You have no doubt heard of an Internet Café where the customers have access to Internet enabled computers and browse the world-wide web at leisure whilst supping their chosen hot beverage. An unmanned café is similar to an Internet café in that it relies on computers as the main feature that makes it stand apart from other cafes. However, the kiosk-maintained café has a small desktop kiosk set into each table so that the customer can order their food and drinks at the table via a touchscreen. Are unmanned kiosks maintained cafes a glimpse of the future of Cafes and fast food outlets?
Cafes and fast food restaurants are always looking to streamline their businesses and to become more efficient whilst not compromising on customer service. The fast food industry is not adverse to new technology with the rise of ‘fast food drive through’, that uses a computerised system to collect order and electronically send the information to the cashier.
Furthermore, when the first fast food drive through outlets were opened, consumers made a beeline to try them out. The public is draw to new ideas especially if they are seen as a futuristic advancement, marketed to be beneficial to their desires. In a similar way, Kiosk maintained cafes would stir the curiosity of the public, which would in turn perpetuate traffic to the café.
The kiosk itself is a rugged touch screen kiosk, which can be set into most designs of table. The kiosk can either be flush to the table surface, or set at an angle in a ‘Cheese wedge’ type of fashion. The customer settles at the table and uses the touch screen to navigate the menu and to order their food and drinks.
The digital display could also have room to advertise special offers or to advertise incentive schemes perhaps.
The kiosk then asks the customer to pay for their order. Payments can be made via note or coin collection and you could also offer payment via credit or debit card.
Once the transaction has been completed the order is sent to the kitchen for the staff to prepare and take out to the table.
Because the orders are taken at the table via a touch screen kiosk, this means that a counter is no longer needed in the main dinning area. This valuable space can now be used for more seating area, and more customers. Because there is no counter area, you don’t need staff to man that area.
You do still need some staff however to wait the tables and to prepare food, so there is still a little of the human touch for your customers. This is also helpful if they specific needs, if they spill a drink and need someone to clear it away, for example.
Kiosks maintained cafes are efficient because they eliminate the queues to the counter. Queuing in cafes is not time efficient, some customers can take up considerable amounts of time deciding what they would like to order. Customers further behind may already know their order, but are kept waiting for slower customers. The cafe kiosk creates a queuing system after the order has been taken, this make more sense. Customers who know their order are not held up, and their food is delivered to them in a faster time that it would have been had they been kept at the counter. This in turn means that that customer will vacate their table sooner and the table is turned around for the next customer.
Customers who have a limited dinner break from work and who need a speedy dinner service would particularly appreciate this system, because to most people, time is precious and standing in queues is not a good use of time.
About Kiosks4Business
Kiosks4Business design and manufacturer touch screen kiosk solutions. If you would like to find out more about how Kiosks4Business Kiosks can help you deliver your services then please call us today 0845 451 2020 or visit our website.