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  • How Tamper-Proof Seal Labels Boost Customer Confidence in Restaurant Pickup and Delivery

    How Tamper-Proof Seal Labels Boost Customer Confidence in Restaurant Pickup and Delivery

    Pickup and delivery have been increasing in popularity in recent years, and the COVID-19 pandemic took that popularity to a new level. Now, despite many restaurants being open again for table service, pickup and delivery remain a customer favorite – but these methods come with some concern.

    How do customers know that their food isn’t being tampered with in the time between when the food is prepared at the restaurant and when they receive it at their door? Let’s explore this concern – and how tamper-proof seal labels can boost customer confidence by providing peace of mind during the delivery and pickup processes.

    Why the Concern?

    No one wants to think about their delivery driver munching away on their fries on the way to their home but sadly, it happens. Did you know that according to a recent US Foods study, approximately 30% of drivers admitted to eating some of the food that they deliver? Furthermore, 54% of deliverers reported they are tempted by the smell of the food the deliver, and 21% of customers have at one time suspected a delivery driver of taking some of their food.

    While these numbers are shocking, the benefits of delivery services are vast and the average person has two food delivery apps and uses them three times each month. So, how can a restaurant ensure a food order remains perfectly intact after it leaves the restaurant’s kitchen and doors? Tamper-proof seal labels are the answer.

    3 Ways Tamper-Proof Seal Labels Boost Customer Confidence

    1. They Show Evidence of Tampering

    The most important way that tamper-proof seal labels boost confidence is simple: they provide visible evidence if an order is tampered with. How do they do that? Many tamper-proof labels feature security slits that become slashed open if a person tries to (or succeeds to) open a food bag or container.

    This obvious evidence of tampering (or on the contrary, evidence that an order hasn’t been touched) can allow restaurant customers to rest assured that their food was not tinkered with at any point – from the restaurant kitchen, to the delivery car, to their doorstep.

    Star Micronics Label Solutions

    From printing product labels in a warehouse to quickly attaching linerless labels to coffee cups in a café, Star Micronics understands labeling solutions aren’t “one size fits all.” Designed with the application and user in mind, Star Micronics offers label printers with the technology needed for today’s digital, fast-moving world, and label paper for virtually any business scenario.



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    2. They Adhere to Multiple Order Types

    Customers don’t just order entrees – they order beverages, desserts, snacks, and other items that require a variety of food package sizes.

    Tamper-proof labels are available in a variety of sizes for a range of food containers like large and small bags, pizza boxes, beverage cups, and more. Because these labels can adhere to multiple order types, they can help keep every menu item safe and secure. As a restaurant, leveraging different sizes of labels can provide security and peace of mind to your customers for their entire order (no matter what they order) – and that’s truly priceless.

    3. They Build Trust in the Business

    Trust is important in all aspects of life, but when it comes to the restaurant industry, trust can make or break a business. Customers want to know that they can count on a restaurant to safely prepare and deliver consistently delicious, high-quality meals.

    In fact, in the same US Foods study referenced above, 1,500 American adults were asked if they ordered a burger and fries and the delivery driver grabbed a few fries along the way, how upset would they be on a scale from 1-10 (1 being “no big deal” and 10 being “absolutely acceptable”). Unsurprisingly, the average answer was 8.4 … and who can blame them?

    Those same customers were asked if they would like restaurants to use tamper-evident labels to address this issue, and a whopping 85% of them said yes – another unsurprising, understandable answer.

    Leveraging tamper-proof seal labels shows restaurant customers that the business values and prioritizes safety and security – something that can not only be assumed but has been proven to be very important to customers. By using tamper-proof labels restaurants can build trust with customers, something that encourages diners to continue to order from the restaurant in the future … and what is better than sticky business and happy patrons?

    About Star Micronics’ Tamper-Proof Seal Labels

    Tamper-Proof-Labels-PR-Featured-Image

    Always leading, and always innovating, Star Micronics is proud to include a tamper-proof labeling solution in its restaurant POS offering, designed to securely seal delivery, catering, and to-go food and beverage orders. Available in three sizes, the labels are a part of Star Micronics’ full restaurant solution which includes online ordering printers, durable cash drawers, kitchen printers, and more.

    Designed with security as a priority, the labels provide added post-preparation quality control by delivering visual evidence if a label has been removed or repositioned. To signal an order has been tampered with, security seals become slashed. With proven on-packaging performance, the labels are an ideal solution to securely seal food for delivery or pickup orders.

    Key Features:

    • Delivers visual evidence if the label has been removed or repositioned
    • Each roll includes 500 easy-to-apply labels
    • 3” round labels to seal takeout bags
    • 2” X 4” labels to seal large bags or close the mouths of bags
    • 0.75” X 7” labels to close drink lids



    Learn More about Star Micronics’ Tamper-Proof Labels

  • Star Micronics and Crunch Systems Team Up to Provide Online Ordering Solution for Restaurants

    Star Micronics and Crunch Systems Team Up to Provide Online Ordering Solution for Restaurants

    Star Micronics, a leading manufacturer of mobile, point of sale (POS), and customer engagement technologies, is proud to announce that Crunch has added support for Star’s new mC-Print3. With the Crunch Manager and Star Micronics, receiving and printing online orders has never been easier.

    Crunch is an app built to seamless receive and accept online food orders. Restaurateurs are able to confirm the order, review important order details, provide status updates to hungry customers, and more through Crunch. Crunch also provides its customers with a custom-designed self-ordering kiosk and mobile ordering apps built specifically for their business. With food images, nutritional information, varied menu options, and more, Crunch allows restaurants to stand out from their competition and other online ordering platforms.

    Star Micronics’ new mC-Print3 is compact and sleek with exceptional functionality. With front paper loading, and a splash- and insect-proof design, the mC-Print3 is perfect for restaurant environments. The new printer comes with multiple connectivity options and hub functionality to power up to three peripherals, such as a kitchen buzzer, scanner, or line display.

    “We are pleased to continue our partnership with Star Micronics,” says Shmuly Preizler, CEO of Crunch. “Together we are able to offer an amazing product for restaurants across the country and help them with the Crunch Self-Ordering Kiosks and online ordering platform to be more efficient and successful.”

    About Crunch Systems

    Crunch is a point-of-sale and restaurant management platform built exclusively for food service businesses on an affordable cloud-based platform. Crunch offers advanced functionality including self-ordering kiosks, quick menu modifications, real-time enterprise reporting, online ordering, mobile ordering on an easy-to-use interface, and more!

    Crunch gives restaurant owners the ability to have their customers order online using their website directly from any device. Crunch offers a feature rich and user-friendly ordering solutions, including online web ordering, mobile app and self-ordering kiosks. Crunch also offers a full back office portal and integrates to over 35 POS systems. For more information, visit https://www.gocrunch.com or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and LinkedIn.

  • Provide a Touch-free Experience to Your Dine-in Guests with Contactless Digital Menus

    Provide a Touch-free Experience to Your Dine-in Guests with Contactless Digital Menus

    One of the major concerns for restaurant dine-in was the use of traditional (printed) menus because they are found to be the dirtiest thing on a restaurant table. Guests are hesitant to touch these traditional menus and also the CDC regulations have made it clear that disposable menus should be provided. But printing disposal menus are not ideal given the rising costs. Restaurants are quickly pivoting by offering their guests a touch-free experience with contactless digital menus/QR menus.

    Why Contactless Digital Menus?

    1. Contactless is here for the long haul

    The global pandemic has literally been life changing. More than ever, society is concerned and obsessed with their health. With COVID-19 cases still surging guests are looking for more ways to go contactless to protect themselves from the possible contact with the virus. These measures are even more heightened when it comes to ordering food at the restaurant. Therefore, contactless digital menus are ideal for restaurants like yours to adapt to.

    2. Cost-effective

    If you are going for disposal menus, a single paper menu, uncoated, in black and white print costs about 50 cents. If you are doing over 100 for lunch and 100 for dinner that’s $100, adding up to about $3,000 a month. QR menus are very cost-effective. You only have to print and place the table tents on the table and this can be used for a more extended period of time. 

    3. Easily accessible

    Accessing the menu is as simple as scanning the QR code from their phones or tablets, and then accessing the web page to place their orders.

    4. No app download

    With QR menus or digital menus, guests do not need to download heavy apps to their phones. They can simply place their orders online through a web URL.

    5. Flexible menu updates

    Restaurateurs can instantly add, edit, and delete menu items and update item descriptions. If the menu is updated once, it updates on every menu scanned.

    6. Attention with images

    Traditional menus do not have images mostly because it is costly to print high-quality images on paper. But with contactless digital menus, you can have mouth-watering images to make customers want to order more. Having images help them decide what they want, which therefore makes their ordering process easier.

    7. Less wait-staff assistance

    Wait-staff can be re-allocated to add value to other parts of the business. When orders are placed through contactless digital menus, the order can be sent directly to receipt or kitchen printer.

    8. Cashless payments

    Guests and staff do not have to handle cash. Cash being passed from hand to hand and can be contaminated, and compromises the safety and health of both customers and staff. 

    9. Re-ordering

    Guests can re-order their favorite dishes, or a beverage refill without having to wait for the staff approach the table, and eliminating more human contact.

    10. Quicker table turns

    With seating capacity reduced to allow tables to be placed at least 6 feet apart, restaurants are not getting their normal amount of guests, resulting in less revenue. Contactless digital menus increase the speed for ordering and payment and so you can turn more tables and increase the potential for revenues.

    11. Collect guest information and traceability

    You do not need to manually take down customer information. With contactless digital menus, the guest will have to input their information to complete their order.

    12. Run targeted campaigns

    Ordering through contactless digital menu captures guest information like email, contact number, etc. This helps you run future targeted marketing campaigns such as email campaigns on your latest offers, SMS on going discounts, and more.

    How to get Contactless Digital Menus/QR Menus?

    When you sign up for a demo with Applova, the team will get in touch with you to set up contactless digital menus. This can be ready in a couple of days. The Applova team will build the menu with enticing food imagery. Then the team will also provide you with a free marketing pack to launch contactless digital menus at your restaurant. The marketing pack would include customized table tent designs with QR codes on it for each table (each QR code will carry the table number so that the restaurant staff can easily track the table that made the order).

    How is the process contactless? How does it work?

    When you get your table tent designs, you can print them and place them on each table.

    1. Your dine-in guest scans the contactless digital menu to view the menu on their phone or tablet.
    2. They can select their food and beverages
    3. Tip the waiter and make their payment online
    4. Orders will be directly pushed to the POS and printed in the kitchen printers
    5. When the order ready, the order will be sent to the correct table.

    To wrap it up, ever since the wake of COVID-19 restaurants are quickly adapting to contactless digital menus. These contactless digital menus are hygienic and easy to roll out. They are cost effective, environmentally friendly, engaging to customers and they are mobile-optimized, simple to search and navigate. They are easy to update instantly. Adapting to contactless digital menus is a new experience for guests and it is now the way of dining life. 



    Access Contactless Menus with Applova

  • Star Micronics Introduces Feature-Packed Choice Series Cash Drawers

    Star Micronics Introduces Feature-Packed Choice Series Cash Drawers

    The features businesses know and love – with added strength and benefits

    Somerset, NJ – July 21, 2020 – Star Micronics, a leading manufacturer of mobile, point of sale (POS), and customer engagement technologies, is excited to introduce the Choice Series cash drawers to its line of cash management solutions.

    Available in 14” x 16” and 16” x 16” sizes and glossy black and matte white finishes, with an optional stainless-steel front design, the Choice Series cash drawers are available in the sizes and styles businesses demand. Equipped with standard till sizes, the 14” x 16” cash drawer features a 4 Bill-5 Coin till and the 16” x 16” model includes a 5 Bill-5 Coin till, with additional sizes available to fit a business’ specific needs.

    Stronger than their competition, Choice Series cash drawers feature a reinforced top creating added strength to eliminate bounce from touch tablets and securely support POS terminals. The Choice Series is a one-key cash management solution enabling both the cash drawer and locking till cover to be operated by a single hinged key. Managers will love the convenience of a single hinged key that will not break off in the lock.

    Simply connect the cable included with your Choice Series cash drawer to the drawer kick of your POS printer and enjoy years of reliable operation tested to over 1 million cycles and backed by a three-year warranty. Available options for the Choice Series include under-counter mounts, locking till covers, over 10 different lock set options, and a secure dual-cash cable to enable the Choice Series to work as either cash drawer 1 or cash drawer 2.

    The Choice Series complements two other Star Micronics cash drawer lines: The Value Series of affordable, standard cash drawers, and the Max Series of premium cash drawers with added security and design features.

    “The combination of simple setup and operation, reliable and secure steel construction, and compatibility makes the Choice Series right for your business,” said Michael Hanson, Executive Vice President at Star Micronics. “Make your next sale a Star Bundle by adding a Choice Series cash drawer to Star’s expanding portfolio of customer solutions.”

  • 3 Benefits of a Tethered Connection Between a Restaurant POS Tablet and Receipt Printer

    3 Benefits of a Tethered Connection Between a Restaurant POS Tablet and Receipt Printer

    Restaurant technology is evolving extremely quickly. Gone are the days of taking orders by hand on a paper tablet and punching entries into a legacy point of sale (POS) system. Clunky POS terminals have been replaced by sleek tablet-based POS systems, complete with integrated sales, menu, and loyalty information.

    As the hospitality industry leverages all of the benefits that mobile point of sale (mPOS) has to offer, one thing is more important than ever: connectivity. In today’s blog post, we will explore how a tethered Ethernet connection between a restaurant POS tablet and a receipt printer can benefit restaurants in three major ways.

    1. Steady Network Connection

    A tethered connection – or a direct connection from the POS tablet to a restaurant’s Ethernet network – is very important because it means one thing: reliable connectivity!

    A steady network connection is an absolute gamechanger when it comes to any restaurant and retail business, as Wi-Fi signals tend be weak and unstable in physical brick-and-mortar locations. Why is this? According to Infovista,

    “Wi-Fi signals are notoriously sensitive to the surrounding environment… Construction materials, nearby sources of interference, even the products on the shelves can attenuate Wi-Fi signals.”

    When you choose a POS system that includes a dependable tethered connection that runs from the receipt printer through to the POS tablet, you eliminate the need to worry about Wi-Fi signals all together. Using this setup can also provide an added bonus: By selecting a receipt printer that provides both Ethernet connection and power to the tablet, restaurants can experience a true “two-birds-one-stone” situation in terms of streamlining their POS and boosting its reliability and functionality.

    2. Prevent Downtime

    When it comes to any business, and especially restaurants, time is money. Processing transactions and turning tables quickly means more profit for the business and happier customers who are more likely to return to the restaurant. When running a business smoothly is a top priority, one thing can be very dangerous: downtime.

    If a restaurant relies on an unstable Wi-Fi network to process transactions and close tabs, downtime can unfortunately become a regular occurrence. Choosing a POS system with a receipt printer that provides both wired Ethernet access and power to the tablet means that restaurants can mitigate the risk of network downtime and keep business flowing smoothly because they are avoiding network disconnection, as well as the possibility of the tablet running out of charge.

    Two of the most important things to patrons are a restaurant’s food and its service. Ensure you are providing smooth, timely, and high quality service by implementing tethered connections at the POS.

    3. Space and Cost Savings

    Just like avoiding downtime is critical to a restaurant’s operations, reducing expenses and creating a clean, cohesive aesthetic is also important. A tethered connection between the receipt printer and the POS tablet can help you do both of those things.

    With a tethered connection between the receipt printer and the tablet, Ethernet connection and power are routed through one cable, so you have fewer cables and adapters to purchase and manage. This not only saves money but also provides a tidier, clutter-free look at the POS which is a place where you have the opportunity to make a positive impression on many customers, especially those that are simply popping in to quickly pick up their online ordering order.

    Looking to modernize your restaurant and take advantage of online ordering?

    Download our free eBook, “Is Your Restaurant Ready for the Growing Online Ordering Trend?” now!



    Download eBook

    SteadyLAN® for Tethered Connections in Restaurant POS

    Star-SteadyLAN-Technology-Final-withoutlogo

    If you are interested in the benefits that a tethered connection between the receipt printer and restaurant POS tablet can offer, look no further than Star Micronics’ SteadyLAN®!

    Star’s unique SteadyLAN® technology (patent pending) makes unstable Wi-Fi signals a thing of the past! SteadyLAN, available on certain mC-Print models and designed for iOS, Android, and Windows devices provides direct cabled control of the printer and attached peripherals, as well as Ethernet provision to the tablet, from the wired Ethernet port of the printer.

    For locations where Wi-Fi connectivity is not possible or unreliable, this new technology is a world-first, providing the stability of a cabled LAN connection for tablet POS systems. By connecting the SteadyLAN-compatible printer to the Internet via wired LAN and connecting the printer and a tablet with a Lightning-USB or USB-C® cable, the device can use the Internet without Wi-Fi communication. At the same time, the tablet can communicate with the printer via USB or LAN and can be charged from the printer.

    To more about SteadyLAN, click here or watch the below video:

    Which Printers Include SteadyLAN?

    SteadyLAN is available on certain models of both the mC-Print2 and the mC-Print3.

    mC-Print2

    mC-Print2

    2” thermal receipt printer
    Easy setup
    Guillotine auto-cutter
    Bluetooth, USB, Lightning, LAN, CloudPRNT
    Cloud ready
    SteadyLAN™technology available on model: mCP21LB

    Learn more about mC-Print2

    mC-Print3

    mC-Print3

    3” thermal receipt printer
    Simple user experience
    Easy to integrate through common SDK
    Bluetooth, USB, Lightning, LAN, CloudPRNT
    IPX2 splash-proof design
    SteadyLAN™ technology available on models: mCP31L and mCP31LB

    Learn more about mC-Print3

    Star Micronics is proud to offer a full range of restaurant POS solutions for tablet POS, online ordering, back-of-house, and more.



    Download Restaurant Brochure

  • What to Consider When Purchasing a Cash Drawer

    What to Consider When Purchasing a Cash Drawer

    To some, a cash drawer might just look like, well, a cash drawer. But when it comes to choosing a cash drawer as a business owner, cash drawers become a bit more complex. How will it fit in your space? Is it big enough to accommodate your day-to-day transactions? What kind of till do you need? The list of considerations goes on and on.

    Star is here to make the cash drawer selection process a bit more transparent and easier for you. Let’s explore the five key things to consider when purchasing a cash drawer:

    1. Connectivity

    First, let’s discuss connectivity options when it comes to cash drawers.

    The most common type of connectivity for cash drawers is a printer driven interface, which means the cash drawer is controlled through the printer’s DK port. The DK port, which stands for Drawer Kick, sends a 24V DC signal to open the cash drawer and is used in the majority of cash drawers.

    Another way to open a cash drawer is quite obvious: manually with a key. Most cash drawers have both DK port connectivity, and manual key access.

    Lastly, there are also wireless cash functions controlled by Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. These cash drawers are not as common, and tend to be more expensive.

    2. Size and Style

    The next topic to consider is one of the most important: how big of a cash drawer do you need, and what kind of cash drawer should you choose to match the look and feel of your counterspace and other POS components?

    On the market, there are normally two different sizes for cash drawers: a smaller option (typical 13” x 13”) and a larger option (typically 16” x 16” and larger). When choosing a cash drawer size, be sure to keep in mind considerations such as if you have items (like a keyboard) that needs to fit on top of the drawer, or if the drawer needs to be a specific height to fit under a counter.

    You may also choose a cash drawer color to match the other parts of your POS. For example, if you have a white receipt printer and white tablet-based POS/stand, choosing a white cash drawer will help provide a sleek look to your counter.

    How Star Can Help

    Even though each store is unique, balancing cash drawers is one thing every store has in common. Star Micronics offers the tools you need to make balancing your cash drawer as simple and painless as possible. For more information on the solutions we offer, contact Star Micronics today!



    Star’s Cash Drawer Solutions

    3. Cash Flow

    Next on your list of considerations is cash flow. What kind of currency do you accept? Do you accept a lot of physical coupons? What about checks?

    Cash drawer tills (the part of the cash drawer that holds the money) come in several different sizes and bill/coin layouts. Some tils have room for the US standard (five bill and four coins). Other tills come with room for more coins or more bills depending on if larger, higher value bills, such as $50 and $100, are accepted. There are also available tills for Canadian and Latin American currencies.

    Handle a lot of coupons, checks, and higher value bills? Be sure to choose a cash drawer with media slots, or slots on the front that feed into a hidden space underneath the till, to securely store these items.

    4. Durability

    Next on the list of considerations (and something that is very important) is durability.

    What type of material is the drawer made of? Is it made of steel, or a different material? Cash drawers like Star’s, which are made of steel, are highly durable which not only makes your investment more worthwhile, but is also a security feature.

    Another thing to consider is how many cash drawer opens is included in the product’s warranty? Be sure to choose a warranty that includes at least 1 million opens.

    5. Security

    Last but certainly not least on your list of considerations should be security. There are a few different security options to look for:

    • An additional lock that secures the drawer itself to the counter.
    • A locking till cover, so when you need to take the till to the back office at closing time, cash can’t be stolen during transport.
    • A universal key, so that cash drawers are easier to open in a rush and during an emergency there is no need to look through a huge key ring for the correct key.
    • A manual release options, so you can open the cash drawer no matter what. Manual release is quicker than waiting for a Bluetooth signal and even faster than some DK port signals.

    Meet Star’s Cash Drawers

    Cash-Drawers-Stacked-TW

    With three lines of cash drawers with a variety of features and price points, Star Micronics is proud to offer cash drawers for any budget or application. Learn more about each series below:

    • Value Series: The Value Series includes cost-effective cash drawers that integrate seamlessly into any retail or hospitality environment with a standard printer communication interface and bottom exit cable, hidden from the customer’s view. The cash drawers also feature four lock functions: locked, closed, online (opens electronically), manual open, and locked open.
    • Choice Series: Choice Series cash drawers include features businesses already know and love, but with added features such as extra strength to support touch tablets and POS terminals, a secure dual-drawer cable to enable the Choice Series to work as either cash drawer 1 or cash drawer 2, a foldable hinged key which minimizes the possibility of breaking off in the lock, and over 10 different lock set options for added security.
    • Max Series: Max Series cash drawers are the premier choice for retailers. Featuring durable, high quality drawers with Kensington lock compatibility and sleek Star branding, the cash drawers are designed to securely manage cash while delivering professional looks. The cash drawers also feature four lock functions: locked, closed, online (opens electronically), manual open, and locked open.

    Explore all of the cash drawers now.



    Cash Drawers

  • Star Micronics and Flash Order Partner to Provide a Self-Ordering Kiosk Solution for Restaurants

    Star Micronics and Flash Order Partner to Provide a Self-Ordering Kiosk Solution for Restaurants

    Flash Order and Star Micronics offer a complete system for order taking with a kiosk, menu wizard, and full-featured Kitchen Display System (KDS)

    SOMERSET, NJ – APRIL 10, 2019 – Star Micronics, a leading manufacturer of mobile, point of sale (POS), and customer engagement technologies, is proud to announce that Flash Order has added support for Star’s TSP143III, SP742 printers, and CD3 Value Series Cash Drawers, and plan to add support for the mPOP. Flash Order, paired with Star Micronics’ printing peripherals, delivers a DIY (do-it-yourself) kiosk solution to restaurants as a fast and easy way to implement digital ordering.

    Flash Order is seamlessly integrated with Square and brings the cost saving and operational efficiency of digital ordering to the Square POS. Using the menu wizard, restaurants can easily import their menu from Square or build it from scratch. Flash Order allows users to manage their orders through the Flash Order KDS or with integrated Star Printing. The KDS allows restaurant owners and managers to set targets for order prep times, expedite orders, and filter and streamline orders between the grill, cold, prep, or any other station.

    Star’s TSP143III receipt printer offers easy-to-use LAN connectivity, along with high-speed printing, and “print-flat” technology. It is ideal for offering customers printed copies of their self-ordering receipt that contains important information such as order number, wait time, etc. and can also be used to deliver printer promotions with Star’s PromoPRNT technology. The SP742 is Star’s ultimate kitchen printing solution, built to withstand environments where high temperatures can erode the type on the kitchen order.

    “Flash Order self-order kiosks are perfect for restaurants of any size from Food Trucks to multi-unit chains,” said Flash Order co-founder Weston Hafen. “Kiosks can eliminate long lines, increase revenue, and with our DIY approach a location can be set up and ready to take customer orders in minutes.”

    The benefits of implementing the Flash Order kiosk system attracted The Wash, a late-night desserts and drinks shop. Sean Kang owner of The Wash said, “We love the Flash Order system. We have transitioned to run all of our transactions through the self-order kiosks.  It has transformed our business and our customers love it.”

  • Millennials’ Eating Habits: How They’re Changing the Food Industry

    Millennials’ Eating Habits: How They’re Changing the Food Industry

    If there’s one generation that makes headlines, it’s millennials. According to the 2015 U.S. Census, there are 75.4 million millennials living in the country, officially making them the largest generation in the States. If you operate a restaurant, it’s worth paying attention to what millennials do and want – especially when you consider that they spend more dining out than they save for retirement. Here are the top four things millennials are seeking when it comes to dining out – and how these changes are affecting the food industry.

    They Want Convenience

    The first meal kit service started in 2007 – and now, 12 years later, it’s a booming industry estimated to hit $10 billion in revenue by 2020. Who’s to thank for that? Millennials, of course – they’re considerably more likely to subscribe to these services than non-millennials.

    That’s just one example of the importance convenience has to millennials. Other popular (and booming) examples are grocery delivery services, food trucks, heat-and-eat options available at grocery stores, and online ordering (millennials are the most likely to get home delivery from restaurants). In fact, according to the 2017 Food and Health Survey by the International Food Information Council, 55% of millennials say convenience is a top driver when buying food.

    They Want Transparency (And Responsibility)

    Don’t be mistaken: just because millennials value convenience doesn’t mean they don’t also take healthiness and sustainability seriously. The trend is just the opposite, actually.

    First and foremost, millennials are redefining what it means for a food to be considered “healthy” – instead of low-fat being a top priority, they now put natural, organic, locally sourced, and sustainable foods at the top of their list. Did you know that millennials eat 52% more vegetables than baby boomers and 52% of organic consumers are millennials?

    This generation also wants to know where their food is made – a whopping 80% of them want to know more about where their food is grown – and they value how it’s made (you may have noticed the terms “locally sourced” and “farm-to-table” popping up on menus in recent years).

    appetizer-avocado-basil-1824353-e1574802805597
    Avocado toast, a trendy meal popular among millennials. Source: pexels.com

    They Want Trendiness

    Gone are the days of steak and potatoes – instead, unique, customizable items are making a splash with millennials. “Build-your-own” quick service restaurants (like Chipotle) are growing steadily, and for a good reason: 72% of consumers expect customization! Some examples of recent unique trends are food bowls, food mashups/hybrids (hello, cronuts), and avocado toast.

    So, are unique meals actually popular with millennials, or do they just make headlines? The former is true: 40% of millennials report they like to order different things every time they eat in the same restaurant, and they don’t shy away from vegan and cultural cuisines. They’re also described as open-minded and curious. Besides adopting a creative menu, it’s a good idea to also create a unique, modern vibe in your restaurant – from your light fixtures to your point of sale.

    They Want an Experience

    If you have a social media account, you know that photos from users experiencing a satisfying meal are popular. In fact, 75% of millennials report they value the experience of eating food more than the nourishment. And social media is a huge part of the dining experience: 41% of millennials log in to Facebook every day, 29% use Instagram regularly, and 25% use Snapchat on a daily basis. To top it off, 20% of millennials say that they receive food news from peers on Facebook.

    To help make your restaurant “Instagram-worthy,” consider adopting a modern and aesthetically pleasing menu design, ambiance, and décor – and don’t forget to create social media accounts for your restaurant if you haven’t already!

    Looking to modernize your restaurant for today’s largest demographic? Discover how Star Micronics helped a restaurant operate efficiently, provide excellent service, and incorporate online ordering.

  • Why Guest Wi-Fi is an Important Asset for Small Businesses

    Why Guest Wi-Fi is an Important Asset for Small Businesses

    If one thing is true about today’s consumers, it’s that they are constantly (or nearly constantly) connected. With the rising trend of omnichannel retail experiences, it’s more important than ever to provide an easy, free way for your customers to connect to the internet. Implementing a guest Wi-Fi network does more than connect your shoppers to their favorite apps and websites, though – it can also improve your business in many ways! Here’s how:

    Enhance Marketing

    Speaking of omnichannel marketing, having a guest Wi-Fi network is an excellent way to expand your omnichannel strategy. One way to do so is to engage in Wi-Fi marketing, a method where you use your network as a channel to communicate with your shoppers. Using Wi-Fi marketing, you can promote campaigns of your choice, which can serve as a part of your in-store marketing strategy.

    When guests log on to your Wi-Fi network, their phones will redirect to a splash page where they’ll view a branded message, as well as details about the network and its terms of use. On the page, users will enter credentials such as their email address, which can help you build customer profiles and gather leads. With this additional insight into shoppers’ demographics, you can further tailor your marketing tactics to better suit them, and that can help create more sales. For example, a Deviscape survey found that half of businesses report that customers spend more money now that they have a Wi-Fi network!

    Safeguard Internet of Things (IoT) Devices

    Better marketing and more sales are nice, but did you know that implementing a guest Wi-Fi network has security benefits, as well? If you incorporate IoT-connected devices into your store, such as automated checkouts and smart shelves, you probably already know that they’re more vulnerable than traditional devices. If you connect those smart devices to your main network, the chance that hackers can access your other devices – like your main server or physical security system – is increased.  By connecting your smart devices to a guest network instead, you create an additional layer of protection against attacks; Even if a cybercriminal hacks into one of your devices, they won’t be able to penetrate your main network, where your most valuable information lies.

    Improve Customer Experience

    Last but not least – and this probably goes without saying – guest Wi-Fi networks greatly improve the customer experience. Depending on your store location and your customers’ cellular provider, providing shoppers a guest network saves them data and gives them a potentially faster network. And there are stats to back it up – nearly 62% of businesses with free Wi-Fi report their customers stay in the store longer, which likely means they’re having a better shopping experience, spending more money, and are more likely to return.

    From boosting sales to securing your sensitive data, there are many reasons to utilize a guest Wi-Fi network!

  • Seatninja and Star Micronics Empower Full Service Restaurants to Deliver VIP Diner Experience

    Seatninja and Star Micronics Empower Full Service Restaurants to Deliver VIP Diner Experience

    PHOTO CREDIT: OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

    With the increase in popularity of fast casual and fast-fine dining establishments, full service restaurants are under increasing pressure to provide top-notch dining experiences. Each diner’s experience begins the moment they step through restaurant doors and approach the host stand.

    Seatninja Host is a low-cost solution that allows full-service restaurants to connect with guests and consistently provide a VIP Diner Experience. The digital seating system was created to emulate the paper tools that 90% of restaurants still use for managing walk-ins, waitlist parties, and reservations. Seatninja Host is a complete front-of-house system that will enable your staff to interact with guests via SMS or mobile application, gain visibility into where all seated guests are in the dining cycle, identify tables with VIPs and special occasions, quote accurate wait times by party size, manage and follow server rotations, quickly look up guest’s dining history, and more.

    THE SITUATION

    As a result of the growth in fast casual and fast-fine dining establishments, guests are becoming more and more intolerant of mistakes in lost reservations, long wait lists, and misquoted wait times. Guests are also starting to expect automated and seamless reservation and waitlist procedures at the front-of-house within a modern and up-to-date full-service restaurant. To appease unhappy and impatient customers, restaurants lose hundreds of dollars in revenue each month to guest comps or freebies to avoid bad press and poor Yelp reviews.

    THE SOLUTION

    Seatninja Host organizes and automates most of the host stand functions, such as taking and managing reservations and waitlists, managing seating, wait time estimates, and server rotation. The solution automatically suggests tables for guests, accurately estimates wait times, and organizes the guests into a seating line. The solution uses a two-way texting system to communicate with guests to let them know their table is ready and allows guests to disperse to other nearby areas and thus removing the pressure from small, over-crowded lobbies. In this way, it never loses a reservation or waitlist party, maximizing restaurant seating, without overbooking.

    For easy server reference, the integrated Star Micronics TSP100III printer prints out a reservation or waitlist “chit” that includes each guest’s visit details including, name, number in party, visit history, permanent guest notes, current visit reservations notes, table number and any party flags assigned, i.e. birthday, anniversary, high chair required, etc. For additional server management, each server’s schedule can be printed from the system as well. The schedule includes the name of the server, the tables assigned to each server and his or her’s scheduled time in. This further ensures that each guest receives a VIP customer experience delivered not only from the front-of-the-house stand, but also their server as well.

    THE RESULTS

    The Seatninja and Star Micronics solution deliver an immediate ROI on the monthly subscription. Setup takes, on average, less than an hour. The solution is paired with an iPad tablet upon deployment. Training is quick and easy, completed in an hour or less and staff typically and staff typically reaches proficiency with the solution within two shifts or less.

    Full service restaurants who deploy the solution may see some or all of the following results:

    • fewer table checks ($75 per month in savings)
    • additional table turns ($400 per month in additional revenue)
    • decrease in reservation no shows ($400 per month in savings)
    • decrease in walk outs on waitlists ($400 per month in savings)
    • no lost or damaged paper replacements ($100 per month in savings)
    • reservations can be taken automatically during off hours ($1500 per month in additional revenue)
    • reduced comps for mistakes ($100 per month in savings)
    • automatic table assignments for reservations ($124 per month in savings)