Digitalization in the Food Industry
And What Restaurants Can Do to Thrive in this “New Normal”
One of the trends that has recently emerged is the digitalization of the food scene. Countless applications now make ordering food online just a click away. According to the QSR Magazine, digital restaurant sales saw a 13% increase in 2021, even after a meteoric 100% increase in 2020.
The digitalization of the food industry is here to stay, and it’s important that restaurants and suppliers take advantage of these opportunities.
In this post, we’ll discuss how and why technology is changing the food scene and exactly what you can do to survive and thrive in this new normal.
Why is Digitalization Critical for the Food Industry?
By now, almost all of us have experienced the shift to the digital world – whether it’s contactless ordering, leaving online reviews, or checking restaurants’ food safety ratings online.
While this has become standard practice for the restaurant-customer relationship, this gastronomical digitalization is equally as important for the restaurant-supplier relationship.
As restaurants continue to manage rising demand and supply chain issues, efficient operating procedures are critical. Many restaurants still use outdated physical timesheets to manage their orders, but this costs a great deal of time and effort.
There are few things more frustrating than trying to sort through messy handwriting or find that voicemail from a key supplier at the end of a 10+ hour shift serving your customers.
The good news is that the digital revolution hitting the food scene streamlines the ordering process. Now, restaurants and suppliers can communicate and order online with ease.
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How Can Restaurants Use Online Ordering Systems?
We all know about online ordering systems like UberEats, but the ones that exist for the restaurant & supplier relationship are less known to restauranteurs.
Before we get into exactly how you can use an online ordering system, let’s recap the benefits of having one in the first place:
- Managing your orders from suppliers online saves you tons of time that you can use to better serve your customers
- You can order and chat with all your suppliers in one centralized place. You never have to deal with constant back and forth communication again
- You’ll reduce the number of mistakes that come with a manual process (smeared writing, losing the sheets in a mountain of paperwork, etc.)
- Orders are much more customizable online, making it easier to add/delete items and specify unique instructions
When you add an online ordering system, you’ll have much more time on your hands to invest in your employees’ skills, engage customer feedback, and enhance your overall restaurant experience.
How does Choco come into play? Well, the Choco online ordering app is built for the exact reasons listed above. As a restauranteur, you’re able to easily take care of the entire ordering process in seconds – saving you tons of time and cutting down on mistakes.
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While this digitalization of the food industry can be an intimidating shift, the restaurants that fully embrace it will not only survive, but thrive for years to come.
If you’re part of a restaurant that’s tired of error-prone orders & ready to streamline your process, then go ahead and download our app here on the Google Play or App store.
