08 Feb A Day Of F&B Retailers’ Life
Most retail organizations have had a difficult year, and the food and beverage (F&B) industry has not been exempted from this trend. Because many people had to adapt or reinvent themselves in order to live. This has resulted in the development of new restaurant and kitchen concepts. Although there have been numerous reports of popular food establishments faltering and being forced to combine in order to stay viable, some companies have continued to expand and innovate.
It is almost necessary for food and beverage firms to transition to a more omnichannel approach by implementing a system or application that allows them to reach their customers without incurring significant expenses. At the same time, the shift of the food and beverage industry from offline to online is accelerating. Let’s take a look at some pain points that an F&B retailer has to deal with when they don’t have a proper system.
- Lack Of Manpower & Greater Overhead Costs
- Increased Waiting Time To Serve Customers
- Risks In Resuming Dine In Operations
1. LACK OF MANPOWER AND GREATER OVERHEAD COSTS
The services and hospitality industries are experiencing an increase in business as their client base grows in the new year, but this rise in business is not translating into an increase in earnings and revenues for these industries. Some in the industry have told Malay Mail that, as a result of a scarcity of personnel and increases in the price of raw materials, many businesses are experiencing greater overhead costs as a result.
Restaurants and cafes have also been impacted by a lack of personnel, which has resulted in shortened operating hours, a limit on the number of customers allowed, and changed menus. In some circumstances, businesses have reduced their operating hours by more than a few hours, closing their doors as early as 8 p.m. in some instances. One eatery in Sungai Buloh reported that they were forced to reduce their operation hours from 24 hours to 12 hours due to the current economic climate. They even had to reach out to their fellow retailer colleagues, asking if they could borrow a worker or two to help out at the shop, but were turned down because the other party was experiencing the same problem they were.
2. INCREASED WAITING TIME TO SERVE CUSTOMERS
Ever since the country had been hit by Covid-19, many rules and regulations were changed to comply with the strict SOP. This has caused many F&B struggles to keep up with orders from customers. In addition to clearing the tables, the servers were responsible for taking orders from customers and delivering them to their tables personally. Customers reported that they had to wait five minutes to catch the attention of servers whenever they wanted to order meals or have their drink refilled at the restaurant.
As much as they attempt to understand and empathize with the fact that the restaurants are understaffed, it does, to a certain extent, detract from their overall dining enjoyment. According to the results of a survey conducted in the food and beverage business, the industry received poor marks for the quality of its employees’ service. There was a “significant reduction in how customers perceived key attributes such as beverage quality and staff proactiveness,” according to the survey results. It went on to say that when it came to the in-store ordering process at cafés, takeaway consumers gave it a “pretty mediocre rating.”
3. RISKS IN RESUMING DINE IN OPERATIONS
Despite the fact that dining in at food and beverage establishments has been available for more than a month, not all operators are keen to reopen their doors at this time. Some businesses are clinging to the business model that has served them well during the pandemic – takeout and delivery – out of fear that they would be forced to close their doors if Covid-19 infections are detected at their locations.
Using the number of tables, the average spend per customer, the number of customers with social distancing, and labor costs, one Kuala Lumpur food operator calculated the revenue he would receive in comparison to the cost of potentially closing for 10-14 days in the event of a positive case and determined it was “not favorable” for him to resume dine-in operations. For some, the prospect of being forced to close their doors for up to 14 days while earning no money and having to spend money on testing and sanitizing is enough to send shivers down their spine. In light of the fact that the dine-in business had not yet fully recovered, it was unclear if the industry would change to a delivery/takeaway business model.
Nevertheless, these problems will no longer be prolonged if F&B retailers can find solutions to manage and control their ordering system with a specially customized and personalized app for both staff and customers. The most obvious advantage of having your own online ordering app is that you can tailor the ordering procedure to your preferences. You decide how many steps customers must take to place an order, what information they must submit, and how the app looks.
Moreover, the easier it is for customers to navigate via the app, the more likely they are to reorder, increasing your sales. However, until that time comes, it is your responsibility to ensure that the ordering process proceeds successfully. Another advantage of developing your own restaurant’s mobile ordering app is that customers can order exactly what they want. Without someone holding you back, you can make the best decisions for your business, from design to ordering flow.
Furthermore, you’ve probably dealt with order mistakes and dissatisfied consumers if you used to take orders over the phone. Accepting orders through an app reduces the likelihood of human errors, which are the most frequent type of order errors. When you operate a restaurant or kiosk, loyalty programmes are generally a smart idea. They can assist you in obtaining repeat clients and establishing a loyal consumer base. An online ordering app can assist you in implementing such a scheme with minimal effort.
With these advantages in mind, it’s time to take matters into your own hands and invest in a restaurant’s online ordering app. It’s the finest option you can make for your company’s success in the current social and economic context. Good news is, we do provide these efficient solutions for your business. Feel free to reach out to Senwave, for the solutions to all your problems.