking advantage of delivery apps like UberEats. They get to have any food near their designated location to be delivered right on their doorstep.
Based on statistics, approximately 60% of consumers in the United States order delivery once a week, and 34% of consumers spend roughly $50 for every order online.
3. QR Codes
The use of QR codes has been around for quite some time, but it’s not until recently that the usage has increased. Approximately 52% of restaurants in the United States have switched to using QR codes today.
They’re so versatile that customers can use them to have access to digital menus, payments, order forms, surveys, and even relaying significant information on the COVID-19 virus. In the digital age of customer service, every transaction and processing in the restaurant can be done digitally.
Highlights to Conclude
Digitally transforming businesses through adjustments such as contactless payments and SMS marketing for restaurants will grow customer base and revenue, even amidst the pandemic. While it can be overwhelming to adopt digital changes, it does more harm than good.
Incorporating technological innovations in the workplace isn’t just for the overall expansion but also for the efficiency and productivity of employees. It’s necessary to make the digital change in order to continue business operations amidst the global pandemic. Lockdowns don’t mean the end of business operations if they choose to implement certain digital trends.
