![]() To be sure, consumers seem to expect more from in-restaurant dining nowadays. But delivering value and enhancing the overall guest experience doesn’t necessarily require sweeping changes. Some tech-supported improvements can help in a big way – and recent research suggests there is untapped potential here that can benefit restaurants. A survey from Incisiv about the future of restaurant dining found that the majority of restaurants are leaving opportunities on the table to use digital experiences to boost food’s emotional and communal power, as well as offer seamless and efficient service. Making improvements can include everything from simplifying group dining by allowing easy bill splitting to connecting guests with behind-the-scenes content about your ingredients. Similarly, efficiency tech (such as sensors to detect the presence of guests or in-restaurant app modes to allow guests to track orders) can improve the experience of guests, but these tools aren’t widely used in restaurants. Looking at your order streams, where is there room to make things more seamless – and in effect, exponentially enhance the experience for your guests? ![]() Artificial intelligence is already proving its potential to help restaurants fine-tune their brands — largely by creating the kinds of experiences that specific guests crave. You may already be using AI algorithms to analyze guests’ order histories and preferences to provide targeted food recommendations, but the technology’s capabilities expand beyond that. Do you have guests who ask a lot of questions about your menu or otherwise need help landing on a dish? AI voice-enabled assistants can give guests information about a dish’s ingredients and nutritional value, as well as help guests select meals — easing the burden on staff and likely speeding ordering times. Upon a guest’s arrival at your restaurant, it can greet a repeat guest by name, remember their favorite table, and suggest menu items or specials they are apt to enjoy. Expect to see AI play a larger role in building the ambiance of restaurants too — by suggesting music and lighting based on your guest data, or offering immersive dining experiences through virtual or augmented reality. On the service side, an AI chatbot on your app or website can help you make your ordering more accurate and also respond to customer service enquiries at any hour of the day. When guests leave reviews, AI can screen their input and pull out key insights you can use to improve your experience. Some of AI’s benefits still feel futuristic, and the earliest adopters are bound to hit snags along the way, but it’s worth paying attention to how the technology is moving the needle on the experience and service a business provides. Consumer expectations are bound to shift as a result. |
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