Restaurant Technology In The Post Covid 19 World

While the restaurant industry emerges scarred from the Covid 19 pandemic, there isn’t any doubt that keeping safety measures in mind, the operational dynamics in restaurants, as also the dining experience for customers will change in the foreseeable future.

Change is the essence of life. Perhaps this axiom is best perceived with Einstein’s quote ‘Necessity is the mother of all invention’. Already, technology driven companies are burning the midnight oil in innovating new digital sanitizers, surface cleaners, latex gloves, face shields, designer masks and what have you.

Likewise, the customers too are eagerly looking forward to their ‘joie de vivre’ having being deprived of their delicious ‘a la carte’ menu in the last few months. Many are empathizing with their favorite restaurants, thus advocating loyalty and unstinted support. The one thing this pandemic has done is to bring human beings closer in every sphere of life.

Post Covid 19 we will see the restaurant industry worldwide adapting new business models and emerge into a different operational and technological landscape.

 

Apart from the 2.5 meters distance in table arrangements,

we enumerate some of these major changes which are happening now or will happen in the near future.

Reopning after covid 19

Digital Menu Boards

will play a greater role in not just showcasing food items but will also announce safety measures for customers. Some food menus too will see a shift towards real-time freshly cooked items (like BBQs). The chefs will play a greater role in videos and playlists.

Contactless Dining

Contactless Dining

for customers too, the restaurant experience in ordering, seating and payments will change while the fun and entertainment elements will remain. After all, good food and good times will always be cherished. And the restaurateur will ensure this.

QR code based payment after covid 19

Contactless Payments

Enhanced QR Code systems in menu item pricing will enable contactless payments. The plastics, credit cards, diners cards will be replaced by EVM, contactless tap & pay digitals, and mobile wallets. At cash counters (if any) surfaces will be sanitized regularly with a tray-like tool for transactions.

Maintain 2.5 meters distance in table arrangements.

Restaurant Construction Changes

As this pandemic has accelerated a rapid demand for Drive-Through and Take-away foods, existing as well as new restaurants are constructing a sales counter as an extension to their premises through which contactless transaction and deliveries could be implemented.

Contactless Valet Service

Contactless Valet Service

Contactless valet service will help to make payment at parking lots while cutting the wait time and getting rid of the crowd. This will be particularly relevant for premium and upscale restaurants where customers will get this extra benefit on their commute.

Supply Chain Visibility

Supply Chain Visibility

Food supplies technology process from the farm to restaurant kitchen to the customer’s plate will be made much safer with a GTIN Code placed on raw materials. This will enable better tracing and accountability.

Employee Health Safety Methods

Employee Health Safety Methods (1)

It has become mandatory for all restaurants to ensure daily health and temperature checks, provisions of disposable masks, gloves and the effective use of sanitizers. Voice ordering digital machines may come in to replace touch-less services.

Inventory and Storage

Inventory and Storage

Ordering of supplies from tried and tested vendors will be better coordinated for freshness and safety. The ordering cycle will become shorter as the focus will be on freshly cooked items and up-sells. Better refrigeration facilities will be adapted.

Employee Safe Working Digital Tools (2)

Invention of the ordinary time-clock’s ability for temperature checks could happen. This apart, surfaces like POS Touch screen, a Biometric thumb scanner, and anti-microbial POS scanners could make their debut.

Customer Food Take-away and Deliveries

Customer Food Take-away and Deliveries

Safety measures for these can only be more emphasized as they go through the process of food preparation, packaging and storing at a proper temperature. New and safer packaging materials will come into the market.

Third Party Food Deliveries

Third Party Food Deliveries

While companies such as Zomato and Swiggy have safety processes in place, third party deliveries cannot fully be controlled by the restaurant. However, along with temperature checks, a digital log-in method could enable tracking, securing and recording the person picking up food packages for deliveries.

New Platforms in Advertising

New Platforms in Advertising

As many are now working from home, commute is still restricted and ordering through the mobile phone is on the rise, most businesses will focus on sales locally. Hence, restaurateurs will advertise more on customer’s mobile phones, local city pages and by strategically placing banners in their neighborhoods’.

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