Capture Sales at Any Time on Any Channel with an All-in-One Solution
Consumers are getting more comfortable with ordering online, many are even shocked if they can’t order electronically through multiple channels. This isn’t just an American phenomenon. Consumers all over the world are buying online. In 2020 electronic retail sales eclipsed 4.2 trillion U.S. dollars worldwide. eCommerce sales have not declined in the global emergence from the 2020 lockdowns, and in 2021 eCommerce sales continued to grow by 16.8%. People have adapted to these new retail omnichannel solutions and expect technology to be a part of the purchasing experience now and in the future.
Growth in reliance on online ordering isn’t the only way technology has interwoven its way into the restaurant and hospitality experience. The growing use of interactive kiosks in restaurant and retail settings is an indicator of customer acceptance of using technology for everything from buying a cheeseburger to checking their luggage at the airport. Kiosks are now a common resource, in 2019, Trillster reported that 65% of customers surveyed said they would be more willing to go to a restaurant if self-service kiosks were available. On top of being a useful tool, kiosks can also help generate more revenue than traditional business solutions. Business owners have reported that kiosks have been known to generate sales up to 30% larger than in-person sales.
Some customers will always prefer in-person sales. In fact, most sales are still face-to-face in brick-and-mortar stores. The US Department of Commerce reported that eCommerce sales totaled $250 billion in the first quarter of 2022. They also reported total retail sales equaling $1.7 trillion in that same time period. While online payments are growing rapidly, in-person is still the default preferred by most customers.
If you want to capture all sales, you need an omnichannel solution that allows you to take orders at the counter, at a kiosk, in the drive-thru, and online. And if you want to keep from pulling your hair out all day, you will want to manage all of those channels from a single system.
Key Factors in Choosing an Omnichannel Solution for Ordering
Order Customization
Increasingly customers expect to be able to customize their purchases to suit their liking. Whether your customers are looking at a drive-thru menu board or choosing items on a kiosk screen, PC, tablet, or phone, they can browse all of the modifiers and options you offer and order exactly what they want. Often customers will want to browse what options you offer online and then come in person to finalize the sale.
The best omnichannel solution will allow you to create a single, integrated system where you can collect sales information, control inventory management, easily update prices across all channels, and run a single report for a total view of your business. Such a solution will also keep errors to a minimum.
So Many Ways for Customers to Pay
Just as customers become more comfortable ordering and shopping on multiple channels, they have also grown accustomed to using different methods of payment. More and more customers are going beyond cash, credit, and debit. Give your customers options that make ordering and payment fast and efficient.
With integrated payments, they can choose how they pay, whether with EMV, contactless, or other payment methods your customers prefer. By using an omnichannel solution, you can give your customers more options like mobile payments for curbside pick-up or tableside payment. A fully integrated system shares sales data and totals with the POS system for streamlined end-of-day reporting.
Reliable and secure
As the number of channels customers can use increases, so does the security threat to your system. The best way to protect your business from these threats is with an embedded POS system built with advanced security protocols designed to protect your business. An embedded POS system prevents any other applications from being used on the POS Terminals, meaning your sensitive data is impenetrable. It also eliminates the need for antivirus and malware. In short, an embedded POS system is secure, redundant, and self-healing. Utilizing a hybrid cloud computing solution, you can get the security of an embedded solution with the flexibility of being able to manage your business even when you can’t physically make it into your business.
An omnichannel ordering solution allows you to compete on all channels. You don’t have to miss out on sales from channels your customers want, but you don’t offer. When your customers see and interact with your brand across multiple channels, your relationship with them is strengthened, and their lifetime value as a customer increases. Without an integrated system to manage inventory, pricing, and sales, running an omnichannel business can be a nightmare for you and a massive frustration for your customer. But with the right omnichannel solution, you can streamline your operations. Most importantly, you can be where your customers are, delivering them what they want.
