Best Practices

Cloud-Based System: Why Your Restaurant Needs It

A cloud-based system is beneficial whether you have one location or multiple. It streamlines and centralizes your data, allowing you to access valuable information including sales transactions, inventory and more from anywhere.

If you’re in the market for a restaurant POS system, you’ll be faced with deciding between a legacy system or a cloud-based Point-of-Sale (POS).A cloud POS is beneficial whether you have one location or multiple.. It streamlines and centralizes your data, allowing you to access valuable information including sales transactions, inventory and more from anywhere.

Cloud-Based POS vs. Legacy POS

A cloud-based POS is a web-hosted point of sale (POS) that stores data on remote servers. This data is accessible wherever there is wifi. A legacy POS stores data on local servers and runs on a closed internal network.

Think of it this way- you store family photos on your home computer. With a legacy system, you can only access the photos on said home computer, whereas on a cloud-based system you could access the photos anywhere that has internet access.

Unlike legacy systems, cloud-based systems can support handheld devices that send orders straight to the kitchen or bar, while also storing customer information in the cloud. Cloud-based systems allow for easier, faster, and more seamless guest experience. Guests can easily order, receive their food, and pay their bill.

Cloud-Based System: Why You Need It

Cloud-based POS systems let operators store transactions, inventory, employee information and other business data on a remote server. This technology provides restaurant owners the opportunity to operate effectively for their consumer base. Transactions are faster, safer, and track more data.

A Cloud-Based System Allows For IT Savings

POS platforms in the cloud are considerably cheaper than legacy systems. Traditional POS systems tend to have high upfront costs and require on-site maintenance which might slow down operations. Cloud based systems have little to no upfront fees and are charged via subscription. Being in the cloud, the system updates happen automatically and any issues are resolved remotely.

A Cloud-Based System Enhances The Customer Experience

Integrate with tablets and smartphones with modern cloud-based POS systems. This will help increase the speed and efficiency of front-of-house services meaning customers are served faster and the kitchen staff receives orders in real time.

Without cloud-based tools, customer personalization is limited by staff memory. Through integrated CRM systems however, you can personalize the customer experience with dietary requirements, customer preferences, birthday specials, and many other factors that give your restaurant an edge and improve the customer experience.

Cloud-Based System Simplifies Payment Solutions

Split bills with ease and decrease wait times by offering customers the ability to pay without ever having to leave the table. The cloud makes it easy to connect with payment solutions that enable customers to pay how they want, free up your staff’s time, and gain better insights- all through a secure and encrypted network.

Cloud-Based System Allows For Quality Control

Being able to access all of your restaurant’s data gives you greater control over your business. It opens up new opportunities to save costs, increase profitability, improve customer experiences, and maintain control.

With cloud-based solutions, you have a centralized view of operations. You are able to update inventory orders, menu items, and pricing, all while being able to see the direct impact of those actions. With greater control over your business, the cloud helps you maintain consistently and keep your customers happy.

Overall, cloud-based POS systems empower your restaurant to:

Track sales data from any location, at any time
Keep your current data as your software has automatic updates
Easily integrate with e-commerce platforms
Manage inventory and reduce human error
Personalize promotions and interactions with customers

Sources

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Situated “in the heart of it all, yet tranquil enough to make you feel away from it all too,” The Limelight Hotel Snowmass offers 99 hotel rooms and 11 residences, as well as footsteps-to-gondola access in winter and summer — right in the middle of Snowmass Base Village.

The Situation

Especially over the last few years, the Limelight Hotels IT team had witnessed a significant shift to contactless technology in the hospitality industry. After evaluating friction points in the guest journey, aligning with modern technology platforms in their restaurant was determined to be an effective way to offer elevated contactless dining experiences to their guests while also evolving their technology platforms to continue to support long-term company goals. Limelight Hotel partnered with GoTab to provide an enhanced on-demand dining experience on par with the brand’s reputation for exceptional guest service.

The Solution

Reducing Staff Touch Points Without Sacrificing Guest Experience

Guests are now able to begin a tab from their room or the property’s restaurant by scanning a QR code, texting a link to friends or family members on the ski slope to add in their orders, then meeting up together at the patio or lodge to enjoy their meal and après ski festivities without interruption. By streamlining tasks like inputting orders and processing payments, this eliminates friction for hotel staff and allows them to focus on delivering renowned guest service for a memorable experience. Since partnering with GoTab, Limelight Snowmass has consistently seen higher check averages and sales.

“We found the Point of Sale platforms we were looking at offered the guest and staff limited opportunities to further reduce touch points or improve the traditional restaurant experience. The GoTab platform enabled the guest to take an active role over the flow of their experience while simultaneously reducing touch points and further streamlining restaurant operations.”Nick Giglio, Manager of Hotel IT Operations, The Little Nell Hotel Group

According to the Limelight Hotels team, some of the other platforms that were evaluated were either missing some of the pieces they were looking for, had weak customer support models, or had little willingness to develop integrations to existing hotel platforms already in place. To that end, GoTab integrated with cloud-based platform, Infor. Together, GoTab and Infor are providing dynamic solutions to support central, efficient service across hotel amenities and deliver exceptional guest experiences.

“Previously, guests would call down to the restaurant to begin an order from their room or while they were out enjoying the ski slopes. Using GoTab, guests can now place orders from anywhere on the resort, giving them the on-demand service they want without interrupting their day. GoTab empowers us to give control to the guest, reducing touch points and streamlining overall restaurant operations, making Limelight Hotel the resort of choice for Snowmass.”Nick Giglio, Manager of Hotel IT Operations, The Little Nell Hotel Group

Since introducing GoTab, The Limelight Hotel has seen a consistent level of upsells and items sold per check resulting in additional revenue capture. They have been able to maintain service levels in their restaurants during periods when there was reduced staffing available without significantly diminishing the guest experience.

The Benefits

Eliminate Phone Orders – Take Orders from the Slopes. Guests can start a tab from their room or on the mountain without interrupting the flow of their day.

Future-Proofed Technologies – Delivering elevated contactless ordering via integration with the Infor hotel management platform.

Eliminating Friction in the Guest Journey – Maintaining service levels during periods of reduced staff without diminishing the guest experience.

Eliminating Friction in the Guest Journey – Maintaining service levels during periods of reduced staff without diminishing the guest experience.
Eliminating Friction in the Guest Journey – Maintaining service levels during periods of reduced staff without diminishing the guest experience.
Eliminating Friction in the Guest Journey – Maintaining service levels during periods of reduced staff without diminishing the guest experience.
Eliminating Friction in the Guest Journey – Maintaining service levels during periods of reduced staff without diminishing the guest experience.

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