How is technology impacting the QSR industry? Here are five trends shaping how we dine out.
The times they are a-changing. Multiple technology advances are happening every minute, and these days, it can be pretty hard to keep up. Maybe we all should have paid closer attention to the lessons Rosie, George, Jane, Judy, Astro and Elroy taught us.
Everywhere you look, some company is boasting new technology that holds the promise to make everyday life a little bit easier. There’s also an app for just about everything now, making uploading checks directly to your bank account or preordering your triple, venti, half sweet, non-fat, caramel Macchiato a convenient reality. Before we know it, we’ll be able to start our cars with our smartphones or download an app that’ll tell you where you left your keys (something we all can benefit from).
There’s no denying that these technological advances impact our everyday lives. But what impact will they have on small businesses? Here are the top five technology advances that are shaping the QSR experience.
Digital Menus
Plain and simple, digital menus are brighter, bolder and more attractive. Digital menu boards are popping up both indoors and in drive-thrus throughout the industry. This technology makes it easier for brands to quickly adjust to changing prices, evolving consumer tastes and daily specials and combo meal offerings.
Touchscreen Vendors
Touchscreen vendors offer hundreds of customizable food and drink offerings, giving consumers the kind of variety they crave. In fact, Coca-Cola's Freestyle can offer up to 100 or more drink combinations, and consumers can concoct their very own mix with the help of Coca-Cola’s mobile app.
Online Food Delivery
Most of us depend on the convenience and immediacy of our smartphones—and the QSR industry has noticed. Having an app to place online orders and pay via credit card is a huge deciding factor for many consumers, and it’ll often sway them to either dine-in or order delivery in the comfort of their home. These days, if there isn’t an online option, it’s pretty likely consumers will go elsewhere.
POS Systems
In August 2015, Pita Pit transitioned to a POS system, which tracks purchases to see what consumers buy and what they like. Based on that data, the program can suggest custom deals and coupons based off of their purchasing habits. This often combines an interactive loyalty program and a brand’s point of sale.
“Our main goal with adding this new software was reliability,” said Pita Pit IT Director Mick Gray. “We wanted our franchisees to know that this new loyalty program was going to work and remain consistent.”
Since August, 40 percent of Pita Pit’s franchisees have transitioned to the new software.
“With Pita Pit locations being coast to coast, there are different flavor profiles and different offerings, and we wanted to be able to customize certain aspects for induvial franchisees for everyone to see success,” said Gray.
Switching to Tablets
Soon, you won’t even have to endure human interaction to place your food order. Tablets provide a better, more automated experience, ensuring that consumers know exactly what they are ordering with the tap of a button.
“We have seen a huge rise in tablets and doing the ordering yourself,” said Pita Pit Digital Marketing Manager, Jordy Patano.