How To Attract More Customers By Embracing Technology

Embracing technology provides exciting opportunities to grow your business and stand out from your competitors. Take a look at the ways that technology is changing customer behaviour and how you can use it to boost sales and increase loyalty.

How is technology changing customer behaviour?

Gen Z and millennials enjoy using technology in multiple aspects of their life, including when they order food or drink. 57% of Gen Z and millennials (18-34-year-olds) prefer to order and pay using their mobile device rather than having a server take their order and having to wait for the bill at the end of their meal.

Since March 2020, more businesses have started offering online delivery and takeout options, which have proved to be extremely popular with younger generations. Apps allow repeat orders to be made quickly and easily by saving card details.

Customers are likely to come across different hospitality venues through social media and take recommendations from influencers they follow. 71% of consumers are likely to buy products or services based on social media referrals, so, if you haven’t already established a strong online presence, now is the ideal time to do so.

Businesses that are yet to embrace technology risk being left behind or losing out to competitors who already have online ordering and payment systems in place. Here are four ways that you can use technology to attract customers, boost loyalty, and provide a superior customer experience.

How you can embrace technology to attract more customers

1. Personalise your menu

Create a unique ordering experience that drives people to your venue and turns them into repeat customers. Wahaca is a great example of a business that uses technology to provide a memorable customer experience. Their menu is accessed via a QR code, and visitors can see 3D pictures of what each meal will look like before they place their order.

Technology also makes it easy to quickly adapt your menu to suit a particular theme or time of year. Developing a range of special dishes (or simply changing the names of your existing ones) for Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, or Christmas will appeal to customers who want to go out for a meal to celebrate these occasions.

Technology also allows you to prominently display any deals you have available, helping you entice customers looking to save money while still enjoying delicious food and having a great experience. Setting these discounts, so they are only valid for a limited time will create a sense of urgency and drive more customers to your venue before the offer expires.

With food2go, you retain complete control over your menu and can design personalised offers to attract new customers and build loyalty.

2. Build loyalty through social media

Social media is a powerful tool that you can use to show how you are going beyond what is expected of you and delighting your customers.

Younger customers care more about where their food comes from and are likely to engage with and share posts that promote a more sustainable way of life. Making sure that you share how your business is committed to sustainability will allow you to reach more potential customers who care about the environment and where their food is sourced from.

An increasing number of people have dietary restrictions or preferences that you need to cater to, and social media is a great way to showcase the variety of vegan, alcohol-free, lactose-free, and gluten-free options available.

There are now 600,000 vegans in the UK, and social media allows you to show off your variety of vegan options along with facts and figures about why vegan alternatives are better for the planet. In addition to this, two out of five members of Gen Z are now teetotal, with millennials and Gen Z drinking less compared to previous generations.

Suppose one member of a large group is vegan, coeliac, or teetotal. In that case, the whole group will choose a venue that can cater to their requirements and provide imaginative and exciting alternatives. Happy customers who post pictures of their delicious vegan meals or fancy alcohol-free cocktails provide free marketing for your business, and social media makes it easy for your customers to share these with their followers.

3. Smooth ordering and payment systems

Customers prefer to order food and drinks at their own pace, rather than having to wait for a server to come to their table or go and queue up at the bar. They want to enjoy their experience without being disturbed or having to leave their table.

Technology lets your customers order and pay for their food and drinks using their mobile phones, giving them more control over their experience and saving them time.

Online ordering also enables your customers to enter any food allergies or intolerances when they place their order and provides clear and transparent pricing.

4. Offer exclusive discounts

When customers create an account to order food through your app, you can offer them the option of subscribing to your email newsletter to receive exclusive promotions and discounts. Regular communication with your customers will build a relationship with them and increase loyalty.

A loyalty scheme is an effective way to attract more customers and get repeat business. Customers can accumulate points whenever they place an order and use these to get discounted or free food items or drinks. Using food2go lets you design tailored loyalty schemes that appeal to your specific customer demographics.

Ready To Embrace Technology and Grow Your Business?

We can implement an online ordering solution to suit your business, whatever your size. These recent case studies show how we have helped businesses like yours to reach more customers and increase the amount spent per order.

If you would like to consider a digital ordering solution, get in touch with our team or book a free demo.