Posts Tagged ‘Restaurant Customers’

Waiter Paging Systems

Thursday, January 7th, 2010

We are frequently asked what the difference is between the various waiter paging systems on the market. In response to this we have compiled this guide to choosing a kitchen to waiter communication system for restaurants.

The first thing to consider when you are selecting a system and supplier for your system is “how important will this equipment be in your restaurant?” Now this may sound a strange question to begin with but it is a key part of your decision making process. We have seen many restaurants that have purchased low quality systems with the decision made purely on price only to realise that the waiter calling system they have purchased is unreliable or not robust enough for a harsh restaurant environment.

Waiter pager systems manufactured in cheap electronics factories with poor or non existent quality control in countries such as China are finding their way on to the European market, often restaurateurs who have purchased these systems find them failing after a very short period of time and discover that they are not serviceable as most of the reputable suppliers of paging systems do not want to offer service or repairs to low quality products that are likely to fail again in the future and only result in frustration and further expense for the owner.

Restaurant Waiter Paging System

ServerCall Waiter Paging System

So back to the first question “how important will this equipment be in your restaurant?”  The answer to this question in most cases is very important. Once a decision has been made to streamline kitchen to server communications by a restaurant operator the equipment once in place will become an integral part of the restaurants day to day operation, any failure could result in disruption to the smooth running of the restaurant and at worst could result in poor customer service. The two key reasons a restaurant operator has for choosing to use a waiter paging system in their restaurant are, controlling staffing numbers and offering better customer service.

Once it is established that the system will be an important element in the efficient running of a restaurant working out how to choose which pager system and supplier is the best choice is the next decision.

The first consideration is simplicity of operation, The Pager Call Systems ServerCall waiter paging system has a simple one touch operation, the kitchen call panel has numbered buttons for each waiters pager with a space to enter their name against it, once the kitchen has the food order ready for collection they simply press the button for the appropriate waiter and that is their part finished. The waiter is then alerted by a discrete vibration on their pager. The next element is key, in a busy restaurant the waiter may be taking an order at the time they are alerted that they are required to collect an order from the kitchen, to ensure that the order will not be overlooked the ServerCall system will periodically send a signal to the waiters pager until they have collected the order and cancelled the call. To cancel a call the waiter simply presses the button corresponding to their name when collecting the order from the kitchen. Again this is a simple one button press operation.

The ServerCall system even has the facility to alert the duty manager that an order has not been collected from the kitchen, if after three alerts the server has not picked it up. This ensures that if a server has gone on a break or is busy with customers and unable to collect the order the duty manager is alerted and can deal with the situation immediately before it becomes an issue.

Simple operation of a kitchen to waiter communication system is one key element, another is reliability, the ServerCall waiter call system is manufactured using the latest digital technology guaranteeing efficient delivery of messages and the ultimate reliability. Our CrystalCall waiter pager is manufactured from durable plastics ensuring that even if dropped, they will not break. We select the best rechargeable batteries available offering at least three years between replacement and commonly in excess of five years. Our Smart Charge technology ensures batteries are only charged when required, this delivers unparalleled battery life.

All of our ServerCall paging systems offer flexible upgradeability ensuring you can add additional pagers or integrate the latest features as required.

The ServerCall system also incorporates a regular auto page function, this can be set by the user to automatically send alerts to specific staff members with preset messages, for instance to check the cleanliness of the customer toilets at predetermined intervals.

Range is also an important consideration when selecting your waiter calling system, make sure the system you choose will offer full coverage of your facility, Pager Call Systems guarantees full coverage backed with their money back guarantee. Where possible ask your supplier to demonstrate the system in your restaurant before you make a final decision to buy.

Before you choose your kitchen to waiter paging system make a list of the features you would like to have, then contact suppliers and see if their systems match your requirements.

The ServerCall system from Pager Call Systems is supplied by US company HME Wireless, HME products are used in more than 60,000 establishments worldwide and backed by a company with many years of experience developing products for the hospitality industry.

For further information or a demonstration of our ServerCall Paging System contact Pager Call Systems, visit our website at www.pagercall.co.uk or call us on 0845 6444109.

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Is the Customer King in Your Restaurant?

Tuesday, February 10th, 2009

Eating out has been on the increase in the UK for a number of years but research from market analyst Horizons, which questioned 1,000 consumers, found a 3% drop in diners during the 2008 festive period, with the number of times people ate out hitting an all-time low at an average of 2.7 times a week.

However, despite this drop in footfall, there was a rise in consumer spend, according to Horizons’ managing director Peter Backman.

“We are seeing a flight to quality with people eating out less but spending more,” he said.

“Spend per head at £12.46 is the highest ever recorded, demonstrating this new ‘save-it for something special’ approach.”

Hardest hit be this trend were coffee shops, pubs and takeaway outlets, while restaurants in the mid and premium sectors were the main beneficiaries.

Backman added that the eating out market was “polarising” and sliding away from coffee bars, sandwich shops and fast food takeaways where spend is less than £5, as well as the value sector where spend is £5-£11.

“A reduction in frequency of eating out is indicative of fewer ad hoc or unplanned meals out. Operators at the other end of the scale – the premium casual and premium restaurant sectors – where spend is above £17, are faring better,” Backman said.

This research shows that restaurateurs need to focus on customer service more than ever if they are to ensure that their restaurant is one that will entice diners rather than their competitors’ establishment.

Customer service is just as important as the food that is served in a restaurant, showing your customer that you value their custom from the moment they enter is crucial. On a busy weekend a restaurants normal pleasant ambiance can be completely changed by large numbers of guests gathering around the front door trying to arrange a table, for the restaurant owner this is a double edged sword, on one hand it is great news that their establishment is so popular there is a waiting list for tables, on the other the congregation of people detract from the usual elegant atmosphere that is one of the reasons the restaurant is popular with diners.

A hand written waiting list is the answer for many establishments, but problems can arise when waiting guests continually return to the hostess station to ask if their table is ready yet or if their name has been called as they didn’t hear clearly what name the hostess was calling. Generally people will wait a short time to see if they are seated quickly, after this they tend to leave frustrated because the restaurant was to busy or irritated because they feel forgotten.  This can lead to upset staff members who are constantly badgered by frustrated guests waiting for tables and potential customers lost to the competition and unlikely to ever return.

A restaurant pager system can be the answer to this problem, a guest call pager is handed to the waiting guest when they are checked in at the hostess station, the guests can then relax at the bar, or even sit outside in a garden area with the peace of mind that once their table is ready the hostess will alert them via their pager.

The latest guest paging systems even incorporate table management systems enabling the hostess to inform the waiting guest of the estimated table wait time from information displayed on the base station this ensures that your guest’s expectations are managed effectively at the time the pager is handed to them. If the restaurant already has a table reservation system many of the modern paging systems can be fully integrated in to these systems.  New UHF frequency paging systems have a range of up to two miles so guests are not restricted to a confined waiting area, they can take advantage of all of the venues facilities comfortable knowing that they are contactable the moment their table is available.

Research shows that even with extended waiting times of over one hour guests tend to be happy to wait when they have the freedom a guest call pager offers. Waiting guests are alerted by the pager flashing/bleeping and/or vibrating (alert options are selected by the restaurant) when they are required back at the hostess station for seating. Guests feel more valued when offered a pager whilst waiting to be seated, they understand that the restaurant operators value their patronage and attach a high degree of importance to making the dining experience a pleasurable one.

For the restaurant owner walk aways are reduced and happy contented diners will recommend the restaurant to friends and family and are certain to revisit. A guest call restaurant pager system is an essential business tool for the modern busy restaurant.

Contented guests that feel valued will tell their friends and family about their pleasant experience at your restaurant, employees that experience an efficient happy working environment are more productive and stay for longer. Pagers should used to enhance busy restaurants popularity and retain more custom.

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