Pizzerias rely much more heavily on technology today than they used to. Pizza POS software developers are always innovating and adding new features as needs arise in this ever-evolving industry. As customer demands grow and preferences change, you need to make sure your pizza POS is equipped with the right tools for the job.
Here are must-have features worth considering:
Mobile and Online Ordering
Are they worth looking into?
Mobile and online ordering services have become quite popular additions to the standard pizza POS system. Should you look into implementing these?
Short answer: Yes.
A mobile and online ordering service offers a wide range of benefits:
- It creates additional revenue channels for your business.
- It helps build your online presence, putting your business in front of more eyes.
- It puts you on the same playing field as larger, more established pizza chains.
As with any key business investment, do your homework to make sure it’s the right one for you. Find a partner that will allow you to configure and brand the user interface. This will allow you to deliver a seamless and familiar customer ordering experience across all your channels.
Beyond that, it should also be fully integrated with your pizza POS system, for a few reasons:
- It reduces order errors.
- It provides better customer information and management.
- It offers insightful reporting across multiple locations to make real-time, informed decisions.
In addition, a mobile app supplements the online ordering experience for customers on their smartphones, making reorders as easy as possible. Any changes they make to their orders can be set up to appear in real-time on the mobile app.
The best options will align with your branding for your website and mobile app, and will sync incoming orders with your pizza POS system. You should also look for one that can seamlessly integrate with your inventory management and reporting capabilities, so you can manage inventory, compare sales across platforms and stores, and build campaigns to further increase revenue.
Loyalty and Reward Program
Can they help your pizzeria?
If you don’t already offer a loyalty and rewards program, you’re leaving money on the table. Successful programs keep customers coming back for more pizza and more frequent orders. Some programs are easier to manage than others, however. An integrated loyalty program is one of the easiest and most beneficial for both you and your customers and it is what your customers expect. A good loyalty program retains, and grows, customers by delivering targeted offers to segments of your customer base to drive repeat business.
You’ll know when you’ve found the right solution if it offers these three functionalities:
- Fast and easy customer sign up.
- Integrates with your pizza POS, including online and mobile app access.
- The ability for customers to accrue points/rewards based on dollars spent.
Some Thoughts on Third Party Food Delivery Services
To use or not to use at your restaurant?
When you consider implementing any new offer you have to look at the potential benefits and drawbacks. Take third-party food delivery services, for example.
One the one hand, you have the potential to compete more effectively with larger pizza brands and increase your reach. On the other hand, you could possibly tarnish your pizzeria’s reputation if the delivery service doesn’t provide the level of quality and service both you and your customers expect.
But then again, handling food delivery entirely in-house means you risk:
- Wasting too much time and resources on managing drivers
- Cutting into profit margins
- Paying for drivers during non-peak hours
So how do you solve this?
Consider implementing a hybrid solution used only during peak times or for deliveries that are out of your standard service area.
“If your store doesn’t really have an online presence (online ordering, website), then it’s (third-party service) a good fit for you.”
It’s better to be flexible and adapt to new customer demands, rather than risk stagnating and stifling your own growth. As the world shifts to be more mobile, your pizza POS should align with that. Consider investing in a solution that includes these features so you can better meet the needs of your customers.
Interested in learning more about how pizzerias can leverage technology to meet customer demands, ?