When you think about restaurant technology, what comes to mind? The POS systems? The accounting software? The new tablets your servers use to take orders?

Thanks to the Internet of Things (IoT), restaurants now understand that technology isn’t just about the hardware they own. The IoT is built on all those devices out there that are connected by the Internet. It then drives the information collected from them into the cloud and right into the hands of restaurant management and owners.

The IoT can come in a number of forms of restaurant technology:

• Kitchen equipment monitoring systems
• Table sensors
• Temperature control settings
• Tableside kiosks
• POS systems
• Restaurant management software
• Mobile apps
• And more

The important thing to remember is that these devices/tools/systems are all connected to one another through the internet. With all that information residing in the cloud, restaurant management now has the ability to easily track and monitor these devices from anywhere and at any time.

Keeping Tabs

There is a plethora of benefits that come along with the adoption and acceptance of the IoT—for the FOH, the BOH, and, ultimately, the customer:

• Self-Service: Many restaurants now employ the use of tableside kiosks, mobile apps, and other ordering and payment tools that allow customers to have more control over the pace of their experience and the customization of their requests.
• Safety: With kitchen monitoring systems, management can be notified when a piece of equipment malfunctions or is in need of maintenance.
• Energy Management: By having regular access to what hardware or equipment is being used (or not being used), management can make better decisions regarding usage or removal of restaurant equipment.
• Compliance: Many restaurant management platforms offer a strict set of checklists that need to be adhered to for the sake of compliance. By moving these to the cloud and setting up a number of notifications, this allows management to stay in the know when safety standards are not being met.
• Flexibility: When using devices that all work from the cloud, there is less of a dependence on hardware or software that needs to be purchased and replaced. The cloud makes it easier to grow and adapt a restaurant’s business and operations alongside technology changes.
• Lower TCO: By using cloud-based software and compatible devices, it’s about paying only for what you use instead of paying one lump sum for a piece of hardware or software that may not be worth it.
• Real-time Insights: Perhaps the best part of the IoT is the ability for all devices to easily talk to one another. That information then gets passed on to management in real-time so they can make on-the-spot decisions that have an effect on operations and the business as a whole.

While the IoT has been around for some time, restaurants are really starting to take notice now of what it can do for their business, operations management, and customer service. Increased productivity, lowered costs, and better visibility into what’s going on at any given time—wherever you may be located—is just the start.

If you’re looking to get started with a cloud-based restaurant management platform that will expand upon these IoT insights even more, contact us for a free demo today.