Everything you need to know about digital transformation in restaurants
La digital transformation consists of the application of technologies in an innovative way capable of changing the reality of your business. And this transformation applies to all types of companies.
Restaurants are no exception. As the owner or manager of a restaurant, you must be clear that it is not only necessary to provide excellent service and first-class cuisine.
It is also important to be up to date and look for new solutions to stay in the sector. La digital transformation in the case of restaurants, they can adopt technology in several ways, with full capacity to transform the way they act and provide service to customers.
Learn everything you need to boost your business with the digital transformation!
What is digital transformation?
La digital transformation is the introduction of modern technologies into a company's business processes.
This approach involves not only the installation of modern equipment or software, but also fundamental changes in management approaches, corporate culture and external communications.
As a result, the productivity of each employee and the level of customer satisfaction increases, and the company acquires a reputation as a progressive and modern organization.
La digital transformation in companies can be applied in any sector or area within it: from management processes, to production processes, through customer service and also marketing.
And contrary to what most people think, digital transformation is not a concept of the future. The changes it causes are already part of our present and can be seen everywhere, especially in the food industry.
Difference between digitalization and digital transformation
Although it is true that we often think that both concepts are synonymous, this is not the case in reality.
Digitalization involves the use of new technologies and new business models, digital transformation is about reinventing a business to take advantage of the digital age.
When we talk about digitization of companies and digital transformation, companies are addressing the changing nature of their industries and customer expectations. Although the two processes are very similar, some of the differences that we can find between the two are:
Digitalization is the transfer of processes to a digital format; digital transformation it's a deeper and bigger process. This is a comprehensive transformation of the company using digital solutions and technologies.
Transformation supports the implementation of the organization's strategy, relates to achieving sustained performance improvement, a change in employee mentality and the consolidation of a new organizational culture.
On the other hand, digitalization involves the use of digital technologies to improve efficiency, increase transparency and streamline processes.
Digitalization must be a tool and the digital transformation should be the goal.
Why is digital transformation key to the growth of your restaurant?
People are more connected than ever. Customers are demanding, have more information and make decisions in the digital environment. This is the case for those who are looking for a restaurant online even before placing their order, for example.
If your company doesn't keep up with these changes, it won't be able to meet the new needs of today's market.
In fact, the digital transformation for restaurants it consists of optimizing the customer experience at all stages. Adopting technology offers practicality, efficiency and quality, everything most people are looking for to make a good impression.
Above all, adopting this new model is essential to keep your competitiveness high and even to differentiate yourself from your competitors. Many restaurants still don't recognize the importance of the process, which provides an opportunity to move forward.
Restaurants can adopt technology in a variety of ways, with full capacity to transform the way they act. Knowing how to position yourself on social networks, implementing financial control systems, stock control technologies, all of this makes the restaurant's daily life easier.
This is not a one-time change or a separate subscription to multiple services. For which the digital transformation to be effective, it is necessary to integrate new solutions and make technology part of everyday life.
Objectives in the digital transformation process
The objectives of the transformation process must be clearly defined from the start. Your digital transformation strategy must divide these objectives into manageable objectives and measurable results.
By embarking on digital transformation activities with clear objectives and plans to achieve them, you are giving yourself the best chance of success.
Reach customers
One of the objectives of digital transformation is to provide a first-rate customer experience before they even set foot in your establishment.
In this way, it is worth investing in applications, social media strategies and other digital solutions that facilitate customer relationships and help increase brand recognition.
Lower costs
Cost reduction is highly desired in any company. Since the days of the industrial revolution that mechanized manual processes, cost reduction has been the difference between business survival and failure.
Nowadays, digital transformation allows you to save costs by optimizing processes and reducing waste. Digital processes save time, bridge sales gaps and ensure less frustration between employees and customers.
Increase productivity
Another objective of the digital transformation is to ensure greater operational efficiency to increase productivity.
By integrating with administrative systems, automating delivery processes and product updates, activation between devices, managing multiple product variants, you can optimize manual processes and reduce overhead costs.
Get data for decision-making
One of the key objectives of digital transformation is for your business to be able to collect and analyze data that it can use to obtain actionable information that generates revenue.
In the past, your data was distributed across several disconnected platforms or, even worse, you didn't collect or use data at all. Digital transformation enables robust data collection, centralized data storage, and the development of tools to analyze and transform data into information that supports informed business decisions.
Improve your customer experience
Customer expectations have never been higher than they are today. On the one hand, customers want personalized services adapted to their individual needs. On the other hand, they want everything to work automatically.
To build customer loyalty, successful companies know that they not only have to offer products but also experiences. La digital transformation enables pleasant experiences and effortless operation thanks to automation, AI and self-service tools.
Key aspects before starting digital transformation
Regardless of the size of your business or restaurant, digital transformation can create concern and uncertainty.
When starting a digital transformation project for your business, you must adopt an action plan. But where to start? In what areas should the need for change be considered?
The first step is undoubtedly the will to change and the awareness of its essence and of the objective to be achieved.
Get to know 5 here key aspects for digital transformation that will help you plan for change:
1. Perform an audit before taking on the digital transformation of your business
Don't mindlessly pursue technology just because it's all the rage right now. Don't waste money and resources digitizing suboptimal processes.
Remember that at the center of everything, is business efficiency. Therefore, first focus on your business strategy and, after that, on the technologies that will help in its implementation.
2. Share the digital vision of the company's future
As the leader of your company or restaurant, you must share the digital vision of the future that you are looking to implement to achieve greater Impact.
Otherwise, you will struggle not only with internal resistance to digitalization in terms of employees, which is always present, but also in the management field, which will make your transformation consume twice as much energy.
3. Work with all the company's staff
Your success depends directly on how involved your internal customers or employees will be in the digital transformation, knowing in depth the processes within the company. It is important to develop a digital culture of people.
4. Don't be afraid to use existing models or technologies from outside
Don't reinvent the wheel if someone has already created it before you. Also, don't be afraid to share your technology. In this way, you will build a kind of digital ecosystem around you, which will help you implement new solutions faster and more economically.
5. Minimizes financial risks
Even if you've done an audit of business processes and are 100% sure that this particular technology or process needs to be digitized, don't immediately invest in it completely. Move in stages, step by step.
The 5 Phases to Develop in Digital Transformation
Digital transformation is, even when it involves the use of the most modern technology, first and foremost, a management task. No one should blindly follow technological trends simply because everyone is talking about them.
So how can you master this digital transformation process? The best way is to simply take it one step at a time. To do this, you need the right tools and develop all the required phases for digital transformation to be a success.
These phases are:
1. Awareness-raising phase
To start your digital transformation process, it is necessary for everyone within your organization or restaurant to be fully aware of the opportunities offered by technology and how it is changing the way businesses work.
It is important that all personnel within the company know and manage the new digital technologies linked to the business. With a trained staff, it's easier to start the digital transformation process.
2. Planning phase
In this phase, you must plan the strategy that as a company you are going to follow for the digital transformation process. Keep in mind that each company has its own characteristics and there is no single way to transform your business.
That's why it's important that in this planning phase, the main variables that affect your business are analyzed. This way you can have a more successful path towards digital transformation in order to obtain the expected results.
3. Training phase
Digital transformation requires that all the people involved are trained and able to take it on. All the people who make up your work team play a valuable role and role in the process, which is why their training is essential to implement it.
All technologies that are implemented must be managed by staff, in order to offer customers a satisfactory, agile and efficient experience.
4. Implementation phase
When you have already well planned the digital transformation process and have trained and trained all the members of your organization, it is time to implement the new ones. most beneficial technologies according to what you have planned.
The implementation of these new technologies, without a doubt, requires the correct adaptation of the systems and equipment within your business in order to optimize processes, improve service and increase productivity.
5. Digital optimization phase
Digital transformation is a continuous process, in which you must keep the implemented tools up to date. This phase is one of continuous review, in order to correct and adapt the processes according to the evolution of the market.
Tools for the digital transformation of your restaurant
Digital transformation has taken hold in the restaurant industry during the pandemic. Some analysts even go so far as to say that the adoption of customer-oriented technologies has progressed in the equivalent of ten years of Growth organic over the past year, which is extraordinary from any point of view.
Nowadays, you must be present in the same places as customers and generate digital content capable of seducing them and attracting them to your restaurant at all times. To stay in the market you must digitally transform yourself, some tools to achieve this are:
Website (Ecommerce)
With a website, you can set up an online booking system. This way you can optimize many flows, and it helps you to speed up the work of the dining room and its relationship with the kitchen. In the same way, you can work on your customer profile by establishing a loyalty program.
Mobile apps
Mobile apps allow restaurants to be part of consumers' lifestyles. In this regard, competition is fierce. This is why it is essential to have digital interaction strategies that keep the customer seduced most of the time with the restaurant's brand image.
Implementing delivery through applications, for example, increases sales reach and often eliminates the need to have your own fleet of couriers.
Online booking forms
With the online reservation forms you can manage occupancy with room plans, you just have to configure your spaces with the tables and the minimum and maximum number of diners for each one.
You can also set that new reservations are automatically confirmed if there is availability or confirm them manually one by one. You can include your restaurant reservation form on your Facebook page or on your website.
Chatbot
Chatbots or conversational agents are computer software that tend to simulate a conversation with a human. With a Chatbot you can make your customers instantly create reservation requests based on the date and time of their choice.
You can also use a Chatbot to gather relevant information from your customer, which can then be sent directly to the person managing your bookings.
Order Management Platform
Adding the online ordering option to your restaurant's website and using a mobile app makes it easier for your customers to place orders.
With online ordering, customers don't feel rushed to complete their orders, so they're more likely to explore all the different menu options. Therefore, they generally spend more online than when they order in person or over the phone.
Online payment platform
Restaurants need smooth payments, whether the customer is in the restaurant or places an order on the website or app. With an online payment platform, customers must be able to place orders and pay quickly, knowing that their data is secure and that their delicious food is on the way.
CRM
With a restaurant tool, you can collect contact details and preferences from your customers in a natural and non-intrusive way. For example, when your customer returns, a suitable CRM can record all the necessary data and present personalized suggestions to your team by managing customer loyalty.
How does Picker help with the digital transformation of your business?
The digital transformation of your restaurant must be implemented now, so that you can offer your customers an excellent experience, as well as optimizing your processes and generating maximum benefits.
Picker is a tool that helps you make the digital transformation of your restaurant successful.
With Picker you can connect your restaurant to different delivery platforms in one place, allowing you to reduce delivery times and expand the coverage of your restaurant with low logistics and delivery costs.
Conclusion
Digital Transformation is committed to the integration of diverse information into 100% digital technologies. Therefore, the help of digital technology is very valuable in making all the processes involved in a business more efficient.
From the planning, through daily processes, improvements for employees and customer relationships, digital still has a lot to offer the business. The trend is for more and more digital solutions to emerge to continue with the centralization of the digital.
La digital transformation of restaurants is already a reality and can be used in many ways. With the right investment in technology, it is possible to achieve agility, economy and differentiate yourself from your competitors!
