The cloud is an often overused term to describe a poorly understood entity. To some, it is a fertile new landscape to harness for business, and to others, it’s an obscure technology term that is as murky as its natural namesake.
But the cloud has clear business benefits. In this case, the cloud is ready to provide a benefit most restaurant managers and visiting consumers both want to receive: cost savings and efficiency for a better overall experience.
A cloud-based platform can provide more efficient processing for waitstaff while providing consumers peace of mind regarding payments and giving the restaurant a major space-saving benefit.
For the customer, the more mobile the server staff, the more access they will have to meet the needs of those dining and provide a best-in-class restaurant experience. A great example of gained efficiency is printing the check at tableside and being able to process it immediately without having to take the payment to a centralized location.
This can ease diners’ minds regarding credit and debit card theft and malicious intent. According to the FTC, complaints of fraud have grown from 2014 to 2016 by 29%. This means that this newer connected service method not only provides comfort to the customer, but also allows restaurant operators to keep their employees honest and the overall operation on the cutting edge of good practices.
How is this accomplished? To start, the restaurant needs smart devices that can connect to the restaurant information system network. This device will be securely hosted on the cloud and updated and managed from anywhere the business desires.
To start from the beginning, setting up a cloud-to-print application is quite simple. For instance, restaurant operators could use a solution like ProxToMe’s Virtual Hub which allows them to register everything online without having to pick up a phone or call someone to set the technology up. Once the registration is complete, credentials are emailed to the registered account where they can log in and begin installing onto their device. Once that’s complete, the restaurant operator can then access everything via the web console on the Virtual Hub application.
Now that the app is installed, the restaurant operator can enroll devices such as an Android smartphone or tablet and a Citizen CMP-30 mobile receipt printer for a server to carry, or a stylish and compact Citizen CT-E351 front-exit printer located in easy access areas in the restaurant, if higher volume printing is needed.
At this point, all devices are monitored and managed through the app. If an issue arises with any of the devices or if the restaurant operator needs to find where any of these devices are or gain diagnostic information, the web console allows him or her to view this information in real time.
Removing obstacles to productivity and allowing devices to be maintained and managed remotely is a great way to increase efficiency and reduce the need for hands-on technician interaction. The cloud and cloud-ready devices will continue to evolve, and with these changes, the consumer should expect an efficient and delightful experience from restaurants.
This post is sponsored by CITIZEN Systems