In a competitive market, a few minutes can make all the difference. For pizzerias with dine-in service, one of the biggest challenges is maximizing table turns—the number of times a table is occupied and served during a specific time period. The faster you can serve a party, the faster you can seat the next one. An innovative way to boost your table turns and revenue, especially during your busiest times, is by arming your servers with hand-held ordering terminals.
The Problem with the Old Way of Doing Things
Think about a typical dining experience. A server takes an order at the table, memorizes it or writes it down, and then walks to a stationary point-of-sale (POS) terminal to manually input the order. During peak hours, this creates a bottleneck. Servers might have to wait for an available terminal, and precious minutes tick by as they travel back and forth between tables and the POS station.
Each one of those extra steps and minutes adds up, slowing down service and potentially frustrating customers. This inefficient process can also lead to mistakes, like a forgotten modification or an incorrect item, which can result in costly remakes and unhappy customers.
Bring the POS to the Table
Hand-held ordering terminals, also referred to as mobile POS devices, save time and increase order accuracy by displaying the entire menu with modifiers right in your server’s hand. Your server can take the order at the table and send it directly to the kitchen in real time. This single change takes minutes off every order and allows your team to focus on what matters most: providing excellent service.
How Hand-Held Terminals Boost Revenue
The benefits of hand-held terminals extend far beyond just speed.
- Faster Service, More Tables: By streamlining the ordering process, staff can serve more tables per shift. The time saved walking back and forth and waiting for a POS terminal means more time for taking orders, refilling drinks, and checking in on guests. More tables served means more revenue for your business and higher tips for your staff.
- Improves Accuracy: Placing orders through hand-held devices helps ensure that orders are placed accurately with complete ordering instructions so special requests (e.g. sauce on the side, extra onions, etc.) are not forgotten. This leads to fewer errors in the kitchen and increased customer satisfaction.
- Empowered and Efficient Staff: Servers with mobile POS devices have more control of their workflow. They can handle a greater volume of tables with less stress and friction, leading to a more productive and confident team.
A Seamless Dining Experience
The goal of any dine-in restaurant is to create a seamless, enjoyable experience for the customer. Hand-held ordering terminals contribute to this by making service feel more fluid and responsive. The ability to quickly and accurately take an order right at the table is a game-changer.
By embracing this technology, you’re not just speeding up service; you’re creating a progressive, professional, and more efficient operation that keeps customers coming back.
Ready to see how mobile POS terminals can transform your dine-in service?