A restaurant’s telephone system can be the difference between success and failure. Between reservations, deliveries, and calls about foot-long subs, there are a lot of calls to handle. And when the phone starts ringing more than twice a minute, you quickly learn that having a solid phone system is crucial to surviving.
Even the best restaurants with fast waitstaff aren’t immune to problems caused by outdated telephony systems. In short, it’s time for an update if you’re still using a decades-old phone system; or one that only offers landline functionality. If you’re looking to invest in a phone system, visit clarityvoice.com/products/by-industry/food-service-pizza/. But first, read to learn why phone systems are critical for restaurants.
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Improve Customer Satisfaction
Customers who are satisfied with the quality of their experience at a restaurant spend more money and return and sometimes leave a positive review. A study shows that 94% of customers choose where to eat because of online reviews.
And if you’re looking for ways to improve your customer satisfaction, look no further than phone systems. They make it easier for customers to reach out when they have questions or want additional information about your restaurant.
Reduce Wait Time
If you’ve ever waited at a busy restaurant, you know how frustrating it can be. You want to eat your food, but you also want to get out of there so you can go back to work or relax.
If people have to wait too long to order their food, they will not come back. According to a survey, a fast food company with one hundred outlets, each additional minute of wait time can cost as much as $6 million annually. Having a phone system means that customers won’t have any problems when they call in—they’ll be able to order their food without waiting too long.
Increase Productivity
A restaurant’s phone system allows employees to easily and quickly reach their managers or human resources departments when they need help. Your employees can contact you if they have questions, concerns, or problems they need help with on the spot.
Phones are also crucial because they allow your employees to reach customers if there is a problem with their order. They can also inform customers when they arrive at the restaurant so that they don’t have surprises at the door.
Help to Track Sales Data
When you have a phone system, you can keep track of sales data. You’ll be able to see how many calls came through in each hour of the day or week and which days and times people call most often. The important thing about these statistics is that they help you identify trends to make informed decisions about how best to handle them for your business.
You’ll also be able to take advantage of features like call blocking and recording that let you know who’s calling when they don’t leave a message—and why! If someone keeps calling but never leaves a message (or if they leave one and then hang up), at least now you know why—and what kind of expectations they might have for your restaurant.
Help In Order Taking
Most restaurants have a minimal number of people working on a shift, and each person has a specific task. That means if one person takes an order and another person is supposed to ring it up, it can create delays in the flow of orders.Â
With a phone system, one person can accomplish both tasks; you take an order and transfer it to the POS system. It means that ordering is much more efficient and that customers get their food faster.
The same goes for payments: instead of waiting for an employee to hand over cash or credit card receipts, orders can be accepted off the phone or tablet without delay.
It Has a Customizable Routing Feature
Choose a provider offering a variety of customizable features. You don’t want to be limited to one set of features and be forced to purchase additional equipment or software.
By installing a restaurant-specific telephone system, you can ensure that no staff ever misses a call by directing calls to certain extensions or having numerous lines ring at once at various workstations. An adjustable company phone system decreases the likelihood of missed calls by allowing staff to handle incoming calls without putting them on wait or transferring them to another employee.
Therefore you need someone who can help ensure that all calls get routed properly through the appropriate department or employee.
If you’re a restaurant owner, you probably know how vital your phone system is to the success of your business. Whether it’s taking reservations, placing takeout/delivery orders, or handling customer service calls and questions, the phone plays a big part in getting your business up and running and keeping it running smoothly. You must choose a system that works for your establishment but, more importantly, for the people relying on it.
