General | partech.com

Scale Your Restaurant’s Growth with an Open Ordering Platform

PAR Team — Tue, 09 Apr 2024 21:22:16 +0000

Gone are the days of managing a maze of disconnected systems – one for point-of-sale, another for online orders, and yet another for deliveries. Open integrations are the new normal, allowing restaurants to build a dream tech stack with best-in-class solutions. By embracing open APIs and interoperable systems, your restaurant brand can create a tailored tech stack that enhances every aspect of your operations, from order processing and inventory management to customer engagement.

Understanding Scalable Platforms

Unlike traditional siloed systems that operate independently, scalable platforms offer a holistic solution that can adapt and expand alongside your business. At its core, scalability refers to the platform’s ability to accommodate growth and handle increased demands without sacrificing performance or efficiency.

A scalable platform is built on modular architecture, allowing restaurants to add or remove functionalities as needed. Whether it’s scaling up to accommodate a growing number of orders or integrating new features to meet evolving customer preferences, a scalable platform provides the flexibility and agility required to stay competitive in a rapidly changing landscape.

Optimizing Business Growth with a Scalable
Ordering Platform

An open and scalable ordering platform such as MENU offers a cohesive solution that integrates various aspects of restaurant operations into a single, seamless ecosystem.

Here’s what MENU’s open ordering platform brings to the table:

Ordering APIs

MENU facilitates interoperability through open Ordering APIs, allowing streamlined integration with various technologies and solutions that best suit your needs. The benefits of this solution are numerous:

Unforgettable Ordering Experiences:
Your customers demand customization. One-size-fits-all ordering is no longer enough. With MENU Ordering APIs, your brand can leverage a modern and innovative back end to create custom ordering applications on any channel. This empowers you to create unique ordering experiences that perfectly match your brand identity and customer needs.
Smooth Developer Experience:
Clear and comprehensive documentation serves as the foundation for effective API design, playing a crucial role in fostering a smooth developer experience. MENU’s open ordering platform provides robust documentation, granting developers access to well-documented resources that offer detailed explanations of our Ordering APIs. This empowers them to effortlessly navigate the integration process, better comprehend API interactions, effectively troubleshoot issues, and fully leverage the potential of APIs for agency-built applications.
Streamlined Tech Stack:
MENU’s Ordering APIs ensure seamless integration with your current suite of solutions. This eliminates the need to abandon your existing loyalty programs, payment processors, and other essential tools. The result is a fully interoperable system that streamlines your operations and maximizes efficiency.

Customer Data

Open ordering platforms like MENU facilitate the consolidation of data from various sources within your restaurant’s tech stack. This unlocks a treasure trove of customer data, giving you insights into ordering trends and behavior. Leveraging these insights helps you make data-driven decisions to personalize customer experiences and optimize marketing campaigns, ultimately leading to increased profitability and customer satisfaction.

New Franchises/Locations

The MENU scalable ordering platform empowers you to replicate successful operational models seamlessly across new franchises and locations. By embracing openness, your fast-growing business can effortlessly adapt to the growing demand while maintaining efficiency and delivering exceptional customer experiences consistently across every location.

Open and scalable ordering platforms are more than just a technological upgrade; they’re a strategic investment in your restaurant’s success. By embracing an open approach, you can transform your operation from a tangled mess of wires to a well-oiled machine, ultimately delivering exceptional customer service and achieving operational excellence.

Whether you’re a fast-growing multi-unit brand or an industry stalwart, MENU’s open platform serves as the bedrock for innovation and expansion.

The post Scale Your Restaurant’s Growth with an Open Ordering Platform appeared first on partech.com.

From Chaos to Control: How PAR Brink POS Transforms the Daily Grind for Restaurant Staff

PAR Team — Wed, 17 Jan 2024 05:00:04 +0000

In today’s restaurant landscape, where new technology and flashy trends vie for attention, a fundamental truth remains: human connection is the bedrock of truly remarkable guest experiences. As Brett Schulman, CEO of Cava and a valued PAR customer, aptly said in a recent QSR article, “the people who deliver great service every day, in every restaurant, every shift” are what set winning concepts apart. Well-trained, motivated, and engaged employees are the architects of genuine hospitality, crafting seamless operations, top-notch service, and a welcoming atmosphere that inspires loyalty and repeat business.

However, the industry faces a harsh reality: high staff turnover. According to a National Restaurant Association survey, nearly 62% of restaurant operators lacked the personnel to meet customer needs in 2023. This revolving door of employees disrupts operations, leaving knowledge gaps and requiring constant re-training. The impact is significant: increased training costs, compromised service quality and consistency, and ultimately, a dampened bottom line.

In this tight labor landscape, prioritizing the staff experience is crucial. Restaurants need to invest in technology that empowers their employees. The POS system – pulsing with omnichannel orders, data, and the constant churn of a busy day – holds immense potential to transform the staff experience. Streamlining operations, automating tasks, and minimizing errors frees staff from stress, allows faster service, and equips them for success. By creating a smoother experience with the right POS, you’ll see the rewards in efficient operations, happier staff, and delighted guests. For this, choose a complete POS partner – powerful tools, scalable tech, purposeful customer-focused innovation, and trusted allyship.

PAR Brink POS: Designed for Staff Success

PAR Brink POS, a leading cloud-based POS system, addresses staff-centric needs head-on. Built with meaningful innovation that prioritizes user needs and experience, Brink empowers your team from day one. Its flexible design and powerful functionality ease morning rushes, dinner crowds, and everything in between, reducing friction and making work less stressful.

Let’s explore some of Brink’s fantastic capabilities specifically designed to address common employee pain points ultimately making their jobs easier, more efficient, and more rewarding.

Resilient In-Store: In the hectic restaurant setting, a few things stress staff like a malfunctioning POS. Brink POS is designed to ensure that employees never lose access to their POS in-store, even in high-demand situations or technical disruptions. Even if the primary register stumbles, a dedicated backup seamlessly steps in, running independent of the internet and the cloud. This ensures that staff can focus on what they do best – delivering exceptional service – without the stress of tech meltdowns.
Configured To Staff Comfort: Take the guesswork out of the POS setup with flexible configurations and easy-to-customize screens. Brink bends to your restaurant, not the other way around. From out-of-the-box templates to custom menus and workflows, Brink fits your desired brand and processes. Staff learn in 30 minutes, not days, thanks to the intuitive interface and familiar feel. Less clicking, less training, and less stress ensures happy staff – it’s a Brink thing.
Easy Order Management: Sleek order preview panels let staff see up to 8 orders at once on the menu screen, allowing them to scan, validate, and process orders in seconds. No switching screens, hunting for details, or order confusion. Plus, Brink’s tablet-optimized drag & drop lets you shuffle orders on the fly. Easily manage the flow by moving orders, saving spots, and keeping everything organized with a single swipe. Brink ensures your team always stays in control.
Stress-free Pick-Ups: The Bag Chit feature consolidates all crucial order details onto one receipt, providing staff with a clear and concise overview of each guest’s to-go order. This eliminates the risk of order mix-ups and establishes a smooth pick-up process for both employees and guests, ultimately reducing stress and frustration for all.
Charitable Giving Made Easy: Brink’s Round Up for Charity functionality lets guests seamlessly support their favorite charities with a single tap at checkout, without the need for cashier prompting. It transforms potentially awkward moments between the guest and cashier into pressure-free, positive interactions. With manual prompting out the door, checkouts flow faster, making everyone happy.
No More Payday Panic: Brink POS automates pay rate changes, ensuring accuracy, efficiency, and workplace equity. No more manual scheduling or calculations. Operators gain insights into future labor costs and can synchronize adjustments for all employees fairly. Freed from administrative tasks, managers can focus on strategic initiatives and better support their staff.

Investing in a staff-friendly POS system like PAR Brink POS is more than just a purchase; it’s a strategic move. Empowering your team with the right tools and support leads to a ripple effect: happier employees, smoother operations, and ultimately, better bottom line. It’s a win-win that keeps your business thriving for years to come.

Visit us at Brink POS or request a demo today!

The post From Chaos to Control: How PAR Brink POS Transforms the Daily Grind for Restaurant Staff appeared first on partech.com.

Unleash Hassle-Free Excellence in Restaurant Operations with a Seamless Digital Ordering Platform

PAR Team — Mon, 15 Jan 2024 19:21:58 +0000

Navigating the digital ordering landscape can feel like deciphering a complex puzzle. Incompatibility issues, communication gaps, and technical glitches lurk at every corner, threatening to disrupt the order flow, cripple efficiency, and sink the restaurant’s success. Like a chef juggling flaming pans, restaurant operators today struggle to balance evolving customer demands with operational effectiveness. Some of the biggest challenges with ordering providers that affect restaurant growth include:

Technical Turmoil: Navigating the Digital Maze

Integrating a digital ordering app into a network of disjointed platforms can occasionally introduce additional challenges. This technical turmoil poses a risk to the seamless order flow and overall operational efficiency. The digital revolution demands a solution that not only integrates seamlessly but also addresses these technical challenges head-on.

Staff Training: Breaking Through the Learning Curve

Training staff to adapt to new technologies is a time-consuming process that can hinder efficiency during the learning curve. A digital ordering platform should be designed with a user-friendly interface, requiring minimal staff training and ensuring a smooth transition without disrupting daily operations.

Menu Management Mayhem: Real-Time Updates Across Channels

Restaurant operators wrestle with a tech tempest, deciphering complex apps and managing menus across various channels in real-time. Keeping the digital menu up to date is a daunting task that directly impacts customer satisfaction and trust. An effective digital ordering platform streamlines restaurant operations and empowers restaurant operators to take control of their digital menu, ensuring accuracy, convenience and speed. The digital hurdles listed above threaten smooth operations, staff efficiency, and ultimately, customer satisfaction. Is there a way for you to navigate this chaos?

Navigate the Future of Dining with the MENU Omnichannel Ordering Platform

The key to conquering the digital landscape maze and thriving in the modern dining scene is embracing a user-friendly, seamlessly integrated digital ordering platform. Imagine empowering your staff with minimal training, while captivating customers with a real-time, accurate menu on every channel they use.

Enter the MENU Ordering Platform – a powerful ally in overcoming the challenges of the modern restaurant. Its intuitive, state-of-the-art design facilitates a smooth transition without disrupting your daily operations. Being part of the PAR Technology family, MENU is seamlessly integrated with Brink POS, Punchh and PAR Pay. This brings the advantage of a lower total cost of ownership, making it a financially savvy choice for restaurants.

MENU effortlessly connects with major US delivery platforms such as Doordash, Grubhub, and Uber Eats via MENU Link – a marketplace order management solution embedded within the MENU ecosystem. This guarantees customers a smooth journey, regardless of where they choose to place their orders, and a hassle-free management of all ordering channels and menus for your restaurant. Major enterprise restaurant brands strategically opt for PAR’s Brink and MENU Link to not only meet current consumer demands, but also position themselves for sustained success in the future.

At MENU, we prioritize comprehensive support as a fundamental element of the user experience. We are committed to staying closely connected with our customers through an array of supporting materials, comprehensive how-to guides, and timely updates on new releases.

Seamlessly integrated, beautifully designed, and supported by exceptional services, MENU emerges as the innovative solution propelling your restaurant to new heights in the digital world. Embrace the future with MENU and transform your dining experience.

Interested to learn how you can elevate your dining experience, one order at a time?

The post Unleash Hassle-Free Excellence in Restaurant Operations with a Seamless Digital Ordering Platform appeared first on partech.com.

Fortify Your Restaurant’s Payment Security with PAR Pay

PAR Team — Wed, 10 Jan 2024 19:22:00 +0000

In today’s dynamic market, every consumer possesses unique shopping preferences and behaviors. From what they order to how they order it, nearly every step in the customer journey is unique to the individual consumer. Yet, one aspect of the customer experience every consumer shares is paying for items. Whether it is with cash, a credit or debit card, or even a mobile phone, making payments will always be a step in the customer journey.

In recent years, digital and contactless payments, like credit and debit cards as well as mobile wallets, have quickly taken the main stage. Consumers today prioritize these methods of payment over traditional ones, like cash, because they are more convenient, and, frankly, more hygienic. In fact, a recent survey conducted by the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco found that over 90% of American consumers primarily pay for their purchases using any form (physical or virtual) of credit or debit card, while 9% of consumers still use cash or check.

However, a rise in digital and contactless payment users has ultimately led to a rise in cyber security threats and hackers attempting to get their pesky hands on valuable customer payment information. According to recent studies, around 65% of all American credit and debit card holders (roughly 151 million Americans) have fallen victim to fraudulent activity. These attacks will not only negatively affect customer satisfaction but also your brand’s reputation.

To combat these payment woes, it is paramount for brands to leverage tried-and-true technology like payment gateways and payment services. PAR Pay, which includes a payment gateway and payment services, handles payment security with the utmost importance. These enterprise-grade solutions stay up to date on required security certificates and standards to ensure brands properly protect their customers’ payment information, which helps you create better guest satisfaction and scale in the marketplace. PAR Pay devices use P2PE at the point of swipe or tap and are PCI compliant as well as PCI-SSF certified. Let’s take a more in-depth look at the various types of security measures PAR Pay provides and what it means for your brand:

Point-to-Point Encryption (P2PE) – This security standard encrypts a customer’s credit or debit card information when a purchase is initiated. The payment information is not decrypted until it reaches the payment processor, which will then approve or decline the transaction. Fully encrypted payment information ensures customer payment data cannot be easily stolen by hackers during a transaction.

PCI Compliance – Payment Card Industry compliance (PCI) is a set of technical and operational standards payment vendors must abide by to fully protect customer payment data. These set of standards are mandated by credit card companies to ensure consumer payment information is always safe and secure. Merchants who do not follow PCI standards are at risk of customers’ card information being hacked and misused.

PCI-SSF – The PCI Software Security Framework (SSF) is a set of security standards payment vendors must abide by to securely design and develop payment software. This protects payment transactions and customer data as well as minimizes vulnerabilities and combats cyber-attacks. PCI-SSF replaced PA-DSS in October 2022.

Tokenization – This security measure replaces a customer’s payment information, such as PINs and card numbers, with a set of unique random characters called a token. Tokenization ensures a customer’s payment information cannot be stolen and stored by hackers during a transaction.

PAR Pay devices comply with the latest PCI PTS security standards, removing all risk and compliance from your day-to-day operations. Additionally, PAR Pay devices and systems are constantly updated to meet current encryption and cybersecurity standards so your brand can grow without the risk of compromise to your customers or business.

Don’t let your brand fall victim to cyber security threats. Fortify your payment strategy with PAR Pay and provide your guests with faster, more convenient, and safer payments and processing.

Interested in learning more about how PAR Pay creates secure payment strategies? Visit us at PARPay or request a demo today!

The post Fortify Your Restaurant’s Payment Security with PAR Pay appeared first on partech.com.

In the Fast Lane to Success: Discover How Brink POS Elevates the Restaurant Drive-Thru Experience

PAR Team — Tue, 28 Nov 2023 21:47:16 +0000

The drive-thru, a long-standing fixture of the QSR landscape, has seen a remarkable resurgence in recent years. While it was always a popular choice for a fast meal, the events of the pandemic further elevated its role and importance. As people grappled with lockdowns and sought solace from the confines of home, the drive-thru offered a contactless dining experience and emerged as a beacon of convenience. It became a lifeline for QSRs, contributing significantly to their revenue.

In fact, according to consumer behavior watcher Revenue Management Solutions, drive-thru sales made up a staggering 75% of quick-service revenue in 2022. While the numbers have adjusted slightly since then, it appears the pandemic habit of drive-thru ordering has stuck around and become a mainstream way for consumers to order their favorite meals. The result: an ongoing surge in drive-thru sales.

As QSR brands adapt to this shift in guest behavior, they are having to navigate the challenges of longer lines, speed of service, and order accuracy, all while maintaining their commitment to a positive guest experience.

PAR Brink POS is helping restaurant brands streamline and enhance their drive-thru operations with rock-solid reliability and a continuous commitment to innovation. Whether you have a single lane, dual lane, or multi-lane setup, Brink’s purpose-built features keep you at the forefront of the ever-evolving drive-thru landscape.

Brink enables faster service, reduced wait times, and fewer remakes in the drive-thru – leading to happier customers and more repeat business. Let’s d(r)ive into Brink’s fantastic drive-thru capabilities:

Large Preview Panels for Quick Order Retrieval

Imagine a scenario familiar to many of us: You’re at the drive-thru, ready to order your favorite meal. You pull up to the window to pay or pick-up and the employee announces, “You are order #582, regular fries and a large coke?” But you know it’s not your order – you ordered a grilled chicken sandwich and fried zucchini! This leads to a frustrating back-and-forth as the employee struggles to find the right order amidst the digital chaos. This situation, an increasingly common occurrence in modern drive-thru operations, can significantly detract from the overall guest experience.

Brink POS solves this problem with its innovative large order preview panels, added seamlessly to existing menu screens. These enable restaurant staff to conveniently view up to eight detailed orders at once, eliminating the need for manual searching. The power of this solution lies in its simplicity. It is not about inundating the staff with order details; it’s about providing a bird’s-eye view of the orders. Restaurant employees no longer need to open and close orders or navigate through various screens in search of the correct one. In just a single click, they can pull up, validate, and process the order, ensuring speedier service and fewer errors.

No more “Is this your order?” moments; guests can confidently pick up their correct orders without a hitch.

Seamlessly Integrate Own & Third-Party Orders

Now picture this: a customer arrives to pick up an online order, somehow ends up in the drive-thru lane instead and is now at the window looking for their order. With Brink POS, this situation is easily managed. Your staff can seamlessly filter the order by its destination in Brink’s ‘lane manager’ feature and transfer it to the drive-thru lane. Just like that, the customer’s order smoothly pops up in the queue. Your team can then fulfill and close out the order, preserving its place in the line to ensure that the sequence for other cars and orders remains undisturbed.

In turn, your employees are empowered to handle orders from digital, 3rd-party, or any other channels just as easily in the drive-thru, eliminating the need for a dedicated register for pickups and deliveries. This flexibility ensures a seamless, convenient experience for your staff as well as your customers, no matter where they show up to collect their orders.

Re-sequencing To Ensure Order Accuracy

Restaurants can also effortlessly re-sequence guest orders for the payment window using Brink’s intuitive drag-and-drop feature. Inspired by the increased adoption of multi-lane ordering, this functionality is optimized specifically for tablet use.

In busy drive-thrus, whether single or multi-lane, the risk of order mix-ups is significant. With multiple tablets deployed, one employee might start an order for a car, while another moves on to the next in line. If, by chance, the latter finishes entering the order first, the sequence is disrupted, leading to confusion, delays, and unhappy customers. Brink tackles this challenge by allowing a simple press and hold to reposition orders on the screen, preventing this chaos.

This applies even in drive-thrus with just a single tablet. For instance, if a customer isn’t ready to order, there’s no need to wait or start blank orders to save their spot. You can efficiently move down the line, return when they’re ready, and retroactively save their spot with a drag and drop. This ensures that, regardless of multiple tablets or dynamic customer interactions, your team always stays in control.

Furthermore, if a guest still ends up paying out of sequence, Brink triggers automatic resequencing on the Kitchen Expediter KDS to ensure accurate order flow for a timely pickup. Brink indicates the revised sequence to kitchen staff by utilizing visual cues or elements on the KDS screen without disrupting existing cards. Thus, any unexpected changes in the drive-thru line are seamlessly accommodated, ensuring that kitchen staff can focus on preparing orders promptly and accurately.

The result? enhanced efficiency, reduced errors, a more conducive environment for kitchen staff, and a satisfying guest experience.

Example: Staff moves up order #107 in front of order #104 in ‘lane manager’ which is reflected instantly in the POS order screen

The Future

At PAR, we believe in enhancing the restaurant experience, especially in drive-thrus, by integrating technology as an ally, not a replacement.

Brink’s commitment to merging innovative technology with human oversight reflects our dedication to delivering a flawless and personalized drive-thru experience. It is all about enhancing service without losing the personal touch.

Interested in learning more about modern POS systems that elevate operational efficiency and guest experience? Visit us at Brink POS or request a demo today!

The post In the Fast Lane to Success: Discover How Brink POS Elevates the Restaurant Drive-Thru Experience appeared first on partech.com.

AI in Restaurant Technology

PAR Team — Thu, 02 Nov 2023 20:15:00 +0000

This Article Outlines:

1. Understanding AI in the Restaurant Technology Industry

1.1. Narrow AI vs. General AI

2. The Role of AI in Optimizing Restaurant Operations

3. Introducing PAR Data Central: A Revolutionary Operations Management System

3.1. PAR Data Central’s Activity Feed: A Real-Time Intelligence Hub

4. Narrow AI in Restaurant Technology: A Closer Look

5. Benefits of Incorporating Narrow AI in Restaurant Management

6. Challenges and Considerations

The restaurant industry is no stranger to the rapid advancements in technology, and the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming the landscape. Artificial Intelligence for restaurants is the usage of machine learning to increase operational efficiency, enhance ordering accuracy, engage guests through more personalized interactions, and improve marketing efforts. This white paper explores the crucial distinctions between Narrow AI and General AI within the restaurant technology sector and how innovative software solutions like PAR Data Central have begun incorporating and using Narrow AI to help users run their business more efficiently.

In the competitive world of restaurant management, staying ahead of the curve is essential. As AI technology for restaurants continues to revolutionize the industry, the integration of AI-driven solutions is becoming increasingly prevalent. AI technologies for restaurants are capable of automating routine tasks, optimizing operations, and enhancing customer experiences.

1. Understanding AI in the Restaurant Technology Industry

1.1. Narrow AI vs. General AI

Before delving deeper into the applications of AI in the restaurant industry, it is imperative to distinguish between two key AI categories: Narrow AI and General AI.
Narrow AI refers to Artificial Intelligence systems designed for specific tasks or domains, such as natural language processing (NLP), image recognition, chatbots, predictive text, hyper-personalization, or data analysis. These systems are highly specialized and excel within their designated areas of expertise. Narrow AI is inferior to human intelligence, lacks artificial consciousness, and cannot solve unfamiliar problems.
General AI, also known as ‘strong AI’ or ‘full AI’, on the other hand, represents the concept of human-like artificial intelligence capable of performing a wide range of tasks, learning from experience, applying learned knowledge, and solving unfamiliar problems.

While General AI remains a goal for the future, Narrow AI solutions have already begun making significant impacts in various industries, including restaurants.

2. What is Artificial Intelligence for Restaurants?

AI has a multitude of applications within the restaurant industry, from predicting customer preferences to optimizing restaurant supply chain management. It can also assist in inventory management, menu optimization, hyper-personalized marketing and loyalty programs, and even enhance the customer service experience.

3. AI in Restaurant Operations Management

PAR Data Central is an all-in-one restaurant operations management system that incorporates advanced AI features to streamline operations and boost efficiency.

3.1. Use AI for Real-Time Restaurant Intelligence

One of the standout features of PAR Data Central is ‘Activity Feed’, which serves as a real-time intelligence hub for restaurant operators and staff. This feature provides immediate alerts about discrepancies that are disrupting the workflow, allowing for rapid response and resolution.
PAR Data Central’s Activity Feed is like AI in its ability to analyze data, detect anomalies, and generate alerts autonomously. It constantly monitors various aspects of restaurant operations, such as inventory levels, order processing times, and labor performance. When irregularities or inefficiencies are detected, it sends real-time alerts to designated personnel, enabling them to take corrective actions promptly. In essence, while PAR Data Central’s Activity Feed may not be classified as General AI yet, it embodies the principles of Narrow AI by providing specialized, intelligence-driven alerts that enhance operations management and optimize workflows.

4. Applications of AI in the Restaurant Technology Sector

To further clarify the concept of Narrow AI in the restaurant technology sector, it’s important to recognize the specialized applications of AI. These applications include:

Demand Forecasting: Narrow AI algorithms analyze historical data and external factors to predict customer demand, helping restaurants optimize inventory and reduce waste.
Personalized Recommendations: Narrow AI can provide personalized menu recommendations based on customer preferences and ordering history, increasing customer satisfaction and revenue.
Inventory Management: Narrow AI-driven inventory systems can monitor stock levels in real-time and generate automatic reorders, reducing stockouts and overstock situations.
Workflow Optimization: Narrow AI-powered tools, such as PAR Data Central’s Activity Feed, can continuously monitor operations and alert staff to operational inefficiencies or anomalies.

5. Benefits of AI in Restaurant Management

The incorporation of Narrow AI solutions like PAR Data Central offers several significant advantages for restaurant businesses:

Enhanced Efficiency: Narrow AI streamlines restaurant operations, reduces manual tasks, and minimizes errors, resulting in increased efficiency.
Cost Savings: Optimized inventory management for restaurants, waste reduction, and improved labor allocation all lead to cost savings.
Improved Customer Experience: Personalized recommendations and faster service enhance the overall customer experience, fostering loyalty and positive reviews.
Data-Driven Decision-Making: Narrow AI systems generate valuable insights from data, empowering restaurant operators to make informed decisions.

6. Challenges of AI in the Restaurant Industry

While the adoption of Narrow AI in the restaurant technology industry holds immense promise, it is not without challenges. Key considerations include restaurant data security, the need for staff training, and the potential for technology dependency. Overcoming these challenges is essential for the successful integration of AI into restaurant operations.

In summary, the restaurant technology industry is experiencing a transformation driven by Narrow AI solutions that offer specialized capabilities to enhance efficiency, customer satisfaction, and overall business success. PAR Data Central, with its Activity Feed feature, exemplifies the power of Narrow AI by providing real-time alerts that enhance restaurant workflows. As restaurants continue to embrace AI-driven innovations, the path to greater operational excellence and competitiveness becomes increasingly clear.

Check out all the ways PAR Data Central can help you optimize your operations.

The post AI in Restaurant Technology appeared first on partech.com.

An Essential Guide to Choosing a POS for Your SMB Restaurant: 7 Must-Have Features in 2023

PAR Team — Tue, 17 Oct 2023 18:33:11 +0000

Running a small or medium-sized restaurant is no easy feat. Every operator knows the daily struggles – constantly juggling menus, staff, customer service, and more. With so much already on your plate as an SMB owner or operator, your POS should make things much easier, not harder. In an era where technology shapes customer experiences, choosing the right POS is crucial. Even smaller restaurants can achieve big success with the right technology by their side.

It is paramount for small or medium-sized restaurants to find the perfect POS system, one that meets their current needs and helps them grow. But what exactly should you consider when choosing a new POS? Let’s dive deep into must-have POS features and factors for SMB restaurant brands.

Modern, Cloud-Native POS: Restaurant guests today expect seamless, consistent, and convenient experiences across all touchpoints. Outdated POS systems struggle to keep up, and by sticking with one, you may risk lower guest satisfaction and churn. SMB restaurants need a modern, cloud-based POS solution to enhance business connectivity, knowledge, and control, as well as adapt to evolving guest demands and technology. Capabilities like omnichannel ordering and fulfilment, POS mobility, and payment flexibility boost guest satisfaction. Plus, comprehensive management tools for inventory, labor, kitchen, menus, and reporting will help streamline operations across channels and locations for continued success.
Right Sized Pricing, Without Surprises: Your POS system is a long-term investment, and it is extremely necessary to consider the lasting value of the partnership, not just the initial costs. Operators should read the fine print carefully, as some vendors may guarantee suspiciously low sticker prices to lock them in, but later levy junk fees and surprise add-on costs through punitive contracts. Choose a partner that offers transparent, consultative pricing tailored to your needs.
Easy-to-use, Flexible Solution: In the restaurant business, time is money. A customizable and user-friendly POS system can help you save both: time and money. A POS that reflects your brand and workflow preferences makes your staff feel at home, and its ease-of-use makes training a breeze. Your team will be up and running quickly, taking orders and serving guests without any extra hassle. This leads to happier and more productive staff, ultimately reducing turnover and operational costs.
Freedom of Choice with an Open API: Operators need a POS platform that connects every aspect of their restaurant, from front-of-house to back-of-house and beyond. An open API and a wide network of ready-to-use integrations ensure you can stick with your preferred tools and effortlessly add new ones, creating a complete operational ecosystem. Your POS system should be a strategic asset for your restaurant’s success, not just a cash handler.
Expert Support with White Glove Approach: Technical issues are bound to happen, and when they occur, you want a support team that’s got your back. Choose a POS provider with a strong support infrastructure: local experts who are available 24/7 to help you resolve issues quickly and efficiently. Avoid the challenges of low-touch offshore support, which can lead to confusion and extended downtime. A dependable support team can turn a potential crisis into a minor hiccup, keeping your system running smoothly.
Scalability for Growth at Any Pace: Planning to expand your business? Make sure your POS system matches your ambitions. Choose a scalable solution from a trusted brand that adapts to your business needs. With a scalable POS, restaurants can integrate new terminals into operations seamlessly, open new locations quickly, and handle large transactions and increased complexity without sacrificing performance.
Hardware Made to Last: Your POS system is the workhorse of your restaurant, so choose one that comes with hardware that can withstand the daily grind. Durable POS hardware lasts longer, requires fewer repairs, and reduces the risk of downtime, saving you money both now and down the road. Look for hardware made from top-notch materials that’s spill-proof, shockproof, and easy to clean. With long-lasting hardware, you can focus on creating delightful experiences for your customers—without worrying about potential system breakdowns.

PAR Brink POS is the cloud-based solution that delivers on all these considerations for small and medium-sized restaurants. It’s the trusted partner and growth enabler you deserve, adapting to your unique journey and simplifying your restaurant operations:

Modern features for ordering and fulfillment, multi-unit administration, kitchen and staff management, integrated payments, and analytics. Backed by best-in-class loyalty, online ordering, and back-office solutions.
Portfolio pricing, without punitive contracts, non-termination clauses, or junk fees that hurt your guest relationships.
Employees are up and running in less than 30 minutes with Brink’s simple interface and flexible design.
Open API makes third-party integrations simple. No forced mandates, and a choice of over 250 curated (and growing) integration partners.
24/7 partner support without additional fees, even during late-night hours. Issues are always addressed by onshore experts who know your system inside and out.
Keep the orders flowing even in the most demanding environments with Brink's rock-solid resilience and uptime – handling over 150 million orders monthly.
Enterprise-grade POS equipment that blends reliable performance, incredible support, and an unbelievably low failure rate.

Don’t let your business get stuck in the past. The longer you stick with an underperforming POS, the more revenue slips through the cracks. Explore your options, ask questions, and find a POS partner that aligns with your vision.

Take your operations into your own hands and optimize your brand with PAR Brink’s limited-time offer for SMB restaurants. Interested in learning more? Visit us at Brink POS or download the eBook now!

The post An Essential Guide to Choosing a POS for Your SMB Restaurant: 7 Must-Have Features in 2023 appeared first on partech.com.

What Makes a Pizza POS?

PAR Team — Fri, 22 Sep 2023 21:39:10 +0000

Pizza is a dish held close to almost every American’s heart. It is a quick, easy, and delicious go-to meal for most families, with an estimated 93% of Americans eating a slice at least once a month. And in certain cities around the country where pizza is in the spotlight, like Chicago and New York, the number of regular pizza eaters can certainly be much higher. In the United States alone, pizza is a $45.1B industry, and that metric is only expected to grow as consumers continue to crave a slice of the pie.

Contrary to popular belief, pizza restaurants are not just another subcategory of the restaurant industry. In fact, it actually has quite a few distinctive features when it comes to leveraging technology and providing unique consumer experiences. Given the recent surge in customization in restaurants, having a tech stack that’s able to handle modifications and substitutions is more important than ever before—and pizza is no exception. Pizza historically has more nuances and modifications to the order than any other restaurant dish. This makes it essential for any pizza parlor to sport a point-of-sale (POS) system that’s more than up for the task, ensuring that customers can grab that flawless slice to their liking pronto! PAR Technology’s PixelPoint POS is proven to step up to the plate, handling every kind of pizza that comes its way, making it an ideal fit for all forms of eateries, whether it’s a big chain or a standalone joint that whips up its own dough!

But what makes PixelPoint POS the ideal choice for any pizza restaurant? Let’s break it down:

Customizable Pizza Builder: The ideal pizza POS must be able to build personalized pizza pies catered to consumers’ requests while assigning the right price tag to it. A POS system that can customize guests ’ pizzas to their liking ensures they can personalize their pizza size, crust type, cheese selection, an array of toppings, and any other request they may have.
Split toppings and half-and-half orders: The ability to split toppings and accommodate half-and-half orders is crucial. Split orders enable customers to choose different toppings on each half of their pizza, while half-and-half orders allow customers to combine two pre-made pizza recipes on one pie. It is important that your pizza POS allows for splits and half-and-half orders to allow customers flexibility.
Specials and Combos: Imagine a family pizza night without those delightful breadsticks or a sweet dessert on the side – it just wouldn’t be the same! Combos not only serve as a welcoming invitation for diners but can also act as a clever strategy to boost pizza sales. In fact, larger pizza chains often sweeten the deal by bundling sides or beverages with a pizza order. For managing such enticing combinations, your POS must seamlessly factor in special pricing, coupons, and discounts at the checkout stage. After all, it’s these little touches that keep both customers and profits rolling in!
Online Ordering and Delivery: The bread and butter, or the sauce and cheese, of pizza operations are online ordering and delivery services. According to the US Department of Agriculture, 59% of Americans choose to eat pizza in their homes rather than dine out at pizza restaurants. This makes online ordering and delivery options or integrations an absolute essential for any pizza brand’s POS system.
Customer Database: Whether it’s a sprawling enterprise or the cozy mom-and-pop pizzeria just around the corner, any pizza POS has the power to boost efficiency and customer frequency by utilizing a customer database. Leveraging a customer database serves two purposes: 1. For delivery and re-orders, operators can trim down time by streamlining the process, thus enhancing overall operations., 2. The brand can go the extra mile in cherishing and retaining customers with a range of customer management features. These include order history tracking, customer profiles, and the capability to dispatch targeted promotions or tailor-made offers. Incorporating such features will not only enhance business operations but will also add that extra layer of personalization that keeps customers coming back for more slices of your pizza goodness.

Whether you’re eyeing expansion for your operations or aiming to streamline sales and labor tracking, PixelPoint has all the ingredients a pizza restaurant could possibly desire.

If you’re looking to upgrade to PAR’s Pizza POS, or are interested in learning more, visit us at PixelPoint or schedule a demo today!

The post What Makes a Pizza POS? appeared first on partech.com.

Fortifying Your Restaurant: How A Modern POS Enhances Security and Compliance

PAR Team — Wed, 20 Sep 2023 20:45:08 +0000

In today’s landscape, restaurants are rapidly embracing technology to drive operational efficiency and elevate their guest experience. On average, brands now work with 20 to 30 technology vendors – ranging from POS systems, online ordering and delivery aggregators to loyalty programs, back-office tools, a plethora of digital payment methods and more. Ultimately, this recent technology surge has led to a significant increase in the volume of customer data that restaurants generate and need to manage, making data protection a paramount concern. Plus, with restaurant networks being routinely accessed by numerous staff and vendors within their ecosystem, new challenges have emerged in safeguarding this information. In an era marked by increasing data breaches and cyber attacks, data security is a top concern for IT and technology leaders in the hospitality industry.

Sitting at the core of a restaurant’s technology stack, the POS system is a critical bulwark in ensuring its security and compliance. This is because the POS handles sensitive payment information and acts as a bridge to various third-party vendors, making it a prime target for potential threats and breaches. Data breaches, when successful, are publicly reported and result in reputational damage, loss of customer trust, and financial burdens like lost sales, fines, compensation, and increased insurance premiums.

Therefore, it is essential for restaurant owners and operators to choose a POS partner with strong security features and a proven record of compliance to protect against these risks. In fact, The 2023 Smart Guide to Restaurant Management and POS Systems revealed that 69% of over 300 surveyed restaurant IT decision-makers identified meeting security and payment compliance requirements as one of the biggest benefits of choosing the right POS system.

Key Considerations for a Secure POS Provider

It is crucial to note that not all POS systems offer the same level of protection. Although the prospect of upgrading to a more secure POS might initially seem expensive and challenging, in reality, it is a small price to pay to avoid the above-mentioned consequences of data lapses. So, what do you need to futureproof and safeguard your restaurant’s operations in an increasingly digital world? Read below.

Modern Architecture and Security Features

Choose a POS system with the right architectural foundation. A cloud-native POS is designed from the ground up with optimal security in mind, making it the superior choice compared to legacy systems with on-premises servers or partial cloud configurations. Modern cloud-based POS solutions offer robust security measures, including data encryption, proactive monitoring, and role-based access controls. In contrast, legacy systems often run on outdated, inflexible software architectures and lack the robust security tools needed to combat evolving vulnerabilities, making them easier targets for cyber-attacks, ransomware, and other issues.

Proven Certification and Compliance Track-Record

The increased focus on data privacy has also led to strict regulations like the Payment Card Industry Software Security Framework (PCI SSF), General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). Restaurants must select a POS that enables them to fully adhere to these rules as non-compliance can result in hefty penalties, reputational harm, and the inability to process card payments, leading to loss in revenues.

Legacy POS systems can impede compliance efforts significantly. They often lack the mandated modern data handling practices, struggle with timely updates and patches, and face resource limitations. In fact, this challenge persists even with cloud-based POS solutions, as many of them lack full PCI compliance. To address potential compliance gaps in these cases, especially when managing multiple vendors or disjointed technology, restaurants are forced to invest in middleware or extra technology. This incurs additional expenses and distracts from core business operations.

PAR Brink POS is the cloud-based solution that delivers on these considerations, providing customers with a reliable POS partner that takes a comprehensive approach to security:

Brink POS uses powerful encryption to protect data during transmission and storage, ensuring safe exchanges between the POS system and other components. Unnecessary data is removed or anonymized daily, following industry standards.
To stay ahead of security threats, Brink POS regularly updates its cloud infrastructure and proactively monitors for any unusual activities. It also allows brands to precisely define user roles and staff permissions and enforces multi-factor authentication, reducing the risk of unauthorized access and internal breaches.
For system reliability and in-store continuity, Brink POS uses redundant servers to prevent failures, minimize downtime, and preserve data integrity. In the event of network disruptions, it seamlessly switches to offline mode, ensuring uninterrupted operations and secure data synchronization when reconnected.
Brink POS is designed to meet evolving regulations and holds an industry-leading track record of compliance certifications. It was one of the first to achieve PCI SSF certification, a modern standard for payment software security that builds on PCI DSS. Paired with PAR Payment Solutions, Brink POS also simplifies and automates compliance certification processes for brands. Thus, restaurant operators can focus on running their business instead of worrying about complex paperwork, compliance gaps, or fines.

Interested in learning more about modern POS systems that combine operational efficiency and security? Visit us at Brink POS or Download the eBook now!

The post Fortifying Your Restaurant: How A Modern POS Enhances Security and Compliance appeared first on partech.com.

Improve Costs and Increase Savings Around Your Restaurant with Enterprise Restaurant Management Solutions

PAR Team — Thu, 07 Sep 2023 20:23:42 +0000

Restaurant brands are constantly seeking innovative ways to improve two crucial aspects of successful operations: costs and savings. However, every restaurant owner and operator understands that this is no easy feat, and ongoing industry challenges – like inflation, labor and supply chain woes, and food waste – will negatively influence these KPIs. Nonetheless, a proven way restaurant brands can alleviate some of these challenges and improve their bottom line is by leveraging enterprise restaurant management solutions like Data Central.

Data Central is a cloud-based enterprise restaurant management solution built for multi-unit restaurants. This restaurant management solution provides brands with a single source of truth for all data and harmonizes complex datasets to unlock better visibility across operations with deeper insights for smarter planning. With Data Central, restaurant brands can operate prosperously, relying on actionable insights delivered to users at all levels, from store to corporate.

Brands leveraging Data Central – like Cousins Subs, a family-owned fast-casual sub sandwich shop with nearly 100 locations – have been able to improve food and labor costs as well as savings through powerful forecasting, actionable food and labor insights, accurate and reliable inventory management, and digestible multi-unit reporting. From our latest case study and webinar, J.J Grube, Cousins Subs Vice President of Operations and Finance, goes in-depth on how the brand leveraged Data Central to improve costs, increase savings, and reach new KPIs. According to Grube, the addition of Data Central helped Cousins Subs improve food costs by over 2%, improve labor costs by 1%, and save $250,000 in the first year alone. Let’s dive into the strategy the brand took to achieve these results.

Actionable Food, Labor, and Sales Reports and Forecasting

With nearly 100 locations, it was a table-stakes requirement for Cousins Subs to receive reports highlighting various areas of operations – including sales, labor, and food – across their various locations. Per Grube, Cousins Subs was challenged to unify its data from different sources and to trust its accuracy. Data Central provides the multi-unit brand with a solution that ensures accurate insights and forecasting, which helps Cousins Subs make proactive decisions that improve their bottom line. By leveraging this enterprise restaurant management solution, Cousins Subs can compare multiple locations to uncover which stores are performing above and below par, access forecasting reports that highlight inventory and labor, and has the capabilities to capitalize on these insights. According to Grube, “one of the biggest reports that we use on a daily basis is the daily flash. The daily flash provides us with sales versus prior years, sales versus scheduled, discounts, traffic, paid-outs, refunds, and labor performance versus scheduled.” These reports help the brand understand how they are doing financially every day and ensure they can make better decisions that improve costs and increase savings.

Moreover, the reports Cousins Subs receives from Data Central have empowered the brand to properly forecast employee schedules as well as daily recipes. This ensures they always have the proper amount of stock at the ready and the right mix of employees every day to optimize staff performance, minimize waste, and improve food and labor costs. With Data Central, Cousins Subs is receiving a powerful forecasting engine that tracks performance, predicts demand, and suggests accurate food ordering. The reports and forecasting Data Central provides ensure the brand can focus on the metrics that truly matter and stay in control of every aspect of its operations.

Accurate and Reliable Food and Inventory Management

For any restaurant brand, improving food costs and increasing savings starts with food and inventory management, and Cousins Subs fully understood this. With Data Central, the brand is receiving the complete food and inventory management toolset. By leveraging Data Central’s powerful inventory and food management capabilities, the brand can access accurate inventory levels at any individual location, anytime and anywhere. With this enterprise restaurant management solution, Cousins Subs has also been able to optimize its supply chain with inventory and purchasing optimization, lower food costs with data-driven food costing and menu engineering, and produce fresher and faster food with Prep/Pull/Thaw/Cook sheets.

Additionally, Data Central has empowered Cousins Subs to save valuable time when it comes to inventory counts and reporting. The brand’s previous inventory reporting took nearly two hours to complete, primarily because reports were hand-crafted. Hand-crafted inventory reporting is a time-consuming task that no restaurant owner or operator wants to tackle. However, with Data Central, the brand has been able to “reduce the time to complete inventory to 45 minutes to an hour,” said Grube. Even an hour of saved time can go a long way and the brand can now focus more on the aspects that truly matter the most to its operations and provide guests with exceptional experiences.

The addition of Data Central into Cousins Subs tech stack has been everything the brand was hoping for and more. Grube explains that the savings the brand experienced in the first year was when they only had 20 restaurants. “Think about how much we are saving with 50 corporate restaurants or when you spread it out over the entire system that is using it, almost 100 restaurants,” said Grube. Data Central has helped Cousins Subs drastically improve their bottom line and has positioned them for success today and well into the future.

Interested in learning more about the strategy Cousins Subs took to improve costs and increase savings? Download the case study now or watch the on-demand webcast today!

The post Improve Costs and Increase Savings Around Your Restaurant with Enterprise Restaurant Management Solutions appeared first on partech.com.

Leverage Next-Generation POS and Restaurant Management Solutions to Enhance Restaurant Operations and Customer Experiences

PAR Team — Tue, 22 Aug 2023 20:55:13 +0000

Restaurant brands continuously face obstacles that challenge their operational success. Issues like labor shortages, supply chain woes, food waste, and inflation have all negatively affected the industry, ultimately forcing restaurant owners and operators to scramble for possible remedies. Fortunately, we are in the age of advanced restaurant technology, and recent major technological advancements, primarily with restaurant management and POS systems, have alleviated some of the pressure restaurants experience from these obstacles. Recent improvements to restaurant management and POS systems have not only addressed current industry challenges but also ensure operators have the tools needed to wade through future uncertainty and facilitate long-term success.

In fact, restaurant brands that upgrade to next-generation restaurant management and POS systems have experienced dramatic improvements in operations, overall performance, financial results, and KPIs. According to our latest eBook, The 2023 Smart Guide to Restaurant Management and POS Systems, 77% of quick-service and fast-casual restaurant operators and 87% of full-service restaurant operators saw “significant” or “dramatic” improvements to overall performance and financial results when upgrading their POS system. Moreover, 86% of full-service restaurants, and 73% of quick-service and fast-casual restaurants, saw “significant” or “dramatic” improvements in revenue performance after deploying the next-generation restaurant solutions.

Clearly, upgrading to these next-generation systems is proven to achieve amazing results. However, there are many things restaurant owners and operators must consider and evaluate when upgrading restaurant management and POS systems. The 2023 Smart Guide dives deep into key benefits, crucial questions, and insightful recommendations that help restaurant operators understand what to expect when implementing these next-generation solutions. Here are the key takeaways from the guide:

POS Mobility and Mobile Ordering Increases Efficiency

According to the 2023 Smart Guide, 97% of restaurant operators view driving efficiency, including staff productivity, and reducing food waste as “important” or “very important”. An incredible way to achieve these goals is by leveraging mobile ordering capabilities and handheld POS tablets. Mobile ordering at the table has recently increased in popularity and has been a game changer for table-service restaurant brands. This form of ordering meals not only eliminates common barriers between restaurant staff and guests but also increases employee efficiency as well as elevates customer satisfaction and loyalty. No longer do servers need to wait behind a POS terminal to take orders as they can now effortlessly send them to the kitchen or bar via tablets, ultimately saving valuable time and ensuring operations are streamlined. By embracing mobile ordering and POS tablets, servers can devote their focus to creating memorable and exceptional guest experiences rather than running back and forth from table to terminal to place orders. Restaurant brands that take advantage of mobile ordering and POS tablets have been able to reduce wait times, improve order accuracy, and empower servers to enhance the overall quality of service.

Tom’s Watch Bar, a table-service brand with 8 locations across the United States, recently started leveraging hand-held POS tablets to better serve customers and increase employee efficiency. POS tablets have allowed the brand to eliminate the process of servers taking guests’ orders and walking to a stationary terminal to enter it. Now, Tom’s Watch Bar servers can take orders table-side and send them directly to the kitchen or bar prep screen. According to Dan Doyle, Director of Technology at Tom’s Watch Bar, “servers can instantly see menu changes, and orders are routed to the proper make-prep station. From taking an order to accepting payments, they are far more efficient using the tablet and are free to move from one table to the next in their section.”

Technology and Data Integration Ensures Restaurants Can Unlock Numerous Benefits

One of the key POS capabilities restaurant owners and operators have come to love is its ability to integrate with various systems, like loyalty platforms and enterprise restaurant management systems. POS integrability provides restaurant brands with incredible benefits, such as streamlined operations, improved operational performance, enhanced guest experiences, and the ability to deliver personalized services and communications. Additionally, a POS that can seamlessly integrate with a variety of solutions is one that can scale across a business without any special configurations, no matter the number of locations. It is crucial for restaurant brands to find a cloud-based POS system that not only has an open API and incredible integration ecosystem but is also constantly looking towards the future and is always at the forefront of integrations.

Fresh Kitchen, a modern fast-casual dining concept with 12 locations across the United States, previously leveraged an obsolete POS system that only limited its operational success. They decided to implement PAR Brink POS for its proven ability to scale and play well with third-party solutions. According to Daniel Meretsky, Vice President and Head of Technology at Fresh Kitchen, the brand “wanted to ensure that the [new] system, was always on the forefront of integrations with loyalty solutions and third parties.” With PAR Brink POS, Fresh Kitchen was empowered to build a tech stack tailored to suit their needs with the solutions they desired.

Performance Reporting and Data Analysis Provide a Comprehensive View of Operations

Having a comprehensive view of operations is crucial to any brand’s success. Per the 2023 Smart Guide, 79% of restaurant operators view capturing, integrating, and analyzing POS and other sources of data to generate actionable insights as “important” or “very important”. Since POS systems can integrate with a variety of solutions, it enables owners and operators to collect data from multiple sources and analyze it on a single platform. This includes receiving generated reports on POS transactions, loyalty program performance, and guest-facing applications, ultimately providing operators with a clear view of customer behavior and preferences at the individual and aggregate levels. A clear and comprehensive view of guests enables effective interactions between the brand and guests as well as the ability to identify potential opportunities for business improvement. With actionable insights specific to operations and guest behavior and preferences, restaurant operators can make more informed decisions across every aspect of their business. These tools are key for staying ahead of customer demands and help drive continuous business performance improvement.

Restaurant management and POS systems have become two of the most crucial solutions restaurant brands can leverage throughout daily operations. By implementing and utilizing these next-generation solutions, owners and operators can take operations and the customer experience to new heights, enhance overall performance, and achieve KPIs like never before.

Interested in learning more about next-generation restaurant management and POS systems? Download the eBook now!

The post Leverage Next-Generation POS and Restaurant Management Solutions to Enhance Restaurant Operations and Customer Experiences appeared first on partech.com.

Fueling Your Restaurant’s Growth: The Power of Open API and Comprehensive Integrations in Your POS

PAR Team — Wed, 16 Aug 2023 17:35:47 +0000

Restaurants today, regardless of size, are looking to adopt a wide variety of technologies and tools to enhance guest experiences, streamline operations, and drive profits. In fact, a recent NRN survey revealed that 92% of operators plan on investing in new solutions in 2023. However, as technology stacks become more complex, industry leaders face a new challenge: 41% of those surveyed identified the lack of integration with existing systems as the top roadblock to leveraging new technology. Operators view this as a challenge because they are being held back by legacy systems that were not designed for change. Now more than ever, brands need the foundation of a well-designed, flexible POS platform to effectively handle fast-evolving industry demands, for lasting relevance and success.

PAR Brink POS is the leading cloud-based POS system that provides restaurants with such a foundation. The platform’s ability to do so is rooted in its API-first architecture, combined with its extensive integration ecosystem, that empowers brands to optimize operations and innovate beyond the limitations of a traditional POS. Brink’s open API ensures that brands are never locked into specific, limited solutions. They can continue to work with partners they love and add new ones seamlessly without major system overhauls or replacements. This adaptability enables restaurants to remain competitive in the face of change.

With Brink POS, restaurants can choose from a diverse array of 250+ innovative third-party solutions, covering areas like online ordering, payments, delivery services, back-of-house operations, loyalty programs, digital signage, HR functions, and much more. A restaurant’s stack can be completely tailored to align with its needs, operations, and visions, in turn elevating guest experiences, driving scalability, and ensuring future readiness.

Elevate Guest Experience

Whether through smooth omnichannel order flows to the kitchen, real-time inventory updates, or seamless data syncs, Brink’s tightly integrated, connected system unifies workflows and communication as well as reduces manual work. This leads to improved service speed, quality, and accuracy, freeing up resources for guest-focused initiatives. The platform’s flexibility also enables restaurants to create a consistent brand experience across various locations and channels, fostering guest confidence and loyalty. Lastly, Brink’s ecosystem captures valuable data insights from various touchpoints on customer preferences, product mix, labor productivity, inventory costs, and more. Restaurants can effectively analyze and act on this data to enhance offerings, fine-tune marketing, and manage resources, ultimately unlocking operational excellence and revenues.

According to Mike Nettles, Chief Digital and Technology Officer, the quick-service brand chose PAR Brink POS for its cloud-based POS software design, incredible APIs, and ability to ‘play nicely’ with third-party integrations – all of which help the brand chew through customer orders accurately. With the PAR partnership, Zaxby’s is provided bench strength as an enterprise-class player with published APIs and a thirdparty-approved integrator package. According to Mike Nettles, these capabilities ensure that he does not “have to invent everything on [his] own.”

Scalability Made Simple

Scaling your restaurant business can be difficult without a flexible POS. With Brink, brands have a go-to playbook and processes that they can replicate readily, making it easier to roll out to new stores and franchises. Brink’s connected platform and integrations facilitates scaling with easy multi-unit management and a holistic view of business across tools, datapoints, and locations. Restaurants benefit from economies of scale – net new integrations or building in-house solutions from scratch take several months of time and capital investment. By leveraging Brink’s capabilities and ecosystem, brands can achieve a faster route to transformation and profitability.

Primed for the Future

With its open architecture and partner network, Brink POS also lowers the barrier to innovation for restaurants. Operators can be in control of their own evolution. They have access to 250+ solutions already at their fingertips and can experiment with the most up-to-date technology. Whether it is AI-driven recommendations or automated kitchens, restauranteurs can have visibility into emerging trends and the runway to pivot their strategies to stay ahead.

At PAR, we understand that POS investments comprise a major chunk of a restaurant’s IT budget and time. With Brink POS, we offer a technology platform and partnership that collaborates with customers, software partners, and industry experts to create a strong ecosystem ready for the future.

Interested in a POS that enables your growth? Learn more about PAR Brink POS or request a demo today!

The post Fueling Your Restaurant’s Growth: The Power of Open API and Comprehensive Integrations in Your POS appeared first on partech.com.