| Motorola recently released a case study | | | | can also process credit cards, allowing servers to |
| highlighting the latest in restaurant POS system | | | | run customer checks while standing tableside, |
| technology: handheld, wireless ordering systems | | | | further improving turnover times and customer |
| for servers. The handheld device is about twice | | | | service. |
| as big as a BlackBerry, and connects directly into | | | | The handheld ordering device is obviously the |
| the restaurant's POS software via a wireless | | | | future in restaurant technology, but for now, I |
| connection. | | | | suspect the cost of the system is still prohibitive |
| The case study focuses on Sam's Chowder | | | | for most restaurateurs. Yes, Sam's realized an |
| House in the San Francisco bay area, a high | | | | ROI in one month, but Sam's also does A LOT of |
| volume seafood restaurant that seats about 280 | | | | business ($6 million in annual sales). If you're a |
| people. According to the study, the restaurant | | | | larger operator, I really don't see why you |
| achieved a return on investment on the hand-held | | | | shouldn't buy handheld ordering devices today. |
| devices in one month. That's because check | | | | The benefits I list above are admittedly direct |
| averages went up and table turnover times and | | | | from Motorola, who has an interest in hyping the |
| labor costs went down. Servers no longer have | | | | good points, but they also make good logical |
| to write down orders and then re-enter them into | | | | business sense. Imagine if your servers never had |
| the POS system. Instead, they enter orders | | | | to leave their tables. Of course sales and table |
| directly into the handheld device, which then sends | | | | turnover times are going to improve. |
| the order along automatically. This allows servers | | | | If you're a smaller operator, wait for the day |
| to focus on customer service and sales, which | | | | when these devices are much more affordable. |
| explains the check averages and improved table | | | | It's just like any new technology (HD TV, cell |
| turnover times. | | | | phones, iPods): they're always extremely |
| Labor savings were realized by Sam's because | | | | expensive at first and then eventually become |
| more efficient servers means less front of house | | | | affordable to the masses. |
| staff could serve the same amount of people in | | | | I'm personally looking forward to the day when all |
| the restaurant. This also makes the servers | | | | restaurants have these handheld ordering |
| happy because they get more tables and | | | | systems. Every restaurant should be able to |
| therefore more tips. Staff turnover rates have | | | | focus on the customer, and on making the best |
| plummeted since the introduction of the handheld | | | | sale possible, and handheld ordering technology is |
| ordering devices as a result. Finally, these devices | | | | the way to get there. |