Restaurants and pubs with outdoor areas should make sure their booking and EPOS systems are ready for the sudden upturn in demand that the arrival of Spring brings, urges EPOS specialist Tabology.
From managing bookings to swiftly taking payments, as well as allowing groups enjoying the sunshine to split the tab, an efficient and integrated system such as Tabology Hospitality EPOS ensures operators are ready to make the most of demand for al fresco food and drink.
Phil Neale, managing director of Tabology, said: “It only takes a glimmer of sunshine in March and April to bring out customers who haven’t been seen since last year. With the Easter weekend early this year, and in tough conditions generally for hospitality, operators with gardens, patios and pavement tables will be hoping the weather is kind this Spring.
“However, it’s important that booking and EPOS systems get a spring clean along with the garden tables and chairs. It’s harder to deal with a sudden upturn in demand in a business that has multiple, often incompatible systems that require the same information to be inputted several times, increasing the workload as well as the potential for errors.”
Using Tabology’s Hospitality EPOS, operators can access a range of functionality integrated within a single system, including:
- Bookings: Customers wanting to enjoy outdoor food and drink can book online or via the outlet’s website, as well as by phone or in person, with all booking channels feeding into the Tabology system;
- Table Plan: Additional outdoor tables and outdoor seating can be quickly added to the booking options via the Tabology EPOS, which also gives staff a real time overview of which tables are in use or available;
- Remote Ordering and Payment: Orders can be placed via the web app, or taken at the table by staff using iPads; making it straightforward to manage additional outside areas alongside the core indoor operation;
- Deposits: Taking a deposit when customers book, or via the iPad when they order, captures payment information and provides security in the event of customers leaving outdoor areas without paying;
- Tab sharing: The Tabology EPOS can easily split the bill, allowing groups of customers enjoying outdoor food and drink to quickly pay for just their own part of the meal;
- Loyalty Marketing: Tabology Hospitality EPOS has a built-in loyalty CRM, allowing operators to target customers who haven’t visited for a while, with sunshine offers and promotions to bring them in.
Among Tabology customers ready to make the most of the outdoor opportunity is Stonehouse Brewery, Oswestry, which has a large outdoor area which boosts trade in good weather, thanks to a popular pizza and BBQ menu as well as beers brewed on site. Using the Tabology EPOS table plan functionality, “gives us a live picture of how busy we are,” says managing director Alison Parr.
At the Lion pub in the Kent village of Luddesdown, the good weather brings out groups of walkers looking for refreshment as the enjoy the countryside. “Walkers, in particular, often just want to pay their part of the bill and get going again,” says manager Nicki Tilsed. “Tabology’s Bar EPOS is the easiest system I’ve ever come across for splitting payments.”
Phil Neale adds: “When the sun shows itself, operators need to move quickly to capitalise on customer demand for outdoor areas. The benefit of having so much functionality integrated into a single system is businesses can quickly Spring into action!”
Issued on behalf of Tabology (www.tabology.com)
