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Food Online Ordering Systems

Online Ordering: Restaurants Pay The Price

By Uncategorized

Using a Commission Based Online Ordering Company? Have you looked at your statements lately?

If you are a restaurant owner and use an online ordering service for your take-out and delivery orders, then chances are you are paying a percentage of every dollar spent through that ordering system to the service provider. Every. Single. Dollar. Since those dollars also cover food costs, labor, and other important overhead expenses, how much are you able to keep from those to-go order dollars? Pennies, if you are lucky, but for many restaurants the truth is often that they are sacrificing their profits from online ordering just to stay competitive.  Many restaurants do not even realize what they are paying until they look at their statements.  In most cases it is several hundred to several thousand dollars a month.

OnlineOrdersSurpassPhoneOrdering

Let’s face it. In today’s modern, digital, socially-networked, smart phone kind of world, not having an online ordering system seems almost archaic. Worse, the potential of losing business to a competitor who uses one of these services, can make online ordering feel like a requirement, rather than an option. Your food is delicious, and you want it to reach as many mouths as possible, but you don’t want to go broke through paying a high percentage of every online order to a service provider. After all, your menu printers don’t charge a percentage of your orders, and neither does your point of sale company, so why should your online ordering service? Until recently, the only available option has been to pay a commission, averaging about 14% of each order (gasp!) to an online ordering company, but there is a different idea making waves in the industry; an idea that could change the game. Big time.

What game, you ask? How about the game of corporate greed destroying small businesses. Or, you could think of it as the Game of Forks, and the Lannisters are in charge. According to an article published by NPR on August 12, 2013, common commission based online order companies don’t just charge a percentage based fee, but also tack on additional charges and even increase percentage rates if the restaurant starts making more moolah! Now that’s just appalling. Most restaurants are owned by small business owners are working to make money for themselves, not for online ordering services providers. So, what’s the alternative? Food Online Ordering Systems only charges a low flat monthly rate instead of a percentage of each order. Now THAT’S an idea! Rather than paying a commissions, with rates that vary depending on how much business your restaurant pulls in, you could be paying as little as a just few bucks a day for the same service.

With a flat rate, the cost of your online ordering service doesn’t change, you pay roughly a $150 per month whether you sell $3,000 or $5,000 worth of delivery orders, while a 14% commission would mean paying $400-$600 on the same orders. One doesn’t have to be the Master of Coins to see the value in flat rates over commissioned rates!

The theft is about more than money. It’s about your customers and your dream. Your dream to have a successful restaurant, make money, and feed hungry customers in the process. When profits for orders that typically represent a large percentage of one’s business are being gobbled up by an online service provider, then it is hard to stay afloat, let alone get ahead. When you can’t get ahead, other restaurants are able to move in and take business away from you. When you lose business, your dream slips away. Greedy commission-based companies are taking away more than just your money – they are threatening your bottom line, taxing you for being successful, and making you dance to their tune. They are stealing your dream.

Maybe it’s time to take your dream back. After all, you deserve to be successful, and no vendor should have the power to take that away from you, especially when there are other alternatives devoted to helping you grow your dream, rather than steal it from you.

Food Online Ordering Systems Certifies Epson Smart Printers For Its Restaurant Online Ordering System

By Food Online Ordering Systems News

LONG BEACH, Calif., April 28, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — Epson America, Inc., a leading supplier of value-added Point of Sale (POS) solutions, today announced that Food Online Ordering Systems, a provider of online ordering solutions for restaurants, has selected Epson’s Omnilink® TM-T88V-i and OmniLink TM-T20II-i intelligent printers for their unique ePOS™ Print and Server Direct Print technologies to better facilitate the restaurant online ordering process and improve sales. The solution is available from Food Online Ordering Systems today.

According to Hospitality Technology’s 2014 Restaurant Technology Study, nearly one in four restaurants offer online ordering and their next horizon will be to take online ordering to a mobile platform via apps and websites.

“As online food ordering has been making the move to mobile, Food Online Ordering Systems recognized the need for a more efficient and convenient mobile online ordering solution,” said Tom Kettell, director, commercial channel sales at Epson. “They have the technology and skill to take the online restaurant ordering experience to that next level. And together, we can create a more appealing online food ordering experience for customers while simultaneously enabling restaurants to maximize their business potential.”

“It’s all about convenience for the customer and Epson provides the ideal addition to our restaurant online ordering solution,” saidTodd Burge, CIO at Food Online Ordering Systems. “Epson’s TM-i intelligent printer series’ ability to communicate directly with remote devices without the need for a server or PC, was a key factor in the selection.  Restaurant customers will be able to place an online order with any computer, iOS-, Android mobile, or Windows device.  This way, everyone in the restaurant can make the most out of  their time serving customers rather than attending to phones, computers emails and faxes. They simply fill the order when it prints.”

“Food Online Ordering Systems has increased our food orders by more than 10%,” said Linda Johnston of Abo’s Pizza in Longmont, Colorado.  “We are doing about $4,000 per month in online sales now.  On our counter we have an old cash register and our Epson printer.  It’s like magic, we added a button to our website and the online order just prints out!”

Epson OmniLink TM-T88V-i  and TM-T20II-i

With built-in processing power and unique ePOS technology, Epson’s OmniLink solutions supports web-based printing from any mobile device with no print drivers, plug-ins, PCs or costly application changes.  They also enable mobile devices to communicate directly with peripherals connected to the OmniLink TM-T88V-i, such as a bump bar, kitchen display or up to 20 slave kitchen printers.

http://pos.epson.com/Products/prodsSmartPOS.htm

About Food Online Ordering Systems

A provider of online ordering solutions for restaurants, Food Online Ordering Systems can stand alone as a website or be fully integrated into a restaurant or catering service’s existing website by simply adding an Order Online button. It is completely white label so it is your branding that your customers see.  It can also be made available to customers as a branded mobile app for Android, iOS, Windows devices, or as an app on Facebook. Food Online Ordering Systems will build and design the best look working with the restaurant’s colors, logo, photographs of its menu items, and help set up secure payment portals. They also accommodate restaurant loyalty programs and can geocode multiple location franchise restaurants. Using our food ordering system, customers can monitor the status of their delivery through SMS notifications, email, or app notification.  It also works with your point-of-sale system as well as several payment gateways.

http://foodonlineorderingsystems.com/

About Epson America, Inc.

Founded in 1975 and headquartered in Long Beach, CA, Epson America, Inc. is the U.S. affiliate of Japan-based Seiko Epson Corporation, a global manufacturer and supplier of high-quality technology products that meet customer demands for increased functionality, compactness, systems integration and energy efficiency. For over 40 years, Epson’s advanced technology has been at work in millions of POS systems around the world. Today Epson’s Business Systems Division continues to bring industry-leading, open architecture, smart technologies to the point of service. You may also connect with Epson America on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/Epson), Twitter (http://twitter.com/EpsonAmerica), and YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/EpsonAmerica).

EPSON is a registered trademark and EPSON Exceed Your Vision is a registered logomark of Seiko Epson Corporation. OmniLink is a registered trademark and EPOS is a trademark of Epson America, Inc. All other trademarks and/or registered trademarks are property of their respective owners.

Logo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20121130/LA21891LOGO

SOURCE Epson America, Inc.

How Social Media can Successfully Promote Your Restaurant

By Growing Your Restaurant, Restaurant Marketing Tips

As an enthusiast of social media, I probably share the opinion of almost the entire population when I say that nowadays social media is what you need to make your restaurant a huge success. Whether or not you like or dislike, use or avoid social media for personal habits, one thing cannot be denied and that is that millions of users log on every day to the likes of Facebook, Twitter and Linkedin.

What you do need to remember though is that the primary importance of having a social media account is to interact socially with your virtual friends, the idea of integrating social networking into business coming later on. What you need to remember then when you wish to advertise your services to a global audience is that you cannot be too aggressive in your social media skills, and rather than pushing “friends” with spammy mails and annoying block capital advertisements, you need to subtly persuade them that your restaurant really is the place they need to be.

I personally have used social media for one of my business ventures, and can only rave on about the success I had. I decided to monitor the percentage of my clients that found out about my venture through social media, and the results were actually quite shocking. My conclusion from all this; it really is great to have people “talking about you” and the more “likes” or visits or “tweets” you receive, the better it all gets. Just remember however never to post anything negative or respond to any comments left in a negative manner; this really would get people talking about you, but in the very worst possible way!

A food online ordering system through social media can also help your business grow in a big way.  Many businesses see a 10%-20% increase in sales by just adding a restaurant online ordering system.  The system also work in social media apps like Facebook, iOS, and Android.  Contact Food Online ordering Systems for a demo today!

Food Online Ordering To Streamline Your Food Business

By Growing Your Restaurant, Restaurant Marketing Tips

Food Online Ordering Systems empowers your restaurant business with advanced e-commerce technology that will enable you to streamline your business. Numerous advantages come with incorporating this software to your current point of sale system. For one, you stop being limited by physical locations as anyone can order food from your business. Thus enabling your business to finally transverse different horizons that will ultimately raise your bottom line. However, when it comes to digital transitions, a good number of business owners still tend to be wary of the idea. Here are some of the ways that online ordering can work toward streamlining your business thus boosting your sales.

Every customer is attended to

There is nothing worse than craving something particular to eat then finding that either the line are too long at the restaurant or worse yet, it is closed or being put on hold when calling! Our online food ordering system allows you to keep your business open for as many hours as you want. Inclusion of delivery means that people do not have to wait for food at the premises or phone but can simply have their order brought to them at their convenience. Not only does this translate into customer acquisition, it also increases your customer retention rates. This can only mean additional profits for your business.

Flexibility for both your business and your customers

Making orders over the phone is becoming a thing of the past, as it should be! Not only do customers have to contend with busy phone lines during rush hour, but your employees also will not catch a break during peak hours such as lunch and dinnertime. By opting for online restaurant ordering software, you lose your dependence on phone lines for an automated and more efficient service. In addition, the use of automated email notifications will keep your customers feeling that you value paying attention to them despite the business’ stipulated working hours.

Up to the minute updates

One of the worst scenarios for your business is when a customer wants to order a particular item only to be told that it is not available. Not only does this lead to disappointment, but it could potentially make you lose business if they opt to purchase the food from a rival restaurant. With online food ordering software, your menu is refreshed by the minute thus ensuring that it is always up to date. Customers get a chance to choose their food from what is available all the time thus eliminating the chances of orders not being met.

Repeat orders

Another way of streamlining your business and boosting sales is by having repeat clients. Our online food ordering system can help you do this if incorporated with other incentives such as loyalty programs, coupons and more. These added incentives will make customers feel obliged to keep ordering from your business. As they will have their own accounts and profiles, which provide them with bonuses the more frequently, they choose to order from you.

With secure transactions and the ability to update your menu handily, our food online ordering system allows your business to embrace increased work productivity and boost sales at a fraction of the cost!

 

Effective Marketing Tips: Online Ordering for Restaurants

By Growing Your Restaurant, Restaurant Marketing Tips

Technology and the rise of social media has made it easier for businesses to get the word out regarding their products and services. While this is definitely a good thing, it is not without its downsides.

Digital channels of communication, while providing businesses with a conduit leading directly to their target audience, have become saturated. It is now harder than ever for businesses to stand out.

For example, how can one fried chicken restaurant compete with 10 others, who all swear to be the best in the city? These restaurants are all bound to have excellent websites, and also have attractive social media accounts.

There are companies that specialize in customizing user experience and ensure that customers are more likely to become aware of a restaurant or caterer. An online ordering system, for example, can work on a restaurant’s existing web presence and expand it into a customer’s personal space using mobile applications, and making it easy for them to get the food that they want at their doorstep.

However, there are a few things a restaurant or food catering service should remember to make their marketing plans more effective.

1. Create a website

Aside from the tried and true–fliers, pamphlets, and posters–restaurants and food services these days should establish an online presence, starting with a website.

With the increasing popularity of smart phones and other mobile devices, people are relying more and more on the internet to get the information they need. If you cannot be Googled, it is like you do not exist.

A good website should contain information about your restaurant or food catering service, but most importantly should showcase the food, where stores can be found, and how they can order.

2. Establish presence on social media

Social media is also a good place to push updates to customers, as they spend a lot of time there online.

Facebook is able to deliver good clickthroughs to websites, and Twitter gives users the chance to get live updates from businesses they follow. Instagram is foodie heaven, and other platforms such as Pinterest and Tumblr also allow for various means to highlight food products.

Social media also makes it easy for customers to get in touch, and to join promotions or contests.

3. Encourage food reviews

People like giving their opinions, and love it when their views are heard and shared by others. This is why it can be useful for restaurants to share food reviews written by customers and bloggers on their website and social media accounts.

If bad reviews are given, restaurants can immediately address the complaints and show that they have addressed these, making customers happy with their quick response.

4. Make food online ordering for restaurants or reservations an option

Customers like convenience, and online ordering for restaurants is as easy as it can get. In addition to food orders, most online ordering systems can also receive table reservations.

With the availability of online payment platforms and the rise of mobile devices, this can be useful in ramping up sales, as customers no longer have to wait until they get off work or go to a store in order to transact their business.

They can buy food or make reservations immediately, when the mood strikes or they feel hungry.

5. Regularly get feedback from customers

It is important to talk to customers about their opinions, and to make them feel that what they want matters. After all, they are paying good money for the food and service.

Feedback can be through email, the website, social media, phone, or a dropbox on site.

There should be follow through, however. Restaurants can leverage social media or their website to show their responses to the most pressing concerns. Showing you care can earn brownie points with customers.

6. Give incentives or discounts to customers

Incentives such as a one-day only discount, a weekend food sale, or free dessert can help ramp up sales–everybody likes freebies.

Social media can be leveraged in a variety of ways to promote these kinds of efforts.

7. Ride on local holidays or events

Hosting an event during local holidays or events can help a restaurant get increased sales, as they can serve as a meeting place for several groups. For example, a bar can host a football viewing party, for example, and fine dining restaurants can host a Valentine’s Day speed dating event.

8. Show lots of food photos on promo materials

Visually stimulating photographs can ignite interest in people, and gorgeous food photos on promotional material, websites and social media accounts are sure to make potential customers think about what your restaurant or catering service is offering.

There are several Facebook and Twitter posts a day, as well as whole Instagram campaigns and websites celebrating food. Consistently mouthwatering food photographs are sure to catch foodies’ attention.