Take Tableside Ordering To The Next Level: How Successful Restaurants Increase Sales & Tips With Wireless Tablets
The Rezku Team
Nothing compares to the level of care and attention a committed server provides to guests in a full service restaurant.
The latest advances in POS technology equip servers to provide an even higher level of service and attention, while streamlining steps in the dining experience.
In this article, let’s compare tablet-assisted tableside ordering with the traditional paper and memorization approach.
Why old-school table service doesn’t work anymore.
We live in a society defined by short attention spans and instant gratification. But beyond that, the old way of doing table service is simply inefficient.
Your server comes to the table with a pad of paper and takes your order. When everyone has ordered they give hand-written notes to the kitchen.
Sometimes when it’s busy they batch, taking multiple tables orders at once before the kitchen gets them.
Here’s the 4 main problems with this outdated model:
- Orders don’t start firing in the kitchen until the server can get back there.
- Your servers are running back and forth from the dining room to the kitchen.
- Kitchen production is going in fits and starts, as the servers become a bottleneck for incoming orders.
- Everything for the guest is taking longer. The busier it is, the more grueling it becomes.
This is a prime formula for lower guest satisfactions, less tips, and longer intervals between seatings.
Welcome to the New School.
In the past, tablet-based ordering at the table may have seemed impractical and expensive. But that is no longer the case. The best of tableside ordering is now accessible even to small and medium sized full service restaurants.
How tableside POS tablets revolutionize full service:
- While customers are talking to their server, she is firing off drinks to the bar and orders to the kitchen.
- Servers can work more tables when it’s busy since they never have to go back to the kitchen.
- The kitchen is producing at a steady speed without idle time.
- Everything for the guest is streamlined, allowing them to relax, order more drinks, order dessert and leave a healthy tip for the amazing service received.
Tableside POS completely blows away the old way of running full service, and makes it as much as 20% or more more profitable for both you and your servers.
Tableside Ordering Case Studies
Shawn is the GM at South Fork Grill. When the restaurant group he works for switched to Rezku for tableside ordering he didn’t know what to expect. The technology was foreign to him and he was skeptical.
But it didn’t take long for Shawn (and his servers) to have a change of heart.
“It’s one of those things where you didn’t know this technology existed until you got it — and it’s really changed our world.”
Check out Shawn’s interview here:
Mark Platt, owner of Sienna restaurant group and former general manager for PF Changs “got it” the moment he saw it. They had used an older version of the technology years ago but were not satisfied.
He’s been delighted with how tableside tablet ordering for restaurants has massively improved from a decade ago.
We’re paying $15 an hour for every front of house staff. With Rezku [servers] may run one table bigger in their section, so that’s actually saving us money.”
Click to watch Mark’s case study:
How Much Has Tableside POS Technology Improved?
Like Mark expressed, tableside POS of the past had some problems.
- Insufficient battery life
- Loss of connection
- Small screens
- Limited features
For those who experienced this early technology, they may have become soured on the concept.
Let’s look at how the latest technology in Rezku’s Mobile POS resolves these issues.
Multiple battery system
Rezku’s tableside system consists of a POS tablet, rugged case and EMV card reader with tap-to-pay. Each is equipped with their own battery, for juice all service long.
Multi-unit charging docks
When not in use, handheld POS stations are stored in a multi-unit charging dock designed to pass charge through to to all components. This is a feat of engineering more difficult than it sounds.
Utilizes iPad Mini
The choice of iPad mini for tableside POS offers improved reliability, operation and form factor. Easily slipping into an apron pocket, yet offering a full POS experience.
Robust networking
Leveraging the iPad’s reliable wireless networking (based on the iPhone) handheld point of sales stay connected to your wifi, firing orders consistently to the kitchen and syncing with countertop POS stations automatically.
Full POS Experience
The iPad mini runs the full version of Rezku POS, leveraging the training and muscle memory your servers have already built. There’s nothing they can’t do at the table that can be done at countertop stations.
Using tableside tablets is now easier, more reliable and more affordable than ever. The technology has finally caught up to the dream.
Discover for yourself how Rezku POS gives your servers the best tool to take full advantage of tableside ordering and improve the experience of your customers.
Get The Best Tableside Ordering Technology for Restaurants
Tableside POS has finally come of age. With tableside ordering, you can offer more personal service to your customers while optimizing service per-guest and more seatings per-service – improving sales as much as 20%.
Rezku provides everything you need to begin tableside ordering in your restaurant.
Give us a call today for more information, and to get a personalized demonstration of the Rezku system.