Due to the current Covid-19 pandemic in South Africa and globally, the restaurant industry has seen itself being turned upside down. Restaurants need to adapt to a new way of servicing the needs and demands of the public in order to survive.
Although the lockdown regulations are easing, it doesn’t mean we’re in the clear. Therefore, we need to make sure that we plan for any eventuality. What lockdown has taught us is that we need to be flexible in our business approach and be able to respond quickly and without hesitation to meet the needs of our customers.
Even though lockdown has relaxed somewhat, it may take a long while before people are comfortable eating at a sit-down restaurant.
Make sure you have an eCommerce ordering platform
We’ve seen a big increase in online sales in all areas of retail – fast food orders included. It’s become very clear that in order to succeed during these uncertain times your business will need a digital ordering platform. Customers are quickly becoming adept to ordering online and enjoy the convenience.
Increase your communication with customers
Marketing is crucial right now. Normally, you want to avoid inundating people with messages, but right now more communication is better. The best way to increase sales is to put your brand on their mind often. Keep consumers informed of your hours, special offers and delivery options.
Prepare for the new normal
To make sure your restaurant doesn’t run into any issues make sure you’ve followed all the guidelines outlined by the government in order to keep both your staff and customers safe. On top of this, things aren’t going to be as they were before the pandemic so it would be a good idea to think about the pain points your customers may experience and make some changes or improvements.
Everyone is facing challenges at the moment, but if you are willing to evolve with the times and become more agile in your business decisions, you’ll be able to not only survive but thrive.