How technology is helping independent restaurant businesses survive

Writing for Business Advice ahead of Local Business Week, food industry expert and founder of GoKart, Anx Patel, offers his tips on what independent restaurants in the current climate need to do in order to survive and thrive.

The entire restaurant industry is facing immense pressures from all angles, making it difficult to turn a profit and thrive as a business.

Considering the magnitude of troubles being faced by big name chain restaurants, such as Jamie’s Italian, Prezzo and Byron Burger, the independent players have an even tougher road ahead than those with the infrastructure to make it through.

Facebook Ordering

A purpose-built mobile app for browsing and placing orders is considered a basic essential for any restaurant owner in modern commerce, but of course, this is a costly and time-consuming process.

Thankfully for independents, Facebook Ordering offers an affordable and customisable way for customers to place orders with restaurants.

Bear in mind that taking on any kind of social media for a business which should also be considered a necessity if you are going to get your name out there and generate a following will require constant attention and fresh content. According to Forbes, one restaurant achieved a ten per cent surge in sales as a result of implementing Facebook Ordering.

Free Wi-Fi

Another of the basic requirements for a 21st century business is that customers can stay connected wherever they are and whatever they’re doing, and that means the provision of free Wi-FI in the restaurant.

Business owners can look around and find a good business Wi-FI deal, which shouldnt be a major expense, especially when held up against the additional custom it brings in. This simple change can deliver considerable value for money.

Extend your reach

Food delivery services such as Just Eat and Deliveroo have become major players on the scene recently, and can bring significant additional income by extending the reach a restaurant achieves.

Figures suggest that restaurants who use online ordering services like Deliveroo and Just Eat bring in as much as 30 per cent more business than those who operate independently.

During quiet times, sales can be boosted by using real time voucher companies such as City Munch to send regular customers vouchers or attach promotional discounts to orders.

__________________________________________________________________________________

 

How to serve Instagram-worthy food millennials will love at your restaurant

Millennials spend more on eating out than any other generation, but learning how to successfully market food to them can leave many restauranteurs scratching their heads.

__________________________________________________________________________________

Smarter supply chains

The challenge of establishing and maintaining a cost-effective and logistically sound supply chain is significant for independent restaurants, especially with the constant fluctuation of prices.