Online Ordering Solution for Home Based F&B Businesses

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Home-based businesses are rising in popularity especially since the pandemic hit. Many aspiring F&B entrepreneurs found that starting up from home is a cost-effective and viable way to kick start their F&B business before committing to a shopfront.

Most home-based businesses reach their customers through social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram and get orders through direct messages, which is a great way to engage with your customers to offer a personalised touch.

However, as order volumes increase, it becomes an inefficient method of order taking, hence, online ordering systems.

Why should home-based businesses get online ordering systems?

An effective, less labour intensive way to get handle more orders

As order volumes increase, you may not be able to attend to every direct message from your customers and may reply late or completely miss out on their messages. This will lead to lost opportunities for your home-based F&B business and may cause you to lose potential and even loyal customers.

An online ordering system features a digital menu that displays your full menu to your customers. It helps them to understand each menu item through high-resolution images and descriptions. They can then add their preferred menu items to the cart and checkout with the option to self collect or have their food delivered.

This creates a seamless ordering experience for your customers as they do not have to enquire through direct messages and wait for a reply. Furthermore, it automates the ordering process so that you do not have to attend to enquires manually, making the ordering process more efficient and less labour intensive.

Never miss out orders

Taking orders through direct messages presents another challenge. This manual order taking method will require you to update your order lists manually. It can be a challenge when managing food preparation and order taking, resulting in missed orders.

Online ordering systems help you keep track of your orders through an order management solution. You will be able to view all confirmed, pending, completed orders and their remarks at a glance. For delivery orders, you may choose to enable the online ordering system to automatically assign a third party delivery agent to collect the orders at the specified time.

Consolidate your sales amounts

Order preparation, order taking and marketing your business on social media already takes up a huge chunk of your time, leaving you with little time to consolidate and manage your sales figures. This can lead to spending more than you are making from your home-based F&B business and put you in the red.

Online ordering systems help by consolidating your sales data and providing you with powerful reports and dashboards which provides you with valuable insights into your home-based F&B business.

The time saved from manual order taking and consolidating sales figures can be spent on R&D of new food products or strategising ways to sell more. This helps you earn more and take a step closer to your probable end goal of having your own outlet.

Getting an online ordering system for your home-based business

Online ordering systems are not costly. iMakan’s online ordering system is pre-approved for government grants that subsidize up to 80% of the costs of adopting an online ordering system.

Interested to get an online ordering system for your home-based F&B business? Drop iMakan your contact information below and we will be happy to arrange a free demo with you!

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7 Tips to Optimize Operations at Your Takeaway Food Kiosk in Singapore

By Liang Wei Liaw • 09 May, 2024

Takeaway food kiosks in Singapore generally serve the demographics of Singaporeans that are looking for quick, convenient and tasty meal options. Hence, optimizing operations at your takeaway food kiosk is essential for delivering exceptional service and maximizing profitability. With the increasing demand for quick and convenient dining options, implementing strategies to streamline processes and enhance efficiency can set your kiosk apart from the competition. Here are seven tips to help you optimize operations at your takeaway food kiosk in Singapore, leveraging self-ordering technologies and online platforms to meet customer demands and drive success. Embrace Self-Ordering Solutions Invest in self-ordering kiosks or QR code ordering systems to empower customers to place their orders independently. By offering self-service options, you can reduce wait times, minimize order errors, and improve overall efficiency at your kiosk. Emphasize user-friendly interfaces and intuitive navigation to ensure a seamless ordering experience for customers. Implement Online Ordering Platforms Extend your reach and cater to digital-savvy customers by implementing online ordering platforms for takeaway and delivery. Utilize mobile apps or web-based ordering systems to enable customers to place orders remotely and schedule pickup times at your kiosk. Provide incentives such as exclusive discounts or loyalty rewards for online orders to encourage adoption and drive sales. Optimize Menu Selection and Layout Streamline your menu selection to focus on popular and high-margin items, reducing complexity and speeding up order processing. Organize your menu layout logically, grouping similar items together and highlighting best-sellers or promotional offerings. Utilize digital menu boards or signage to display menu options clearly and attractively, guiding customers towards their desired selections. Invest in Efficient Kitchen Equipment Equip your takeaway food kiosk with efficient kitchen equipment and tools to expedite food preparation and assembly. Invest in high-quality appliances, such as commercial-grade grills, fryers, and ovens, to ensure consistent quality and timely service. Implement workflow optimizations and station layouts to minimize bottlenecks and optimize throughput during peak hours. Streamline Order Fulfillment Processes Develop streamlined order fulfillment processes to ensure orders are prepared and delivered promptly. Implement order tracking systems or digital ticketing solutions to monitor order status in real-time and prioritize tasks accordingly. Train your staff to work efficiently and communicate effectively to minimize wait times and maintain customer satisfaction. Prioritize Hygiene and Safety Measures Uphold stringent hygiene and safety protocols to ensure a clean and safe environment for both customers and staff. Implement regular cleaning and sanitation routines for all surfaces, equipment, and utensils to minimize the risk of contamination. Provide hand sanitizer stations and encourage proper hand hygiene practices among your team members. Monitor Performance and Seek Feedback Continuously monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) such as order processing times, customer satisfaction scores, and sales metrics to identify areas for improvement. Solicit feedback from customers through surveys, comment cards, or online reviews to gain insights into their experience and preferences. Use this feedback to iterate on your operations and enhance the overall customer experience at your takeaway food kiosk. By implementing these seven tips, you can optimize operations at your takeaway food kiosk in Singapore, delivering fast, convenient, and high-quality service to your customers. By embracing self-ordering technologies, leveraging online platforms, and prioritizing efficiency and hygiene, you can position your kiosk for success in the competitive F&B landscape. iMakan Apart from looking to value add F&B owners in Singapore through information sharing articles, iMakan also provides self ordering solutions such as self ordering kiosks, qr ordering, and online ordering solutions for F&B businesses. If you are looking for such self ordering solutions, WhatsApp us or click here to drop us an enquiry.