Why Self-Ordering Kiosks Are Essential for Modern Restaurants

What is a Self-Ordering Kiosk?

Self-ordering kiosks is a stand-along machine or device that help guests to order and pay independently. Typically, they feature a touchscreen (often a tablet) with a user-friendly interface showcasing the menu. Customers navigate the ordering process, customizing their meals, making payments, and even receiving suggestions for promotions or add-ons they might have otherwise missed.

Self-ordering kiosks aren't exactly brand new, but they've definitely taken off recently. Even before the pandemic, chains like McDonald's were early adopters, seeing noticeable sales lifts after introducing kiosks. McDonald's reported a 5% to 6% sales increase, while Chili's noted a 20% jump in dessert sales.

This rise can be attributed to evolving customer behavior, with diners seeking similar control and personalization they get from online ordering, even when dining in. Kiosks cater to this by offering faster, highly customized ordering. It's not just millennials driving this change either. Importantly, self-ordering kiosks suit various set ups, from small cafes to large dining halls, making them a truly versatile device.

Read more: Set Up Restaurant Online Ordering: A Complete Guide for Owners (eats365pos.com)

5 Benefits of Self-Ordering Kiosks for Restaurants

Benefit 1. Increased Check Sizes

One major benefit is the potential uplift in average check sizes. Kiosks can subtly showcase high-margin items and add-ons during the ordering process, prompting upgrades or combo deals. A good example from Taco Bell shows how incorporating kiosks can increase check sizes as they made 20% more money on digital orders via kiosks than those taken by staff.

Benefit 2. Decreased Wait Times

Customers dislike waiting especially when hangry, and kiosks tackle this through immediate order placement and payment, efficiently clearing queues. A Tillster study showed how 75% of patrons would choose a kiosk over a cashier if the latter's line had more than five people. Appetize data further supports this, showcasing a near 40% reduction in order times thanks to their kiosks.

Benefit 3. Enhanced Order Accuracy

Kiosks display visual menus, which can help reduce order mistakes. In the case of McDonald's, customers using kiosks spent around a dollar more per order, leading to a 30% rise in average check size. With Eats365, the kitchen display system integrates seamlessly with the self-ordering kiosk, further minimizing manual errors during order preparation. Accuracy is paramount, especially in the current climate where positive dining experiences hinge on getting the food right.

Benefit 4. Save Money on Labor

Self-ordering kiosks improve staffing flexibility enabling businesses to reassign front-of-house personnel to tasks that can boost sales or enhance customer service. While it is important to note that kiosks do not completely replace staff but help reduces workload during peak business hours.

Benefit 5. Keep Staff and Customers Comfortable

Especially relevant in the post-pandemic era, kiosks minimize physical contact, assuring both staff and customers. Self-service offers an ideal scenario by empowering customers with the ability to order and make payments directly through a screen, which also cuts down time queuing and promotes social distancing. It also allows front of house staff to better focus on maintaining a safe and comfortably spaced environment, as opposed to being confined to point-of-sale.

What to Look for When Purchasing a POS Kiosk?

While the benefits of kiosks are evident, selecting the right one requires consideration. Large-scale, enterprise-grade kiosks can be expensive, costing thousands of dollars and involving complex installations.

For most establishments, especially independent ones, a more practical solution is tablet-based kiosks integrated with your existing POS system. This approach reduces costs and setup complexity. When choosing, consider factors like ease of use, reliability, customizability of the interface, and the vendor's support quality.

Good vendors offer ongoing support and maintenance, along with responsive customer service accessible by phone or with remote online technicians when you run into trouble.

Eats365's self-order kiosk solution comes in both wall-mounted and free-standing configurations with various screen sizes and other peripherals like card processing and recipt printing, covering almost all needs of every business. We understand that some establishment may not need or have the budget for such advance setup, for that we can offer a simpler set up, just with QR scanning and digital menu, which also offer most of the above mentioned benefit.

Embrace the future of dining with Eats365's integrated self-service kiosk solutions. Boost sales, cut wait times, and enhance order accuracy to elevate your Singaporean restaurant's customer experience. Send an inquiry today to discover how Eats365 can transform your operations.