It’s no secret there’s a labor shortage in the restaurant industry, or that it was among the hardest hit industries during the pandemic. Long prone to employee turnover, jobs in the service industry tend to be seen as easily replaceable, short-term, a stepping stone to other things. Still, happy, productive employees are essential to a…
Although once reserved for a precious few, signing bonuses have become one of the go-to solutions for attracting and hiring talent. And while it sounds great in theory, it may behoove you to take a closer look and think things through. The pros of offering a sign-on bonus The market is tight. That’s a statement…
Bulky, ugly and oh-so-old-school, cash registers manage to be vestiges in our all-but-cashless society. It’s 2022, though, and the switch is not just wise — it’s almost essential. That’s even the case for your corner snow cone shack where kids pay in quarters. “There is nothing wrong with a good old cash register, but it…
Maintaining a clean, hygienic restaurant is a top priority for any restaurant owner. It’s essential for food safety, healthy staff, happy guests, and getting a good report from the health code folks. Even after implementing 2 years of COVID-related super sanitation practices, a basic daily routine will keep your restaurant clean and help ensure a…
While reviewing your payment processing report at the end of last month, you noticed a bunch of extra fees on your merchant statement. Sure, you know what you’re supposed to be paying for credit card processing but what are these other charges? And wait… why is your processing rate so high all of sudden?! Sound…
We talk a lot about customer convenience but what about making things easier for the restaurant owner? How do you make running a restaurant less stressful, more streamlined and – dare we say – more fun? Running a restaurant is a constant balancing act where friction in one area immediately impacts all other areas, creating…
It’s Friday night and the dinner rush is in full swing. The phone is ringing off the hook with takeout orders and so far everything is going smoothly as you jockey between two phone lines. That is until your next takeout customer starts asking 20 questions about wing sauce flavors. The second line lights up…
We’ve previously shared the benefits of enlisting a comprehensive POS solution for your restaurant. From saving time and frustration to helping you do more with less effort, even while short-staffed, your chosen point-of-sale system has the potential to expedite and streamline processes, align your operations and improve both the employee and customer experiences. When it…
At Table Needs, we believe employees are the foundation of a successful restaurant. When they’re cared for and happy, retention improves. It stands to reason the diner experience does, too. Since good employees beget satisfied, loyal customers who generate repeat revenue, nurturing your staff is straight-up good sense. Of course, there are many forces at…
This will come as no surprise to restaurateurs: When a customer swipes their debit or credit card on their POS machine, the restaurant pays a percentage — say, 2% — to the bank for using its machine. It’s also no secret that percentage adds up. Of course, it can be significantly higher than that. To…
Remember the days when having your own app was the coolest and most exclusive thing you could have? Now we let out a sigh and either begrudgingly download an app or skip over the pain altogether. Not to be dramatic or seem so lazy, but who wants to have another app on their phone?! We’re…
Amid staffing shortages, retention challenges and changing regulations, restaurant technology tools have become not just important, but critical, to running a successful, independent restaurant. These days, contactless ordering is more than just a tool in your toolkit — it’s essential to navigating the ever-evolving restaurant landscape. Customers are impatient — and want food fast Conducted…
“Some pandemic trends, consumer behaviors are here to stay.” Cristin O’Hara, Managing Director and Head of the Restaurant Group, Bank of America. Cristin O’Hara’s article makes some striking points when discussing the impacts COVID-19 have had on the industry, among them staffing shortages; the growth of new business models; increased reliance on technology and digital…
In order to successfully run a restaurant, you have to maintain focus. That’s where philosopher Isaiah Berlin’s hedgehog principle comes in. It’s based on an ancient Greek parable, “The fox knows many things, but the hedgehog knows one big thing,” Berlin notes that foxes pursue many goals and interests at the same time, resulting in…
Given a point of sale (POS) system takes payments — and can collect all your inventory, sales and customer data — it’s a crucial part of a business, to say the least. Not only can it potentially assist with inventory management, a POS system also may automate time-consuming manual tasks while eliminating the margin of…
Offering a wide range of customizable features and flexibility that puts owner-operators in the driver’s seat, Table Needs takes a decidedly human approach to digital-first technology. Designed to give you control over the employee, customer and managerial experience, our restaurant technology tools simplify and streamline operations, freeing up — and maximizing the potential of —…