One of the challenges facing every restaurant is operating within a budget. When it comes to spending money, especially on things such as supplies, food, etc., the first thing most owners look at is their bottom line. But not just any bottom line…the bottom line for your restaurant business. So what are you going to do?
You have to get creative in order to save money. The days of purchasing large containers of cheap rice and beans are over. In fact, they’re becoming more rare these days. Fortunately, there are many ways your restaurant can use affordable technology to save money while maintaining quality. Let’s look at just a few of the ways:
Using a digital scale to determine portions. There are many reasons why using a digital scale is a smart move for your restaurant. For one, most people order and pay for their meals online these days. That means you no longer have to guess at how much food your restaurant should have. And thanks to the Internet, many restaurants are now able to take that guesswork out of the equation by using a scale that provides exact measurements.
Refrigerators and freezers have also become more efficient over time. New technology allows these units to chill less and retain more of the food’s nutritional value. That means you’ll be able to serve your patrons frozen food without having to go through the trouble of reheating it. This means less waste, which means fewer dollars in your pocket at the end of the month.
Use high-tech LED displays to draw attention to certain areas of your menu. Today, LED technology can be used not only for advertising but also for making customers aware of certain items on your menu. For example, many fast food chains are installing LED signs above portions of chicken that have cooking instructions. This is not only an economical way to display this information, but it’s also an effective way to draw attention to it.
Use your digital sign technology to promote specials and new offers. Many times, small businesses are unable to afford expensive advertisements in traditional publications. However, there is no reason that a simple digital sign cannot advertise your restaurant’s special offerings. In fact, some of the most affordable tech options today allow you to post simple ads right on your website.
Have an online presence that’s easier to find. Perhaps you’ve tried the old way of trying to get your restaurant listed in a local newspaper or online directory, only to discover that most of the results were either a web page or an online version of an old website. Today, there are affordable tech options available that allow you to post your restaurant’s profile right on the Web. This makes finding what you’re looking for so easy that even those who aren’t Internet savvy will be able to find your restaurant.
Use your digital signage to help promote special events and parties. No matter how small the gathering is your restaurant should be part of it. When people come to your restaurant for a special dinner or a gathering, they’ll want to know that they can have fun while they are at your restaurant. Use your affordable tech options to create a fun interface for party goers to use while they are enjoying their food. By creating an easy-to-navigate interface for your guests, you’ll help them to enjoy their time at your restaurant while you are also making a profit.
Promote events at your restaurant. If you plan on having a charity event or a fund-raiser of some sort at your restaurant, you should make sure that your business has an easily accessible website through which you can promote the event. The more easily people can access your website to learn more about the event or to RSVP, the better. With affordable tech options for event registration online, it will be easy for people to let their friends and family know about upcoming events. This is one of the most effective ways that you can use affordable tech options to promote your restaurant business.
Give your customers a reason to come back again. Many people go on vacation once, twice, or even more than once in a lifetime. Even if you don’t host a holiday event at your restaurant, you should still take the time to keep your restaurant listings up to date. As people plan their holidays, they are likely to search for ways to maximize their stay in a city, and if you have affordable tech options like Google Calendar that you can access from any computer, you will be able to remind them when your restaurant is open so that they can plan to come for dinner.
If your restaurant isn’t open yet, try inviting people to a “soft launch” of sorts. During soft launches, you can offer something appetizing or special and then tell your regular customers about it. Once it’s open, you can then inform your friends and family about it. Many affordable tech options for calendar applications and reminder tools are available online, and you can also find other ways that you can get the word out about your restaurant. You will be able to tell everyone that your restaurant is opening soon, and you will also be able to provide great meals at a very affordable price!