Quick Service, Quick Tech: 5 Reasons Self-Order Kiosks Are a Must-Have in QSR

Today’s customers have grown accustomed to do-it-yourself experiences in restaurants, from ordering ahead in the app to carrying it away from a pickup station. Self-ordering kiosks are another experience that have emerged as a game-changer for restaurants, offering a convenient and efficient way for customers to place their orders. However, the benefits of self-ordering kiosks extend far beyond convenience. Let’s explore five key advantages that self-order kiosks bring to the table for restaurants.

1. Ending lines and paving the way for efficiency

The first—and arguably most important—advantage of adding self-order kiosks in restaurants is the benefit to customers and staff. Traditional ordering methods often involve long lines and wait times, leading to frustrated customers and overwhelmed staff. With self-ordering kiosks, customers can browse the menu, customize their orders, and pay within minutes. 

A fleet of ordering kiosks at the front of the store can help several guests at once, something that is increasingly difficult to achieve in a short-staffed restaurant environment. This streamlined process not only reduces wait times but also allows staff to focus on preparing and delivering orders or dealing with other customer service-related tasks, enhancing overall efficiency in the restaurant. 

Choosing the right kiosk solution, one that allows for flexible fleet deployments, is essential to ending lines. See why. 

2. Get the order right the first time

Human error is inevitable, and it can lead to order mistakes that result in dissatisfied customers. In a busy, noisy, front-end environment, it’s easy for staff to mishear an order and enter the wrong item, especially if they are overwhelmed with completing other tasks. 

Intuitive self-ordering kiosks minimize the risk of order inaccuracies. Customers can take their time to review their orders, ensuring that every detail is correct before finalizing the transaction. This accuracy not only improves customer satisfaction but also reduces the need for staff to resolve order discrepancies, freeing them to concentrate on other essential tasks.

3. Upsell more effectively with hard-to-resist offers

Self-ordering kiosks are programmed to suggest complementary items or upsell options to customers based on their selections. For example, if a customer orders a burger, the kiosk can recommend adding fries and a drink. This feature can significantly increase average order values, helping restaurants boost their revenue without being pushy or intrusive. It also ensures that customers are aware of all available options, enhancing their dining experience.

The cart size increases are big. When ordering through a kiosk, some businesses saw order prices increase from 15-30%. Jumps of that size are much harder to achieve with a verbal offer that customers are used to automatically rejecting. 

4. Getting personal

In the age of data-driven marketing, self-ordering kiosks offer a valuable opportunity to collect customer data and tailor the dining experience. By analyzing customer preferences and ordering history, restaurants can send targeted promotions and offers to their customers, creating a more personalized and engaging experience. 

Personalized experiences not only strengthen customer loyalty but also provide valuable insights for menu adjustments and marketing strategies. If your self-ordering app is seeing a dip in engagement with a particular offer, you can test new ones via a simple update pushed to all your stores at once, rather than having to train employees across thousands of locations. 

5. Offset increased labor costs

While self-ordering kiosks don’t replace human staff, they do allow restaurants to optimize their workforce. By automating the ordering process, restaurants can allocate their staff to other critical tasks, such as food preparation, customer service, and maintaining a clean dining area.

Over time, this can lead to substantial savings in labor costs, especially during peak hours when the demand for order-taking is high.

Start planning your self-ordering solution with aila

Aila’s QSR solutions are modular, intuitive, and easy to scale. See how you can eliminate lines, increase order sizes, and deploy fast and reliable solutions across thousands of locations with aila. 

Learn more by reading our free QSR self-ordering solution sheet: