Buffets are great on many levels. The variety on offer is usually beyond the capacity of a single à la carte restaurant. This variety also means that diners get to taste a range of cuisine in one sitting. There is also no limit to the number of times a guest can serve themselves. Buffets also tend to be less formal than an à la carte restaurant, making it ideal for those looking for a relaxed dining experience.
Yet, as a restaurant operator, you are most likely all too familiar with the challenges of running a buffet. There are so many nitty gritties to attend to in order to pull off a successful buffet. Despite all the effort that is put in, making a reasonable profit is a toughie. We’re sure you don’t want to be up all night, anxiously tossing and turning wondering how to improve your restaurant’s bottom line. That’s why we highly recommend a restaurant booking platform.
Why do you need a restaurant booking platform?
We get it. You have your systems in place and you are able to draw in customers without anyone else’s help. But if you are still unhappy with the revenue, then maybe you need something to buttress what you already have.
We are super confident that one of the most effective ways to maximize profits is to list your restaurant on an online reservation site. Rather than wasting precious time and energy racking your brain and trying to figure out new tricks to bring in more money, you should simply leave it to the booking software to sort things out for you. Restaurant reservation sites open up multiple paths to increase revenue:
Exposure to new customers
Visibility is one of the key benefits of reservation platforms. You get free publicity just by registering your restaurant on a booking site. How this works is that people who would not normally visit your website will come across you as they browse the platform. As people scroll searching for a good place to eat, they will notice your restaurant.
Don’t get us wrong - your website is important and in no way are we suggesting that you should ditch it. What we are saying is that, unlike when guests visit your website (which, in a majority of cases, is a deliberate move), people will stumble across your restaurant quite by accident and be able to check it out. In this manner you get exposure to a whole new set of customers, increasing the potential to get more bookings. And we all know what more bookings means - more money!
Fast and seamless bookings
Restaurant booking platforms are super efficient. When a guest books through a reservation site, they do not have to spend time hanging on the phone while your employee checks availability. Human error, like entering the wrong time or date and double-booking, is non-existent. With just a few clicks, guests can confirm their bookings. This level of convenience is definitely a crowd pleaser. It is a universally accepted truth that higher customer satisfaction results in better business. Therefore, by enlisting your restaurant on a reservation platform, you are setting yourself up for increased profits.
Reduced staffing requirements
When you enable virtual bookings, you will automatically see a reduction in the number of phone calls you receive a day. The time spent answering queries on opening hours and seating availability will be cut down. Fewer phone calls will free up your staff to attend to other tasks. You will need fewer personnel to answer calls and, once things pick up, you may not even need to have a specifically designated phone operator! The reduced labour requirements will reduce costs. The math is clear - lower costs mean higher profits.
Easy cancellation
We bet you read that and are wondering how on earth cancellations could be good for business! Well, here’s the thing, when a reservation is made, you block out that table and don’t allocate it to anyone else. If your guests do not show up, then that’s lost business, because you could’ve easily given that table to some other group.
Restaurant reservation sites allow guests to cancel bookings. This automatically frees up the table which can then be reallocated to another party. By making the table available for booking, the platform is giving you more opportunities to earn and - yes, you guessed it - that will help to boost your profits!
Let’s face it - no matter how passionate you are about the work you do, if you aren’t making money, then you won’t get anywhere. Your buffet needs to yield financial benefits in order for you to keep it running. Finding ways to earn greater profits does not require you to have long-winded meetings with various stakeholders or spend hours on complex calculations. What you need to do is extremely straightforward: go online and enlist your restaurant on a booking site.
Maximize profits with appiGo
If you want your buffet to start earning you dividends, then you should sign up with appiGo Restaurant Booking Not only will you get the attention of a wider range of customers, you will also be able to easily run promotions and special offers. The feedback feature will give you an edge over the competition, enticing customers to dine at your restaurant. Join appiGo and watch your buffet earnings soar!