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How Self-Ordering Kiosks Save Staff Time and Grow Revenues

How Self-Ordering Kiosks Save Staff Time and Grow Revenues

In the world of hospitality, success often hinges on efficiency, personalization, and creating memorable guest experiences. But achieving all three simultaneously can feel like spinning plates—especially when labor challenges and rising costs are part of the equation. Enter self-ordering kiosks: the unsung heroes of modern operations.These handy tools not only streamline operations but also free up staff, delight customers, and ultimately grow revenue. Let’s explore how they’re transforming hospitality businesses everywhere.

Giving Your Staff the Gift of Time

Staff  are constantly juggling a million tasks, from taking orders and running food to answering questions and fixing errors. A self-service kiosk eases this workload by taking over repetitive, time-consuming duties. Guests place their own orders directly at the self-ordering kiosk, which means your team doesn’t need to bounce between tables or rush to input orders into the system.

This shift allows staff to focus on more impactful areas of service, like building relationships with guests or upselling that special dessert. Not only does this reduce stress for employees, but it also creates an environment where they can shine in the moments that matter most—offering personalized service that keeps guests coming back.

Self-ordering kiosks also reduce mistakes caused by miscommunication. Orders go straight from the guest to the kitchen or bar with no middleman, minimizing errors and saving time spent fixing them. It’s a win-win: your staff works smarter, and your customers enjoy a smoother experience.

Turning Transactions into Revenue-Boosting Opportunities

A kiosk isn’t just a glorified order-taker—it’s a strategic tool for increasing sales. When guests browse your menu at their own pace, they’re more likely to explore options they might not have considered. A visually engaging kiosk interface, complete with high-quality photos and enticing descriptions, gently nudges customers to add extras, upgrade sizes, or try out premium items.

Think about it: a customer ordering through a kiosk is far more likely to say yes to a suggestion for a double shot in their latte or a decadent dessert to pair with their meal. These upselling opportunities are built right into the ordering process, subtly increasing ticket sizes without adding pressure.

Customization also plays a significant role here. Guests love tweaking their orders—extra toppings, premium add-ons, or swapping sides—which often translates to higher-value purchases. A kiosk gives them the freedom to personalize their meal exactly how they want it, creating satisfaction while boosting your revenue.

Streamlining Operations Without Compromising Quality

Labor is one of the biggest expenses in hospitality, and finding ways to maximize efficiency is key to staying competitive. Kiosks allow you to manage high-volume periods without adding extra staff.

During a busy lunch rush or dinner service, kiosks ensure orders are taken quickly and accurately. This reduces wait times and keeps the kitchen moving at a steady pace. Orders flow directly to your kitchen display system, cutting out unnecessary delays and keeping things running smoothly.

Beyond managing the rush, kiosks provide consistency. Unlike a human employee, they don’t call in sick or get overwhelmed during peak hours. They’re a reliable team member that ensures the same level of service, no matter how busy your venue gets.

Giving Guests the Control They Crave

Today’s diners expect convenience and flexibility, and self-ordering kiosks deliver both in spades. Instead of waiting for a server to take their order, guests can take control of their dining experience. They customize their orders, review details before confirming, and complete their payment—all at their own pace.

This level of autonomy creates a sense of empowerment and satisfaction. Customers love the transparency of seeing their order on-screen, which eliminates the anxiety of wondering if their preferences were communicated correctly. Tech-savvy guests, especially Millennials and Gen Z diners, appreciate this seamless, modern approach to ordering.

Kiosks also cater to safety-conscious customers by offering contactless payment options and minimal physical interaction. It’s a small touch, but one that can make a big difference in how guests perceive your brand.

Building Loyalty and Strengthening Your Brand

Self-ordering kiosks aren’t just about efficiency—they’re also powerful tools for building guest loyalty. Integrating your rewards program into the kiosk lets customers easily earn and redeem points, view personalized promotions, or discover exclusive deals.

Imagine offering a VIP menu that only loyalty members can access. Whether it’s a secret cocktail, a seasonal dish, or a special combo, these exclusive perks create excitement and keep guests coming back for more. Automated reminders, like letting a guest know they’re one purchase away from a free coffee, add a personal touch that deepens the connection between your brand and your customers.

Your kiosk can also reflect your unique brand personality. With customizable interfaces, you can showcase your logo, colors, and messaging to create a cohesive, memorable experience. Whether you’re highlighting seasonal specials or introducing a limited-time offer, the kiosk becomes an extension of your brand, not just a functional tool.

Why It’s Time to Embrace the Kiosk Revolution

Self-service kiosks are 

transforming the way hospitality businesses operate. By saving staff time, boosting revenue, and creating a better guest experience, they provide a clear path to long-term growth. They’re not just an investment in technology—they’re an investment in your business’s future.

Are you ready to revolutionize your operations, wow your guests, and watch your revenue soar? GoTab’s self-ordering kiosks are here to help. Let’s chat and show you how to tap into the future of hospitality.

Book a demo here to learn more 

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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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