As asparagus spears, juicy tomatoes and wild berries start to grace menus across the country, it’s a promising indicator that the summer season is underway. And with warmer months finally on the horizon, the demand for outdoor dining begins to surge again. From guests with pets and prams, to bigger groups seeking to celebrate in the sun, al fresco dining adds a relaxed and vibrant atmosphere that the UK has been in much need of after this winter.
According to an OpenTable survey, 82%* of people want to see outdoor seating options continue to grow. A heightened demand for street-side seating and terrace-eating brings the opportunity for more footfall through your restaurant doors. By integrating technology into your al fresco service, you not only enhance the experience for your guests but also streamline operations for your staff.
One of the most noticeable enhancements technology brings to outdoor dining is the improved efficiency of operations, from bookings, to floor plans, to ordering. Advanced reservation systems, like TheFork, allow diners to book tables with ease, making the initial interaction with your restaurant more appealing. Additionally, digitalised booking systems enhance your service by optimising and automating floor plans, ensuring a smoother, quicker seating experience for guests. During the peak periods of summer, this streamlined service can be valuable to your restaurant’s bottom line, from better customer reviews to increased loyalty.
Alongside booking systems, integrating technology to digitalise your outdoor ordering processes is a great way to enhance your guests’ dining experience. Digital menus, accessible via QR codes, offer a dynamic and interactive dining experience. With Lightspeed’s Order Anywhere, this can be easily integrated to suit the personalised needs of your restaurant.
Adopting QR technology into your service operations makes managing larger outdoor spaces like pub gardens, rooftops, and multiple dining areas easier. QR ordering simplifies table numbers for staff by eliminating the need for manual tracking. Staff can easily identify orders through the QR codes associated with each table, streamlining service. What’s more, QR technology enables guests to view and order directly from their phones which reduces the risk of human error during the ordering process. Plus, it facilitates payment at the point of order, leading to quicker table turnover during the busy summer months-a triple win for your restaurant.
79% of diners** in the UK say that they would be willing to spend more time and money in a restaurant if they incorporated outdoor dining. So when you're serving up under the sun, it’s always a great idea to enrich your menu with seasonal produce that compliments the warmer weather, thereby encouraging loyalty of those who relish dining al fresco. Consider dishes that are associated with the summer spirit, and which promote a social style of dining–tapas and meze plates are perfect. Technology can help you aggregate your customer’s spending behaviour, and quantify your menu’s top performing dishes.
With Lightspeed’s Advanced Insights, you can get a detailed breakdown of your menu performance to then promote your best dishes more prominently. With this feature, you can see what your guests are ordering most and optimise your menu accordingly to satisfy their summer cravings.
In the big picture, it’s clear that technology enhances al fresco dining for guests and service staff alike. Embracing tech can massively help your restaurant thrive in the summer rush, but what’s more, it can solidify your customer loyalty beyond the sunny days.
Discover more about how you can elevate your restaurant during the summer surge: www.lightspeedhq.co.uk/pos/restaurant/
*www.opentable.com/blog/dining-trends-2022
**www.indigoawnings.co.uk/the-benefits-of-investing-in-sheltered-outdoor-seating/
