Operations
4 ways restaurant automation solves labor shortage challenges
When there isn’t enough labor to cover mission-critical tasks at your QSR, restaurant automation can fill some of the gaps. Here are four ways technology can help businesses with “Help Wanted” signs in their windows.
September 30, 2022 by Christin Dorner — Content and Media Manager, Star Micronics America, Inc
Restaurant automation has never been more vital to business survival. Automation decreases the need for human input to complete processes, and that's just what quick service restaurant (QSR) managers need to operate.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported 1.4 million job openings in accommodations and food services in May 2022. Combine that fact with the QSR market's high turnover rate — likely to approach 75% in the next year, according to the National Restaurant Association's State of the Restaurant Industry 2022 report — and it adds up to labor shortages at QSRs.
When there isn't enough labor to cover mission-critical tasks at your QSR, restaurant automation can fill some of the gaps. Here are four ways technology can help businesses with "Help Wanted" signs in their windows.
Self-Service ordering and payment
When there aren't enough employees to staff a QSR, one area that tech can manage is ordering and payment. Customers can place orders at self-service restaurant kiosks themselves and pay however they prefer, either with cash, a credit card or a mobile wallet. Self-service solutions can conveniently use facial recognition technology or QR codes for fast and secure transactions. An integrated thermal kiosk printer gives customers their order number and an option to print hard-copy receipts.
Managers can reassign employees from the counter to other responsibilities in the restaurant to cover food prep stations, the drive-thru or managing delivery and curbside or third-party pickups.
In addition to helping managers cover all aspects of an operation with fewer workers, self-service restaurant kiosks also tend to increase revenues. Through consistent upselling, giving customers as much time as needed to review the menu — and no judgment from other patrons if they decide to supersize — self-service restaurant kiosks can increase average sales by as much as 30%, according to the Kiosk Manufacturer Association.
Online ordering integration with in-store processes
During the pandemic, consumer behaviors shifted toward online ordering and off-premises dining, and the trend encompassed the quick-service space. QSRs that offer online ordering can capture revenues from a market growing from $25.7 billion in 2018 to $33.2 billion in 2022, according to statistics value of the quick service restaurant report.
Online ordering eliminates the need to assign an employee to take phone orders from customers who prefer takeout or delivery. However, managing online ordering can be labor intensive if your restaurant doesn't have the right technology.
Integration is key. Whether orders come from a third-party platform like Grubhub or Uber Eats, they should go directly to your point-of-sale (POS) system and automatically to a kitchen printer or kitchen display system. Otherwise, you'll need an employee to transfer orders to the POS system directly, running the risk of errors. Integrated online ordering automates the entire process and allows QSRs to capture new revenue without hiring more staff.
Professional labeling and order management
With orders coming in from kiosks, the drive-thru, an online ordering system, and third-party delivery platforms, QSRs need an efficient way of organizing parcels. Labels that follow the order through food prep, packaging, and delivery, can keep your team on track and ensure order accuracy, enhancing your brand image.
Label printers deployed in restaurant kitchen environments must be rugged and designed to resist dust, humidity, and liquid damage. The right kitchen printer will deliver optimal performance, even in harsh environments, all while requiring minimal maintenance.
Automating kitchen management
A highly effective way to elevate back-of-house operations is by deploying a kitchen display system (KDS). Incoming orders are automatically sent to the proper food prep areas and prioritized on screen, where employees can easily keep track of them. This ensures timely food delivery to patrons.
Another advantage of a KDS is the information it collects. Analyzing this data enables managers to identify bottlenecks, adjust menus or operations for better efficiency and retrain employees when necessary. Data-based decisions like these will result in smoother workflows, even when down an employee or two.
Efficiency is the secret sauce
QSRs that deploy automated restaurant solutions are better positioned for success in the 2020s and beyond. Allowing technology to manage repetitive tasks, customer orders, and communication between front- and back-of-house employees streamlines processes. The results are faster service, greater accuracy, happier customers — and a decreased labor demand.
If you find a job candidate that will enhance your team, by all means, hire. However, exploring how restaurant automation can help your operation evolve to support a smaller team can deliver big results and should be something all QSRs take advantage of.
About Christin Dorner
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