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  • 3 Reasons Why Restaurants Should Allow Customers to Order Online

    3 Reasons Why Restaurants Should Allow Customers to Order Online

    Online ordering and delivery are so convenient that more and more people are going online and, in a few clicks, having meals delivered to their door. According to banking analysts Cowen, delivery will grow to a $76 billion industry by 2022. CNBC reports that online orders comprise half of all deliveries, with millennials and the 35-44 age group leading the pack among diners who are taking advantage of online ordering apps and services.

    Online Ordering Makes Sense for Your Restaurant

    Although most restaurants take phone orders, it’s a good idea to have an alternate ordering method so people won’t get a busy signal or wait on hold for too long. Online ordering also means the phone won’t be ringing as often, taking staff away from other tasks and making the atmosphere more pleasant for dine-in customers.

    Online ordering allows diners to enter their orders online through the restaurant’s website or app and designate whether it’s for pickup, delivery, or dine-in. Online ordering solutions also enable the customer to pay with a credit card before the order is prepared, and it streamlines workflows by sending orders directly to the kitchen. Implementing an online ordering system means a better customer service experience for patrons and allows you to gather their contact information for future marketing efforts.

    Online ordering is a great way to boost revenue and attract new customers. The addition of Amazon Eats and Seamless are making it easier than ever for restaurants to introduce online ordering. If you haven’t already, here are three reasons why your customers should be able to point, click, and eat:

    1. Increased sales and larger orders

    Restaurants that introduce online ordering increase their takeout revenue, on average, by 30%. For small restaurants or ones with limited hours, adding online ordering and delivery generates an additional revenue stream without impacting your dine-in customers.

    Online ordering encourages larger orders by giving customers extra time to look through the menu and discover new items they would like to try. Diners are in control of the ordering process and they can take their time reading the menu without feeling rushed, securely process their payments, and never get a busy signal.

    2. Improved order accuracy

    Taking phone orders means an employee must be able to clearly hear the customer on the phone, accurately and legibly write down an order, and then input it into the point of sale (POS) system. Sometimes the employee may not hear the order correctly or make mistakes while entering it into the POS terminal. Removing these steps means less opportunity for errors and a reduction in the amount of time and resources wasted remaking orders prepared incorrectly.

    3. Expand your customer base

    More of your customers will seek out restaurants with online ordering, so it’s important to have every option available—phone, online and ordering app. According to a survey by the National Restaurant Association, 61% of people said they consider delivery and takeout options important for table service restaurants.  The experts at QSR Web reported that online ordering is outpacing dine-in patrons by 300%. If reservations at your restaurant are hard to get, or there are only a few tables, online ordering makes it easy for people to satisfy their craving or try it for the first time quickly and easily.

    Restaurants are preparing more meals for take-out than they are serving to on-premises customers, so make sure they can place their orders using the technology they want. Online ordering is the key to drawing in new customers and increasing revenue.



    CloudPRNT

  • The Future of Cannabis Retail is Looking Good

    The Future of Cannabis Retail is Looking Good

    The retail cannabis industry is growing fast, $75 billion by 2030 fast.

    But let’s look at the nearer future. According to Arcview Market Research and BDS Analytics, by 2021 the cannabis market is expected to reach $24.5 billion. Currently, cannabis is legal in 9 states for recreational use while 30 states have legalized cannabis for medical usage.

    With such a high market growth expectancy, dispensaries sell a variety of cannabis products in the forms of hash, rosin, shatter, and oils which can be smoked or vaped. In addition, as many are aware, cannabis is also sold in the forms of candy and baked goods. As for pharmaceutical use, cannabis contains cannabidiol (CBD) which when used in the form of candy or oil aids in the treatment of pain and epilepsy. Now that sounds pretty good.

    Let’s Talk Business

    There’s no doubt that cannabis has health benefits that aid in the relief of:

    • Pain
    • Muscle spasms
    • Arthritis
    • Dravet’s Syndrome
    • Mental health symptoms
    • Etc.

    But what about benefits for businesses?

    Well, as was mentioned earlier, legal cannabis reached $9.7 billion in sales in 2017.

    But let’s dig a little deeper into the facts and figures…

    By 2021, marijuana sales are expected to reach a whopping $24.5 billion. Younger generations are turning to cannabis consumption and slowly turning away from alcohol. This has resulted in a decrease in binge drinking, 9% below the nation’s average, in the states where marijuana is legalized. Funnily enough, the industry’s sales will be led by people 55 and older. With such a diverse market, the cannabis industry is opening up multiple opportunities for businesses to flourish.

    The increased popularity, and acceptance, of the cannabis industry is leading to the establishment of more small businesses with an increase in employment opportunities. With cannabis stores becoming more common in legalized states, the industry of creating products to efficiently, and legally, weigh and sell marijuana to meet regulations are necessary for the success of the business. Additionally, with cannabis being legalized all over Canada, there may even be a possibility that the East coast will speed up its state adoption for recreational use.

    Regardless, cannabis is creating a diverse industry that includes the need for different markets to ensure its success, thus providing a positive impact on the nation’s economy.

    The Cannabis POS Industry

    With Cannabis creating such a diverse industry, it only makes sense that businesses will need reliable POS systems…image-e1574796602929

    Keep in mind that the cannabis industry is different than your average retail business.

    There are multiple rules and regulations that need to be followed in order to ensure that your business is legal. Here are some key points to remember when choosing your POS system:

    1. Cannabis is a cash business
    2. Sensitive scales are a necessity
    3. Labels are regulated
    4. Receipts are essential

    How Resellers Can Cash in on Cannabis Point of Sale

    The cannabis industry has become one of the fastest growing markets. Here’s how resellers can take advantage.



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  • How to Find the Best POS Solution for Your Restaurant

    How to Find the Best POS Solution for Your Restaurant

    four-leaf-products-e1574795534725Starting a restaurant business or a coffee shop has never been easy for people who don’t have experience. Such business requires large spending – from purchasing and investing in all necessary equipment to over hiring staff and releasing monthly salaries. Consequently, these have direct negative effects on a restaurant’s profitability. Last but not least, traditional systems cause difficulty for owners when they want to quickly expand their business.

    Contrary to popular belief, restaurant point of sale is not a one size fits all models. In the restaurant industry, you’ll find large to mid-sized sit-down restaurants, mom and pop shops with 5 to 10 tables, cafes, fast-casual, food trucks, and more. Finding the right point of sale system for your restaurant really depends on the type of business your running.

    1. Pop-up Restaurants & Food Trucks

    food-truck-e1574795558435

    For a pop-up restaurant or food truck scenario, you will want a point of sale that allows you to be mobile. Tablet POS or mPOS are very popular in this market because the mobility of the tablet or mobile device allows users to take up less space and take the POS outside of the pop-up or food truck to take orders and process payments of those waiting in line. With this type of mobile solution, you will want a receipt printer with the same mobility. A portable receipt printer that can hook right to your belt strap is ideal for these pop-up and food truck environments because they are lightweight, compact, and can print receipts from anywhere, at any time.

    2. mPOP™

    mPOP-bar-e1574795580555In cafes and smaller restaurants, mobility is still preferred, but you will need a POS system that is more static. The mPOP allows restaurateurs to still utilize the mobility of a tablet or smartphone while having a set POS checkout station with a small footprint. This is the perfect solution for smaller restaurants or cafes that have a lower cash flow and want to maintain an aesthetically pleasing counter space.

    3. TSP143III

    For larger restaurants, you will need a more robust solution that can withstand busy periods with a high volume of orders being transmitted and receipts being printed. The TSP143III is the best printer for this scenario with a tethered USB connection for Apple iPad® devices that simultaneously facilitate data communication to the printer and charges the mobile device. The TSP143III is also offered with WLAN and Bluetooth connectivity option to print receipts from anywhere in the restaurant.

    TSP100IIILAN_600x377-IMG_9539-e1574795601338The FOURLEAF POS App aims to connect owners to their business 24/7. Help owners to track their sales income in real time and it is specially designed from fundamental concept to be an online restaurant POS system.

    Star and FOURLEAF strive to help restaurant owners to track their inventory and be able to send wireless orders to the kitchen within a fraction of a second.

  • 4 Reasons Why Integrated Online Ordering is a Must-Have for Restaurants

    4 Reasons Why Integrated Online Ordering is a Must-Have for Restaurants

    If you haven’t integrated online ordering with your point of sale system yet, it’s time to add this valuable feature and start operating more efficiently.

    Every take-out or delivery meal starts with an order. Although phone orders are universally accepted at restaurants, integrated online ordering is a must-have alternative to phone calls. If you haven’t integrated online ordering with your point of sale system yet, it’s time to add this valuable feature and start operating more efficiently.

    Free Online Ordering Resources

    Social distancing has deeply affected our customers in the restaurant industry. That’s why Star Micronics is offering free online ordering resources for VARs and ISVs helping restaurants navigate the implementation of online ordering.



    Download Online Ordering Toolbox

    What is integrated online ordering?

    Integrated online ordering allows diners to enter their orders online through the restaurant’s website or app, designate whether it’s pickup or dine-in, pay with a credit card and send the orders automatically to the kitchen. This functionality is a crowd-pleaser that, depending on the integration, updates the customer on their order’s progress and gives an ETA for delivery or pick-up.  In turn, restaurant owners and managers can increase revenues by accurately processing more orders with less staff.

    Here are four ways online ordering will positively impact your restaurant:

    1. Restaurants gain a new revenue stream with online ordering.

    For smaller restaurants with only a few tables, it can be difficult to increase profits without adding capacity, turning tables faster, or extending the hours your eatery is open. All these options add overhead in the form of higher rent, more employees and additional costs related to a longer work day. Adding online ordering and delivery generates an additional revenue stream without impacting the on-premises operations.

    People are looking for eateries with the technology that allows them to order in the way they feel most comfortable in the least amount of time. On average, restaurants that implemented online ordering increased their takeout revenue by 30%.

    2. Order accuracy will improve and customer satisfaction will increase.

    More people are logging on to place their orders for everything from doughnuts to Thanksgiving dinners. Customers want to be able to place their orders online —in fact, a National Restaurant Association survey shows that 63% of respondents said that they would use online ordering if it were offered.

    Without online ordering, an employee must reenter orders received via phone or non-integrated application into the restaurant POS, which creates double work and opens the door for mistakes to be made keying orders into the workstation. ­Removing these steps means more confident staff at the POS, less errors and a reduction in the amount of time and resources wasted on remaking orders prepared incorrectly.

    3. Integrated online ordering is more cost effective.

    If you currently offer menu items for delivery or take out, but do not have online ordering, your staff needs to spend time answering the phone. This means they are interrupted from another task, need to stop and place the order, and then return to their original task. This translates to a decrease in productivity — and an increase in labor costs. Paring with a POS system that uses Star’s CloudPRNT solution offers the option to have orders print automatically when received. Online orders that are directly transmitted to the kitchen save time and money.

    4. It helps you compete — your competition has already implemented it.

    Patrons expect your restaurant to have the technology that allows them to order online or with a mobile app. Online ordering is booming — it’s projected to be a $38 billion industry in the U.S. by 2020.  The restaurant industry is extremely competitive and has a high failure rate, so restaurateurs simply cannot afford a “wait-and-see” attitude.

    Online ordering delivers hot, fresh food quickly and correctly, so it’s time to integrate if haven’t already. Integrated online ordering will allow people to order their meals the way they want and when they want. This functionality will help you reduce human error while inputting orders and cut down on payroll cost and wasted resources. The restaurant business is fierce, so you can’t afford not to offer this cutting edge technology.

    Is Your Restaurant Ready for the Growing Online Ordering Trend?



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  • MoZONE Solutions Partners with Star Micronics to Bring Mobile In-Venue Ordering to Bars, Restaurants, Cafés, and Coffee Shops

    MoZONE Solutions Partners with Star Micronics to Bring Mobile In-Venue Ordering to Bars, Restaurants, Cafés, and Coffee Shops

    Somerset, NJ – Feb 21, 2017 -Star Micronics, leading provider of point of sale and proof of transaction technology, announced that it has joined forces with MoZONE, a leader in proximity marketing and customer engagement, to enable mobile in-venue ordering for thousands of businesses across North America, Europe, and Asian Pacific.

    MoZone-PR-hero-image-e1574786981654

    Improving Customer Experience

    This partnership will enable any QSR, Bar, or Café owner to allow customers to order from their smart phones when they enter the venue, approach the drive thru, or sit down at a table, thus eliminating standing in line, or waiting for a server to take their order. Unlike existing solutions available today, with MoZONE’s Self Ordering system and a Star Micronics TSP100ECO printer, customers no longer have to download an application to use the system. The system will recognize returning customers, preload past orders, offer the customer more choices and ‘favorites’, and provide real-time discounts, therefore boosting customer loyalty and repeat visits.

    Increasing Sales

    Restaurants and bars, regardless of their point of sale system – even those using legacy, on-premise software – can now virtually and immediately add Star/MoZONE’s Self Ordering  system to their operations. Pre-integrated with a Star receipt printer, orders are automatically printed to reduce time and improve order accuracy. This solution will help to increase kitchen throughput and table turnover and will decrease customer wait times.

    Real-Time Analytics & Enhanced Service

    The MoZONE/Star system collects real-time customer analytics to identify busy times and reduce the burden on the wait staff.  Customers can message the wait staff when they want to order more, or when they are ready to pay. Customer ‘selfies’ can accompany orders, making it easier for wait staff to deliver the order quickly and efficiently.

    “Together with Star Micronics, MoZONE is delivering the first easy to install, APP-less solution for in-venue ordering,” says Kash Johal, Founder and CEO of MoZONE. “Customers don’t want to wait for their food or drinks. Owners of bars, QSRs, cafés, and coffee shops struggle to optimize their wait staff during peak and off hours.  With the Star/MoZONE Self Ordering system, they can almost immediately add, for the first time, an easy, customer centric ordering system.”

    “We’re very excited to be empowering our customers and our channel with solutions to grow their business. MoZONE’s best-in-class technology coupled with its focus on self-ordering is a perfect fit for Star’s state of the art printers,” says Jon Levin, of Product Integrations Manager at Star Micronics. “We will be introducing the solution to our partners immediately.”

    Star and MoZONE aim to make it as easy and economical as possible for bars, restaurants, and coffee shops to add customer centric mobile ordering to their operations in 2017 and grow their sales and profits.

    Availability

    The Star/MoZONE Self-Ordering solution will be available mid-February. MoZONE will demo the system at the Nightclub and Bar Show (https://www.ncbshow.com/), March 27th — 29th at the Las Vegas Convention Center at booth #548.

  • Is Your Restaurant Ready for the Growing Online Ordering Trend?

    Is Your Restaurant Ready for the Growing Online Ordering Trend?

    Are you looking for a new way to grow your restaurant business? Consider online ordering. According to QSR Web, digital ordering is growing 300 percent faster than dine-in traffic, and analysts project in a few years, more restaurant sales will come from takeout, delivery, and other forms of off-premises dining, than from customers who dine-in.

    Restaurant competition is fierce and profit margins are tight. The majority of independently-owned restaurants that open today will not survive beyond a few years, and according to an Ohio State University study, more than 60 percent will fail in the first year.

    A Cornell University study revealed restaurant survival is based on finding ways to differentiate your business from the competition and being agile enough to successfully respond to consumer trends.

    Don’t become a statistic. Offering online ordering is a feature your customers are looking for, and it also elevates your digital presence, which can help raise awareness about what makes your restaurant and your brand unique and appealing.

    There are three options for adding online ordering services:

    • Sign up with a third-party online order network. There are a variety of options for online ordering networks you can work with depending on your location. Investigate costs – some will charge a percentage of each order and others charge a flat fee for being listed on their websites.
    • Sign up for the online ordering service of your current POS solution (if available). This option provides the added benefit of integrating online sales with your finance report, but functionality of the online ordering application itself may be limited.
    • Integrate your own online ordering system on your own website. You can establish online ordering through your own website or app. This option locks a customer into your brand when they are ready to place orders and can build customer loyalty.

    The process of receiving orders from a third-part ordering site and getting them to the kitchen can still be a pain point for some restaurants. Restaurants usually receive orders via email on a tablet in the restaurant – or on several tablets if they work with more than one third-party network. During a shift, one or more employees may be assigned to communicate the orders to the kitchen and enter them into the point of sale (POS) system. The lack of integration between online ordering sites and the POS system means the process still requires labor hours and errors can still occur when orders are transferred.

    Consider the gains in efficiency, productivity, and customer satisfaction for your restaurant if you could download an app that would send your online orders directly to the kitchen printer where your staff could start food prep immediately and ensure orders are ready at the appropriate times. Technology solutions are available to help your restaurant bridge the gap between online orders and the kitchen.

    Maximizing online order processing efficiency will enable you to truly benefit from adding this service to your business, allowing you to address this major consumer trend, reach a wider pool of potential customers, and fully develop this revenue stream.

    Learn how you can easily integrate online ordering in your restaurant with Star’s TSP650IIcloudPRNT cloud printer.

    Download our full eBook here: Star_Online-Ordering_eBook

  • 5 Reasons Why Your Restaurant Needs an Online Ordering System

    5 Reasons Why Your Restaurant Needs an Online Ordering System

    We recently posted an article about how our smart phones are replacing other devices in our lives such as cameras, computers, iPods, etc. They are changing the way we do everything, including the way we order food. In an age of being able to text instead of call, restaurants have learned to adopt this strategy of communication with online ordering systems.

    Now, you can order your take-out or delivery with just a few simple clicks through online ordering systems and applications such as GrubHub, Seamless, and more. Some larger franchises, like Domino’s, have even created their own online ordering applications. This new way of ordering is growing rapidly among the younger generations. According to QSRweb, 52% of U.S. Internet users would likely use a smartphone or tablet for ordering take-out and delivery if possible, with 74% of millennials expressing interest in doing so. It’s needless to say that if you own or operate a restaurant that offers take-out or delivery, you should consider an online ordering system. Here’s why:

    1. Higher Employee Productivity

    Think about all the time your employees spend taking orders over the phone and making sure that the order is correct. When taking orders over the phone, there is a higher likelihood of miscommunication, in turn, compelling employees to stay on the phone longer to ensure that they have gotten the correct order before hanging up. By implementing an online ordering service, employees will spend less time taking phone orders and can spend more time actually preparing those orders for pick-up or delivery to the customer. Another great benefit of online ordering is the ability for the customer to pre-place large orders and set a specific pick-up or delivery time. This allows the restaurant employees time to properly prep large orders in advance.

    2. Order Accuracy

    Going back to the miscommunication that often occurs when taking orders over the phone, online ordering systems allow the customer to select and modify their food order exactly the way they like it. This order will then be sent directly to a restaurant printer with no misunderstanding or miscommunication. Being able to take an order straight from the printer to prep will cut back on order inaccuracy and will save the restaurant from wasting money and bad reviews.

    Free Online Ordering Resources

    Social distancing has deeply affected our customers in the restaurant industry. That’s why Star Micronics is offering free online ordering resources for VARs and ISVs helping restaurants navigate the implementation of online ordering.



    Download Online Ordering Toolbox

    3. Grow your Business

    Sometimes people don’t want to be bothered with calling and placing their take-out or delivery order over the phone, and opt for a restaurant that provides an online ordering service or application instead. Convenience is key when it comes to customer service. Providing a seamless and easy-to-use  online ordering system will create a better experience for customers, resulting in an increase in sales.

    4. Ability to Build a Database

    When your customers order through an online ordering service, this creates an opportunity for you to capture information, such as an email address, and use this information to create a database. This database can then be used to communicate with your customers and encourage them to come back through loyalty programs, email marketing, mailing coupons, and more. When taking orders over the phone, you often times only receive their phone number and delivery address, which usually does not allow you to reengage with the customer after the transaction is complete.

    5. Powerful Analytics

    Once you’ve built your database of customers, you can then use analytics offered with online ordering services to track the ordering patterns of your customers. This will allow you to offer tailored promotions to customers based on what they frequently order or how frequently they order. You can also use this information to adjust, add, or remove menu items based on what your customers are ordering.

    Implementing an online ordering system can bring endless benefits to your restaurant business. You may consider using your own, or partnering with an existing online ordering app. Whichever you choose, Star Micronics is there to help you seamlessly integrate online ordering into your restaurant by providing cloud-based point of sale technology to help that order go straight from the cloud, to your restaurant, and then out the door.

    CloudPRNT for Online Ordering

    CloudPRNT is an innovative technology enabling users to print to Star Micronics printers directly through a cloud service. CloudPRNT works with the online ordering service to store and create print jobs, and communicate status with the printer.

    Features include:

    • Communicate directly with server
    • Cloud-connected control of peripherals
    • No need for tablet, software, and SSL certificate at local level

    Learn more in the below video:

    Is Your Restaurant Ready for the Growing Online Ordering Trend?

     



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  • Finding the Right mPOS for Your Food Truck

    Finding the Right mPOS for Your Food Truck

    It’s food truck season, folks! The warmer seasons are the best time to grab an outdoor bite from your local food truck or food stand. We see them popping up more and more as the weather gets warmer, and people flooding them to snag some quick and tasty street food. This often times results in crowded trucks with long lines, making business very hectic for cooks and cashiers. Luckily, Star Micronics has the perfect mobile point of sale technology for these businesses, making their job all the more easy, while also keeping customers happy and satisfied with their service.

    When thinking about finding the right mPOS system for your seasonal food truck or food stand, there are a few key considerations. Are you looking to solve the issue of line busting? Are you trying to create a more efficient workflow for your employees? Do you want to save space in your compact location by switching to a more mobile printer peripheral?

    If you answered yes to any of these questions, Star has the solution for you!

    Kitchen Printers

    If you’ve ever ordered from a busy food truck in the middle of the summer, you can see that it can be a hot and hectic environment for cooks. The “old-school” process of writing down orders and passing them off the cook becomes inefficient when handwriting is hard to read, the cooks are very busy, or when the order gets lost or damaged in the transition between order-taker and cook.

    Using a POS system to input orders and send them to an impact kitchen printer makes for an easier workflow because the order is being taken and entered into the POS in real-time. The order can then be sent directly to the impact printer, eliminating miscommunication between the “front of truck” and “back of truck” staff. Impact printers are also often times noisy, making it easier for the cook to know when a new order is coming through, and the paper remains durable in hot environments.

    Receipt Printers

    Just because your customer is ordering food on-the-go, doesn’t mean they don’t need their receipt. A thermal POS printer is necessary for food trucks for the obvious – to provide a proof of transaction, but the key for food trucks is to keep the printer mobile.

    A Bluetooth thermal desktop printer or a portable printer is the best solution for food trucks. When working in such a small location, things can get tight. With a Bluetooth enabled thermal printer, you can move your printer daily throughout the truck to wherever space allows. Portable printers are also a viable option for receipt printing because it not only allows you to move throughout the truck, but to move outside of the truck for a line-busting POS solution.

    Multi-Function Printers

    Again, when trying to navigate a food truck on a busy summer afternoon, space can be limited. For those who are looking to really save counter-space, a multi-function peripheral might be the best option for you. Star Micronics’ latest mPOP™, all-in-one mobile point of purchase combines a cash drawer with a two-inch receipt printer, and a 1D barcode scanner to create the perfect mPOS solution for small spaces. Using Bluetooth connection, the mPOP can also be repositioned in the food truck or food stand in order to maximize counter space, and can be operated on-the-go using a tablet or mobile device.

    To find the right mPOS solution for your food truck, visit www.starmicronics.com.