Dealing with customers isn't easy. Especially when it comes to restaurant service!
Did you know that 40% of food service managers in Brazil perceive consumers as becoming increasingly demanding?
That’s right! It’s no surprise that attracting customers and maintaining sales will be the main challenges of 2022, according to a survey by the ANR (National Restaurant Association).
With that in mind, a great strategy for retaining more customers at your restaurant is to provide quality service!
So, to help you out, we’ve compiled research data from studies we’ve already conducted for restaurant chains and fast-food outlets—such as Hard Rock Café, Flow Fresh to Go, 10 Pastéis, and many more!
And we’ve put together these 4 Surefire Tips to help your company provide the best customer service on the market!
You won't want to miss this! 😉
1. Track the duration of service processes ⌚
No customer likes to wait for their food to arrive. So the first tip for providing impeccable service is to keep track of the time for each step.
First, the wait time before a customer is attended to by a server or attendant. Set the ideal wait time and the maximum wait time for your customers to be attended to.
Also, keep track of wait times. Time how many minutes elapse from the moment a customer sits down at a table until they are served.
Second, note how long it takes for the orders to arrive at the table.
Finally, check how long it takes for the customer to receive the bill after they request account closure.
2. Have a caring and professional team 😃
The second tip involves training your team.
A human touch is essential in any form of care, especially after such a long period of social isolation.
Therefore, train your employees to provide friendly, courteous, and proactive service.
But let's not go overboard. After all, the focus is on providing excellent customer service.
Remember: professionalism is key.
So, always make sure your employees present themselves in a way that aligns with the image your company wants to convey to customers.
And pay attention to the details! This includes the appearance of the staff and the condition of their uniforms. If you want to learn about best practices in customer service, you can read our article “Tips, Data, and Insights to Improve Your Customer Service.”
3. The atmosphere makes all the difference! 👁️
Third, it’s important to take great care of the surroundings, because they make all the difference in the customer experience.
With that in mind, the most important thing is to always make sure the salon and restrooms are clean and tidy.
Specifically, in restrooms, ensuring that products are available is also essential.
In addition, there are other points that may seem like minor details, but they make all the difference.
For example, the layout, the decor, the temperature, and the ambient sound.
So, always keep in mind that a pleasant atmosphere encourages customers to spend more!
Because when they feel comfortable, they stay longer at your establishment.
4. Gather customer feedback 👂🏼
Ultimately, the key to success… is knowing what your customers think of your company.
Because only with this information can you be sure that your actions as a manager are producing the desired results: increasing customer satisfaction!
So, encourage your employees to always collect customer feedback (or conduct satisfaction surveys!).
For example, it is important to ask customers if:
- Did the order arrive safely?
- Was the food good?
- Does he have any other suggestions for how you can improve the service?
Here are some basic questions to ask your customers.
Remember that by monitoring customer satisfaction levels, you can continuously improve your company’s processes.
And this is the best strategy for building customer loyalty.
BONUS! 2 Tips for Providing Great Service in the Restaurant and for Delivery 🛵
Even as customers return to in-person dining, do you plan to continue offering delivery service?
So, your company is among the 85% of food service businesses that are expected to continue offering delivery services.
And a common question among managers is:
How can we excel on both fronts?
To help you manage your business more effectively and with a customer-focused approach, we’ve put together these two tips.
Check it out!
Create unique menus
For delivery, offer more practical and comforting dishes. Save the more elaborate dishes for dining in.
Have teams dedicated exclusively to this
One for production and customer service in the salon. Another for production, order processing, customer service, and logistics for delivery.
Did you like the tips?
1. If you want to know the main customer complaints in your industry (restaurants, bars, fast food, coffee shops, etc.), read this article. 🤔
2. But if you want a comprehensive assessment of the service at your location or restaurant chain, click here! 😃
