4 Types of F&B concepts & reccomended tech solutions to adopt

Before starting your first F&B business, apart from identifying the type of concept your F&B business is, it is also important to know what technological solutions your F&B business should adopt in this digital day and age.


In this article, we share the 4 common types of F&B concepts in Singapore and recommend the technologies each should adopt.


Quick Service Restaurants

Quick service restaurants are also known as casual dining restaurants. These types of restaurants, as the name suggests, focuses mainly on dine in customers, often having a large floor space to accommodate more customers during peak periods.


Quick service restaurants often operate with an order and pay before dining model. After payment, food is either self collected by customers or served to the table with service staff.


Technologies that Quick Service Restaurants should consider

  • QR Ordering

Quick service restaurants can adopt QR ordering systems that are integrated with online payment gateways. This enables restaurants to receive payments digitally before food is prepared, and also simplifies the ordering and payment process for their customers. 


On top of that, a QR ordering system also reduces the reliance on cashiers to reduce manpower costs for quick service restaurants.


  • Self Ordering Kiosk

A popular alternative to QR ordering to digitalise ordering and reduce reliance on cashiers is through adopting self ordering kiosks. Self ordering kiosks however, often require extra floor space in your quick service restaurants.


Alternatively, if you are keen on adopting a self ordering kiosks but are facing space constraints, you could consider a hybrid ordering kiosk or a counter top ordering kiosks that first on your countertop, taking up not much more space than a regular POS system.


  • LCD Number Calling System

If customers at your quick service restaurant are required to self collect their food, you may consider getting a LCD Number Calling System. A LCD number calling system displays both preparing and ready to collect order numbers to your customers so that they are constantly updated on their order status.


Fast Food Restaurants

Fast food restaurants are similar to casual dining restaurants or quick service restaurants. The difference between the two is that fast food restaurants focus on takeaway orders as much as dine in orders.


With an emphasis on food being served as quickly as possible and keeping food costs low, fast food restaurants should adopt technology that helps keep operational costs low while enhancing efficiency.


Technologies that Fast Food Restaurants should consider

  • Online ordering system

As fast food restaurants prioritise takeaway orders just as much as dine in orders, adopting an online ordering system will help fast food restaurants get takeaway pre-orders from customers through an ordering URL that can be attached in their website, social media and Google Business profile.


Apart from getting orders online, an online ordering system can promote brand loyalty by allowing customers to accumulate and redeem points easily through the online ordering platform.


  • Self ordering kiosks

Self ordering kiosks are great ordering productivity boosters and manpower cost saving tools, which is why many fast food restaurants have adopted self ordering kiosks.


  • LCD number calling system

As the majority of fast food restaurants do not have service staff to provide table service, getting an LCD number calling system allows your customers to get live updates of their order status, whether it is preparing or ready to be collected.


Full service restaurants

Full service restaurants are focused on dine in customers and collect payment after customers have finished their meal. Often, service staff will bring the bill to the table for settlement.


Technologies that Fast Food Restaurants should consider

  • QR ordering system

QR ordering was originally developed to be used by full service restaurants before capabilities were included to make it applicable to most F&B concepts. 

  • Wireless payment terminals

Most customers pay via cashless payments nowadays. Typically, a service staff has to collect the card from the customer, process payment at the cashier then return the card to the customers. Instead of having your service staff walk back and forth, why not adopt a wireless payment terminal that is linked with your POS system, allowing your service staff to process payment at the table.


Takeaway food kiosks

This F&B concept is a common sight in Singapore. Almost every mall will have one or two levels where there are rows of F&B shops that sell takeaway food. These F&B concepts focus only on takeaway orders, hence will have to meet their customers online as that is where many of their customers place their pre-orders with them.


Technologies that takeaway food kiosks should consider

  • Online Ordering System

An online ordering system helps takeaway food kiosks meet their customers where they are ordering food, which is online. On top of that, an online ordering system, differs from food delivery platforms as it allows you to build your customer base for marketing purposes. Whereas, food delivery systems do not share customer information with F&B merchants.


  • Self Ordering Kiosk

To reduce spending on manpower on dedicated cashiering staff, takeaway food kiosks can opt to adopt self ordering kiosks. On top of that, self ordering kiosks are able to double as advertising banners when not in use to showcase your promotions to passersby on the high resolution touchscreens.


If you are facing space constraints in your takeaway food kiosks, you could go for compact countertop kiosks or even a hybrid which combines a POS system and a self ordering kiosks into a dual touchscreen device that fits on your countertop.


Adopting self ordering solutions

iMakan provides self ordering solutions such as QR ordering, self ordering kiosks and online ordering solutions that helps your F&B business digitalize order taking to reduce dependency on manpower and receive more orders during peak hours.

 

Click here to get a free demo of iMakan’s self ordering solutions for your F&B business

Email vs WhatsApp for F&B Marketing in Singapore: Who Wins?

By Liang Wei Liaw • July 21, 2025
In Singapore’s fast-paced F&B industry, reaching your customers with the right message at the right time can be the difference between a packed house and a slow day. For years, email marketing has been the go-to method for loyalty engagement—but today, WhatsApp is emerging as a powerful contender. So which channel delivers better results for F&B businesses? Let’s break it down. Why More F&B Brands Are Choosing WhatsApp 1. Significantly Higher Open Rates WhatsApp messages boast open rates of over 90%, while email struggles to break 25–30%. This means more eyes on your promotions, event invites, or new product launches. 2. Real-Time Engagement Whether you’re pushing a lunch promo or a last-minute reservation slot, WhatsApp delivers instant visibility. Customers receive and act on messages within minutes, making it perfect for time-sensitive offers. 3. Mobile-First and Personal Almost every Singaporean checks WhatsApp multiple times a day. Messages arrive directly on the home screen—no inbox clutter or spam folders to worry about. The format also feels more personal, increasing engagement. 4. Great for Vouchers & Loyalty Promotions Sending eVouchers, birthday rewards, or exclusive member discounts via WhatsApp makes redemption easy. Customers just click and go—no need to dig through emails or apps. When Email Still Shines 1. Long-Form Content & Storytelling Emails are perfect for more detailed updates like a new seasonal menu, chef’s notes, or an outlet anniversary event. You have more space to build a narrative and showcase visuals. 2. Automation and Segmentation Email tools allow automated drip campaigns, customer lifecycle journeys, and membership renewals—ideal for maintaining long-term engagement. 3. Official Communications Invoices, reservation confirmations, newsletters, and account updates are still best suited for email, where they feel more formal and can be archived. Best Practice: Use Both, Together Forward-thinking F&B brands in Singapore don’t choose one over the other—they use both channels strategically. Use WhatsApp to push flash deals, eVouchers, and member reminders. Use Email to tell your brand story, build loyalty, and deliver richer content. Connect both through a unified CRM-POS platform like MEGAPOS to sync data, automate engagement, and track performance. Final Thoughts If you're only using email to engage your customers, you're leaving money on the table. WhatsApp provides the speed and reach modern diners expect, while email helps nurture deeper, longer-term relationships. The smartest F&B operators are combining both—powered by integrated POS and CRM tools that make outreach effortless and effective.  Interested in trying to engage with your members through WhatsApp messaging campaigns, click here !

Still Think POS Systems Are Outdated? Here's Why Singapore F&B Businesses Still Swear by Them

By Liang Wei Liaw • July 3, 2025
With all the hype about QR ordering, food delivery apps, and self-ordering kiosks, you might wonder— “Do I even still need a POS system for my café or restaurant?” Short answer? Yes. Absolutely. Even with all the fancy tech popping up, your POS system is still the beating heart of your F&B operations in Singapore. Here’s why. POS Systems Have Grown Up Gone are the days when POS just meant a cash register that printed receipts. Today’s POS is: Touchscreen, sleek, and fast Cloud-based (yes, you can check sales from your phone) Integrated with QR ordering and food delivery platforms Capable of syncing loyalty programmes, CRM, and even kitchen printers  But What About QR Ordering and Delivery Apps? Great question. And yes, those tools are super useful, especially post-COVID. But they work better when they’re connected to your POS system. Think of it like this: Your POS is the central brain QR orders? Sent through the POS Grab or Foodpanda orders? Tracked and tallied in POS Payment? Handled by POS—cash, PayNow, NETS, e-wallet, you name it Why Singapore F&B Owners Still Choose POS in 2025 ✅ Everything in one place – orders, payments, and reports ✅ Live dashboards – check your shop’s sales from your phone ✅ Cut down on mistakes – no more handwritten orders or missed items ✅ Easy for staff to learn – training new hires is faster ✅ Membership and CRM – turn first-time customers into loyal regulars ✅ Inventory tracking – say goodbye to “Oops, we ran out of chicken wings again…” From Hawker Stalls to High-End Restaurants Whether you’re selling bubble tea at a kiosk or running an omakase spot in the CBD, a good POS system scales with you. Many brands in Singapore use cloud-based POS with self-ordering kiosks and QR so they can operate smoother and faster—especially during peak hours. Final Thoughts If you're planning to reduce manpower , increase efficiency , or grow your F&B brand , your POS should be doing more than just taking orders. It should support your entire ecosystem—from sales and staff to customers and kitchen operations. Need help choosing the right POS system for your F&B business? We’ve helped hawkers, bakeries, cafes, and restaurants across Singapore modernise with hybrid POS + QR solutions. Click here to contact us and find out more.

7 Essential POS Features Every Singapore F&B Outlet Manager Needs

By Liang Wei Liaw • June 23, 2025
In Singapore's food and beverage industry, running an outlet efficiently means staying ahead with the right tools. A modern F&B POS system offers much more than just payment processing—it helps managers make smart decisions, improve daily operations, and increase customer satisfaction. Here are seven essential POS features every F&B outlet manager should be using: 1. Real-Time Sales Analytics Understanding what's happening in your business at any moment is powerful. Real-time reporting gives outlet managers instant visibility into sales trends, top-performing menu items, and hourly revenue. This lets you quickly adjust staffing, pricing, or promotions—especially during peak hours or slow periods. 2. Stock & Inventory Tracking Manual stocktaking is time-consuming and error-prone. A good restaurant POS automatically updates inventory levels with each order, alerts managers when stock is low, and helps prevent wastage. It ensures the kitchen runs smoothly while improving your food cost control. 3. QR & Digital Ordering With manpower challenges in Singapore, QR ordering reduces the need for floor staff while enhancing order accuracy. A cafe POS system that supports self-ordering and mobile payments also increases table turnover and improves customer experience. 4. Staff Productivity Metrics Tracking staff performance within your POS system allows you to see who's upselling successfully, managing tables efficiently, or lagging behind. Managers can use this data to reward top staff, improve team training, and maintain consistent service standards. 5. CRM & Loyalty Programmes POS-integrated CRM tools make it easy to run customer loyalty programs. Offer points, cashback, or birthday vouchers to build long-term customer relationships. This feature is especially valuable in Singapore's competitive cafe and casual dining scene. 6. Multi-Outlet Control Managing more than one outlet? A centralised POS system for F&B chains lets you monitor each branch’s performance, stock, and staff in real-time from a single dashboard—perfect for owners and regional managers who want visibility without micromanaging. 7. Delivery Platform Sync A great F&B POS system should integrate directly with platforms like GrabFood, Deliveroo, or Foodpanda. Orders flow straight to the kitchen or kitchen display system (KDS), minimising human error and speeding up prep during busy delivery hours. Conclusion A feature-rich POS system empowers outlet managers to run their operations more effectively. If you want to reduce costs, boost efficiency, and keep your staff and customers happy—start with the right POS technology. Need help upgrading your POS or training your team to use it better? Contact us by clicking here today.

How Real-Time Reporting Transforms F&B Operations in Singapore

By Liang Wei Liaw • June 20, 2025
In today’s F&B market, efficiency is everything. Without a smart F&B POS system , you may be missing critical opportunities to improve operations and sales. One feature that leading restaurants and chains rely on is real-time sales reporting. 1. Real-Time Sales = Real-Time Control Know what’s selling best, what needs restocking, and when your busiest hours are—all instantly from your POS system dashboard . No more guesswork, just data-driven control. 2. Manage Chains Easily from One System For multi-outlet operators, real-time sales reporting allows instant tracking across every branch. You can compare outlet performance, adjust stock levels, and deploy manpower where needed—all from a single platform. 3. Improve Operational Speed When you know your top-selling items and peak periods, you can prepare your kitchen, front-of-house, and staff shifts ahead of time—improving service speed and reducing order mistakes. 4. Boost Profit Margins Effortlessly A smart restaurant POS helps you cut unnecessary expenses, reduce over-ordering, and prevent dead stock—all based on real-time sales performance. Why This Matters for Singapore’s F&B Sector In a competitive market like Singapore’s, small improvements in operational efficiency can make a big difference. A well-equipped F&B POS system with live data gives you that edge. Ready to Upgrade? Contact us by clicking here to learn how our all-in-one POS solutions can deliver real-time sales insights for your cafe, kiosk, or restaurant chain.

Handling Difficult Customer Situations in Your F&B Outlet

By Liang Wei Liaw • June 17, 2025
Mastering Difficult Customer Situations in Singapore’s F&B Industry No matter how good the food or service, F&B outlets in Singapore will inevitably encounter difficult customers. The key is turning conflict into customer satisfaction through skilled, polite service. Here’s a quick guide to train your outlet staff on handling challenging situations : 1. Listen Without Interrupting Let the customer fully explain their concern. Active listening makes them feel valued and reduces anger. 2. Stay Polite and Apologetic Even if the customer is wrong, respond with kindness: “We’re sorry for the inconvenience, let us fix this.” 3. Offer Fair Compensation Train staff to offer simple compensations—like a free drink or quick dish replacement—without needing manager approval. This keeps service efficient and customers satisfied. 4. Recognize When to Escalate Some cases require supervisor handling. Make sure staff know when to escalate politely. 5. Follow Up After Incident Use customer feedback logs and review responses to close the loop, ensuring issues don’t repeat. Why This Matters for F&B businesses ✔ Reduces bad reviews on Google and online platforms ✔ Improves team confidence ✔ Keeps customer loyalty high even after mistakes If you are interested in self ordering solutions for your F&B businesses such as self ordering kiosks , and QR ordering , click here to contact us and find out more!

Self Ordering Kiosk, QR Ordering & CRM for Beverage Kiosks: Tools To Help You Earn More!

By Liang Wei Liaw • May 20, 2025
In Singapore's bustling F&B scene, quick-service beverage outlets like bubble tea shops, coconut drink stalls, and fruit juice bars face the challenge of serving a high volume of customers efficiently while maintaining personalized service. Integrating self-ordering kiosks, QR ordering, and Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems can revolutionize operations, enhance customer satisfaction, and drive revenue growth. 1. Flexible Order Customization Beverage kiosks often offer a variety of customization options—sugar levels, ice preferences, toppings, and more. Self-ordering kiosks and QR ordering systems allow customers to easily select their preferences through intuitive interfaces, reducing errors and ensuring orders are prepared to exact specifications. This precision enhances customer satisfaction and streamlines the ordering process. 2. Reduced Manpower Requirements By enabling customers to place orders directly through kiosks or their smartphones, staff can focus on preparing beverages rather than taking orders. This shift not only reduces the need for additional manpower but also accelerates service during peak hours, improving overall efficiency. 3. Increased Average Bill Size Self-ordering systems can be programmed to suggest add-ons or upgrades, encouraging customers to explore additional options. This automated upselling strategy has been shown to increase average order values, with some establishments reporting a 15–30% boost in sales. 4. Enhanced Customer Loyalty through CRM Implementing a CRM system allows beverage kiosks to track customer preferences and purchase history, enabling personalized marketing and loyalty programs. Offering rewards, cashback, or point-based incentives encourages repeat visits and fosters a loyal customer base. 5. Real-Time Menu Management With integrated systems, menu updates and item availability can be managed in real-time across all outlets. This centralized control ensures consistency, reduces the risk of selling unavailable items, and allows for quick adjustments based on inventory or promotions. 6. Data-Driven Insights Collecting data through QR ordering and CRM systems provides valuable insights into customer behavior and preferences. Analyzing this data helps in tailoring offerings, optimizing inventory, and designing targeted marketing campaigns, ultimately enhancing the customer experience and boosting sales. 7. Improved Order Accuracy Allowing customers to input their orders directly minimizes miscommunication and errors. Accurate orders lead to higher customer satisfaction and reduce waste from incorrect preparations. 8. Streamlined Operations Integrating self-ordering kiosks, QR ordering, and CRM systems creates a cohesive operational flow. Orders are processed efficiently, customer data is centralized, and staff can focus on delivering quality products, resulting in a more streamlined and effective business model. By embracing these technologies, quick-service beverage outlets in Singapore can enhance operational efficiency, improve customer satisfaction, and drive revenue growth. Implementing self-ordering kiosks, QR ordering, and CRM systems positions businesses to meet modern consumer expectations and thrive in a competitive market.

CRM a Neccessity For Singapore F&B Buisinesses?

By Liang Wei Liaw • May 14, 2025
Starting an F&B business in Singapore? Learn how CRM systems boost loyalty, improve operations, and drive smarter marketing for restaurants and cafes.

QR Ordering & Self-Service Kiosks in Hotels: Modernising Your Hotel, Elevate Guest Experiences

By Liang Wei Liaw • May 13, 2025
Boost hotel efficiency and guest satisfaction with QR ordering and self-service kiosks. Reduce workload, increase sales, and deliver faster service with MEGAPOS.

QR Ordering for Car Showrooms: Elevate Customer Experiences!

By Liang Wei Liaw • May 13, 2025
Offer refreshments, streamline staff perks, and impress visitors with smart self-ordering kiosks. Elevate your car showroom’s hospitality with MEGAPOS.

Self Ordering Kiosks For Canteens With CRM Integrations

By Liang Wei Liaw • April 23, 2025
Thinking of ways to battle the rising costs to make your canteen more sustainable and even profit? Self ordering kiosks and CRM solutions could be your way out!

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