More people than ever are looking to technology to reduce the waiting times at restaurants and enable a better customer dining experience.
As smart phone technology becomes increasingly integrated into the daily lives of millions, it is fast becoming our ‘turn to’ device to increase efficiency and experience in everyday activities, like eating out.
We chatted to leading psychotherapist Sheri Jacobsen from Harley Therapy about why this could be: “In today’s world, consumers crave control over every area of their lives. Time is seen to be such a precious commodity in this whirlwind that is the 21st Century, and so we look to technology to make the most of that time, by increasing how efficiently we can tackle day-to-day activities; banking, shopping, booking our gym classes. Ensuring efficient service in restaurants is no different.
“As human beings, we have an incessant need to feel empowered by the choices we make and when we feel those choices are maximising the time we have available, this leaves us with a certain level of contentment.”
While getWaiter! does not interfere with waiter customer interaction, it does allow the customer to appear in an ordered queuing system, reducing some of the potential friction points with restaurant table service. Trials have found the improved response and service times have positively influenced staff engagement and created a sense of empowerment amongst customers.
Marketing director at getWaiter! Dominic McGuinness said: “Initial trails have provided some really exciting insights for restaurants about how they’re performing and how their customers engage. From highlighting the increased use of getWaiter! in areas further away from a waiter station, to the positive correlation between decreased waiting times and increased positive feedback, the detail behind certain customer behaviour will prove invaluable. All in all, we’re seeing a positive trend in driving an increase in restaurant performance. ”
Keep an eye out for getWaiter! in a restaurant near you as it begins rolling out this winter, or tell your favourite venue about the app. It’s free for establishments to use the service and free for you to download too. getWaiter! is available for both iOS and Android and can be downloaded here.
And if you’re a restaurant it’s easy to set up an account. You can find out more here.
