Digital Transformation in the Restaurant Industry! DIY an Online Ordering Machine and a Self-Service Kiosk machine
2022/02/11 ｜By G Editor
A coffee shop, a bistro, and a small food truck carry infinite dreams.
Many restaurant owners suddenly lose pace due to Covid-19 pandemic. The way of ordering meals is largely different from the traditional way, which significantly highlights the necessity of digital transformation. Setting up a POS online to bring in more customers, or placing a self-service food ordering kiosk to reduce personnel costs becomes the hottest trend!
Through the digital equipment, even a small-scale store can standardize the operation process and reduce errors caused by manual operation. However, mostly, the costs of self-serving Kiosk and POS machine are extremely high.
Kiosk machine
Provide customers an efficient, quick and accurate service
Online Ordering System
Check and Print Net Orders
Starting a business don't always need to spend lots of money! Even if you don't know how to write program or operate complex equipment, you can use simple hardware and free cloud software to set up an affordable and durable online ordering machine!
Advantages of building your own online ordering system or Kiosk:
♦ Building the online ordering system through cloud provides flexible adjustment and efficiency.
♦ Easy to be installed. It is able to integrate all the ordering platforms into one machine.
♦Save huge system maintenance costs.
Equipment Installation: Online Ordering Machine / Self-Service Kiosk
The materials required for an online ordering machine and self-service machine are:
Step1:
Install T1 monitor to T1S2 stand.
Step2:
Connect T1 monitor to mini PC by using USB cable and HDMI cable.
📍Tip: Place the mini PC under the table to give the desktop more space!
Step3:
Use the USB cable to connect the labeling machine to the mini PC!
USB-A(male) to USB-A(male)Extension Cable(1.5m)
📍Tip: Use a longer USB cable to put the labeling machine in the kitchen!
Step4:
Turn on the Mini PC.
Step5:
Install the labeling machine driver.
Done!
If you can deliver the orders yourself, then you may not want to join the third-party delivery service! The free system that we introduce next allows you to provide online ordering services, and customers who want to order takeout or make it delivered!
Jotform – Free Online Ordering System for Taking Orders Conveniently!
Jotform is a free and powerful form system, as long as you can connect to the Internet, you can use it! It provides lots of templates for being used. The form supports both on-site cash pickup or the customer needs to prepay via Paypal or credit card!
❶ First create an account:
➤ Go to Jotform: https://www.jotform.com/
❷ Create a form by selecting from the templates!
❸ Start to edit your menu.
❹ After finishing, press the publish button to copy the link and post it to the website or Google business file. Customers can order food with this link!
❺ Confirm Orders
Click the submission tab to enter the ordering list. Tick the box of the row and click the three black dots at the top of the list, and there will be a drop-down menu appeared. Please select "Reply"to notify the customer that the store has received the order!
❻ Print order to make meals
At the top of the list, select: Download> Download as PDF, then you can print the customer order!
Grand Opening! Start to Receive Orders Online!
No need to download the APP and registration! Just enter the webpages and start to order!
Receive the order notification and print the receipt, and you can
prepare the meal immediately!
Recommended Software for Self-Ordering Kiosk
Except the online ordering system, by downloading Kiosk software, the machine that we set up can be used as a self-service kiosk as well! There is no need to spend lots of money to purchase a 42-inch, stand alone, ordering kiosk for a small store. Just place a 15-inch self-ordering machine at the counter or table, which is more suitable and not take up space!
★ Self-Service Ordering – Create a digital menu
FoodZaps is an APP combo with POS and customer self-ordering digital menu. You can create new menu, marketing promotion set and manage inventory, price, daily sales report with this App for your café, bar, food trucks or restaurant.
Lightspeed is an iOS-based app. It has two modes for business owner to decide whether their customers should pay before or after dining.
A Space-saving, online ordering machine for restaurant!
▼A food truck without much space left can place such a small machine like this to receive online orders.
▼Even food stall can have a stable and durable machine to receive orders online!
▼ Place the QR Code on the corner of the table and customers can scan the code to order!
▼ It is able to be put at the counter of the restaurant.
Building a Cloud-Based System is a Piece of Cake!
Setting up a self-build kiosk is not as difficult as you might think! No matter which types of store you have, from the software to the properly sized equipment, the self-build system meets operating needs easier with more affordable price while reducing personnel cost.
By using a mini PC with an external 11-15 inch, small-size monitor, you can build your own small Kiosk with big screen, which is even more durable and expandable than a table or PC. It is easier to update the system at any time.
Good luck with building your own business!
