Everything You Need To Know About Managing Restaurant Operations

When you’re running a business, there is always something that needs to be done. Running a restaurant is not different. The trick is to prioritize tasks in such a way that you save time and effort while adding to your revenue. Basically, figure out how not to waste time on tasks that can wait.

A way to achieve this is by streamlining or standardizing your restaurant's everyday operations. This includes all the repetitive tasks that has to happen from opening the doors in the morning to closing them at the end of the day. This will help you make time for the adhoc tasks that you cannot always plan for.

While restaurant owners across the country have had to put their creative hats on to thrive in this post-pandemic digital era, the secret to keeping customers coming back to your restaurant is still the same: effective management of day-to-day restaurant operations.

Why is Restaurant Management Important?

Managing a Restaurant is so much more than just cooking and serving good food.  It is the responsibility of a restaurant owner, manager, and staff to balance all aspects of the business like opening and closing, cleaning, sourcing, managing reservations, orders, take-outs, accommodating walk-ins, clogged sinks and toilets, napkin shortages… phew!

Obviously, one person can not do it all but a skilled restaurant manager is one who is available to handle any and every contingency while remaining positive and supportive!

Of course, well-set goals and processes are at the heart of effective operations. By setting goals, standards, and routine processes that take into account time, effort, and revenue, the efficient operation of your restaurant is more easily achievable than you think!

Well, we've got a quick guide to get you started.

Streamline your menu

The initial draw for customers to your restaurant is usually your menu. If the food sounds and looks good, customers are most likely to choose to dine in or order at your restaurant.  And if the service is top-notch, customers are most likely to return to your restaurant often.

Here are some tips for streamlining your menu and improving restaurant operations.

• Keep it simple but descriptive
• Avoid too many options
• Make sure the dishes are consistently replicable
• Use High-quality ingredients
• Keep your prices competitive
• Offer promotions and discounts

Invest in the right technology

Running a restaurant is very exciting as there are always things to do. One way to make your and your staff’s life easier is by investing in technology that can help automate repetitive tasks or tasks that when done manually can lead to errors. Such technology will not only make your restaurant operations smoother but also result in a good customer experience.

Some examples of such technology:

Contactless service

Since the pandemic, Contactless service has become the norm (More for its convenience at this point).  Customers now want to be able to order and pay for their food as quickly, with the least effort, and if possible without ever having to physically interact with anyone. So it is important to give them just that! Try to find a platform or service that does it all so you don’t have to. Ideally, this platform or service will include,

• A website (To showcase your restaurant digitally)
• Online ordering system for restaurants (For your patrons to order from anywhere)
• Secure direct payment (So you don’t lose money in commissions)
• Commission-free delivery (So you’re patrons don’t have to move if they don’t want to)

Point Of Sale

With the advancement of technology, more and more restaurants are now adopting technology to improve their operations, enhance customer experience, and boost revenue. Almost every type of restaurant, from fast food joints and fine-dining restaurants to cloud kitchens, now rely on POS systems to automate and simplify their ordering and billing processes.

POS software enhances management and customer experience by,

• simplifying ordering & billing procedures
• managing CRM data and inventory
• recording feedback
• facilitating effective marketing

Kitchen Display Systems (KDS)

Kitchen Display Systems are installed in restaurant kitchens to help make the process of sending orders to the kitchen faster and reduce order errors. The system enables servers to take orders on their devices and transmit them directly to a screen in the kitchen. You can’t miss this beauty in action when you visit TacoBell or Burger King!

There are different types of KDS systems in the market, so you can definitely find one that suits your restaurant’s specific needs.

Customer Relations Management (CRM) system

A customer Relations Management (CRM) system helps you improve your interactions with customers by allowing you to track customer data and send tailored and targeted promotions through emails, messages, and ads. You can also study and predict customer behavior and predict orders, footfall peak hours, etc.

This data can also help you in improving and customizing your menu to suit your crowd, resulting in higher sales and revenue.

Experiment with fun promotions

To make the best of your operations process, you need to keep customers coming in, experiencing your service, and giving feedback. To do this, you must get marketing. Yes, marketing is an important part of restaurant operations. Do not forget your social media pages or keep a tab on your google reviews.

Of course, promotions are a fun, effective, and useful tool in restaurant marketing. Use them to reach out to new customers, engage with existing ones, and build loyalty. With the right promotional strategy, you are bound to achieve your target covers easily!

Pay attention to online reviews

Did you know that 90% of customers research restaurant reviews before choosing to eat there? While Positive reviews make a good impression on your customers and can have a big impact on your online presence, it is more important to keep an eye on the negative reviews.

According to a study, 45 % of consumers say that they are more inclined to revisit those restaurants that respond to negative reviews. Promptly responding to negative reviews and striving to give them a better experience when they come back can help not only increase revenue but also build a loyal customer base.

Managing Restaurant Operations can seem overwhelming in the beginning, but as you streamline and automate, it not only gets simpler but also results in a long-term payout that is worth the time, effort, and money investment.

Let us know if these strategies helped you save time, reduce errors, and gain better insights into how you can improve your restaurant’s operations.

Of course, we are standing by if you need some help. Talk to us! 

Source: https://restaurantify.com/everything-you-need-to-know-about-managing-restaurant-operations/