29 March 2010
How to Make Restaurant’s Take-Out and Delivery Services a Success
Posted by Crystal under: Equipment Maintenance & Tips; Recession Tips & Tricks .
Take-outs and delivery services are some of the most essential components of the restaurant business. While until recently take-out and delivery services were largely associated with fast food, pizza, or Asian food establishments, the latest trend is that other restaurants, such as casual dining places, are also actively pursuing take-out and delivery services to generate some extra income. Here are some tips on how to make that side of your business successful:
Telephone and on-line ordering are two most common ordering options. Increasingly larger number of people uses on-line ordering systems for take-out or delivery. It is especially common to use online ordering when placing large orders. Modern point of sale systems are perfectly capable of handling on-line orders in a smooth and accurate manner.
Text Messaging. Many restaurants are also starting to use a third ordering option – text messaging. Many software programs provide restaurants with the capability to receive text messaged orders from cell phones and other personal digital devices. In fact, text-messaging is the most popular ordering method for young adults and teenagers.
Walk-ins. The fourth most common ordering option is walk-ins. This option is especially attractive for those restaurants that are capable to provide a fast turn-around service for walk-in customers.
Offer a Variety of Ordering Options. In order to make take-out and delivery services successful, it is critical that a restaurant implements a variety of options for ordering take-out food or delivery to expand potential customer base. Ideally, the restaurants should have all four of the above ordering options to accommodate all types of customers and generate the highest possible number of sales.
Ensure Accuracy. It is important for a restaurant to have a well set up system that provides checks and balances for order accuracy. Once the order is out of the door, there is no more opportunity to run back to the kitchen and replace the wrong order with the right one or put in the forgotten item. That is why it is important to establish accuracy early in the game, so that restaurant can enjoy a reputation of being reliable and continue generate repeat business.
Food Safety Considerations. Create guidelines and implement appropriate systems to make sure that food quality and food safety considerations are taken into account during packaging, transporting, or reheating. Make sure packaging is free from possible leaks or breaks. Packaging should also keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold, using appropriately selected containers. Foods should be kept at the right temperatures before they are picked up by the customers. Food safety can be compromised if the above factors are not taken into account.
Menu. If you run a sit down restaurant, not all items on the menu can be used for take-outs, and not all items can be packaged appropriately. Therefore, prepare a separate take-out or delivery menu to make sure you can fulfill your customer take-out orders. Additionally, make sure to enclose paper menus with each take-out order, so that customer can easily order from you the next time.
Delivery Service Considerations. Determine if you will provide free delivery or if you will charge a fee for delivering. Also determine a radius that you will serve. Define a minimum order size for delivery orders. Train delivery drivers accordingly, making sure that delivery drivers represent company well, take care of the transported food, and act in a customer friendly manner.
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