As the popularity of food delivery continues to rise, more and more restaurant owners are transitioning to a ghost kitchen model.
A ghost kitchen, or a virtual kitchen, is a restaurant that relies on digital channels as opposed to in-person dining.
Because they don't have to invest in a dining area, virtual kitchen owners often save money on space, supplies and staff. But before you hop onto the virtual kitchen trend yourself, you need to learn how to handle your orders and transactions.
Managing incoming orders in a smooth, efficient way is key to success in the restaurant industry.
How Do Traditional Restaurants Manage Orders?
To manage transactions, most brick-and-mortar restaurants use a point of sale (POS) system. A point of sale refers to the moment when your customer makes a transaction. For example, in the restaurant industry, the point of sale is the moment your customer has finished their meal and asked for the check. A standard digitized POS system works like this:
- The employee enters a customer's order into the computer or tablet
- Inventory is updated to reflect the order
- The POS system calculates the bill (including tax)
- The employee prints the receipt for the customer
- The employee enters the receipt number and the amount the customer paid
- The POS system charges the credit or debt card
If a customer chooses to pay in cash, the server enters the exact cash amount and the system calculates the change they're owed. Some restaurants use a Square POS system, which displays visuals of each menu item arranged in a square grid. Square systems tend to be more efficient, as the restaurant employee does not need to search for or type in the order.
Do Ghost Kitchens Use POS Systems?
Unlike traditional restaurants, ghost kitchens don't need to use POS systems. Since there are no customer interactions, there is no need to manually input orders -- rather, orders are automatically sent in by delivery applications, where they will populate in their own systems.
Most virtual kitchens receive a separate tablet for every delivery service they partner with. For instance, a restaurant that serves customers through GrubHub and UberEats would get a separate tablet for both of these services. Unfortunately, having multiple devices for each delivery service is not an efficient way to handle orders. Not only does it slow down speed, but it also increases the likelihood of making a mistake. To increase productivity and simplify the process, more and more virtual kitchen owners are turning to restaurant SaaS systems, or "software as a service" systems, such as Cuboh.
Cuboh: The POS Replacement
Cuboh, a rising platform in the restaurant tech sphere, is an order management technology designed to improve your efficiency. By automating orders straight from delivery platforms into the Cuboh application, we can effectively act as your POS system. Here are some of the different ways Cuboh can help you keep up with orders and build your business.
Streamlining Orders
At Cuboh, we recognize that scrambling from one device to the other isn't the best way to operate a kitchen. That's why we provide one simple, easy-to-use tablet that can consolidate your online orders and streamline everything to a single device. Not only can it send orders in real-time, but it can also connect to your printer. As an added bonus, we can separate side dishes from main dishes, making it easier to complete orders correctly.
App Integration
We support integrations with a wide variety of apps and services, including DoorDash, UberEats and Postmates. We can also integrate with different POS systems, such as Square POS. By combining multiple platforms, you can create a single, holistic ecosystem designed to optimize your workflow and help you get the most out of your ghost kitchen.
Our exclusive partners also include first-party delivery applications (such as BBot and Lunchbox). Unlike third-party applications, first-party apps offer complete control over the ordering system, letting you craft a more personal experience for customers. You also don't have to pay a 15%+ percentage (which is required for most third-party applications).
Inventory Management
One of the key benefits of Cuboh is our inventory management capabilities. Through customer data, we can predict your incoming inventory needs and help you determine which ingredients you do and don't need to order. This is incredibly helpful so you don’t end up scrambling to place rush orders and stressing out your cook.
Additionally, did you know that up to 10% of food purchased by restaurants is wasted before it even reaches a customer? Take a moment to consider what 10% of your food costs add up to.
Our platform helps track your inventory, reducing the risk of food waste and making you a more sustainable business. When you have the right amount of food on hand (without wasteful extra), you’ll have enough stock to serve all of your customers but avoid spoilage and loss. The truth is that restaurants that have effective inventory management are much more likely to have long-term success.
Marketing Solutions
Cuboh can do more than improve your order management -- we can also help you craft an effective marketing campaign. By storing your order information, we can provide valuable insights regarding what your customers like and don't like. Some ways you can use this information to your advantage include:
- Adjusting your menu: If you notice that some menu items are not doing too well, you can remove them or replace them with something new.
- Sharing specials: Offering some of your popular menu items as part of a special or promotion is a great incentive for customers to return.
- Posting on social media: Posting pictures of your leading dishes online can help attract new consumers.
Book A Demo
Just like traditional restaurants, ghost kitchens will benefit from having order management systems to improve their efficiency and help them cater to customer needs. From streamlining orders to managing inventory, Cuboh is proving to be key to restaurant innovation. Improve your workflow by booking a demo today!
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