4 Techniques To Get Rid Of Long Lines At Your Restaurant
Posted on: 6 November 2018
No one likes standing in line. Customers who stand in line are more irritable, and if they have to wait for long enough, they're likely to give up and leave. Clearly it's in your best interest to make sure your customers' wait time is as short as possible. Here are four techniques you can use to cut down on queue times:
1. Take reservations.
Encourage customers to place reservations to avoid long wait times. People are much more willing to wait for a meal if they can do it from the comfort of their own home. Taking reservations allows your customers to fit their dinner plans into their schedule without wasting time.
2. Only seat whole parties.
Make a policy that your guest's whole party needs to be present before you will seat them. This might seem like it's making the line longer, but it will save time in the long run. You don't want people waiting at a table when someone from their group is running late. This is inefficient and takes the table away from customers who are already present and ready to order.
3. Set time limits.
If wait times are consistently over an hour, you may want to set time limits for table usage. People can tend to linger long after their meal is finished, and this can be frustrating for people waiting for a table. If you decide to take this step, make sure your time limit is posted clearly so customers aren't surprised. Train your waitstaff to approach customers gently and politely when they've exceeded their time limit, since this can be a touchy subject.
4. Invest in a customer queuing system.
The worst part of standing in line is often standing. Allow customers to make themselves comfortable by investing in a customer queuing system. When customers can sign in and take a number, it frees them from having to wait in line. They can sit down, stretch their legs, and enjoy the company of their dining companions. Providing a comfortable waiting area with cushioned seats can make queuing more bearable. If you invest in a customer queuing system with the capability to send text alerts, your clients can even leave and come back when their table is ready.
It's great to have a lot of customers as long as you can manage your queue effectively. These four methods will help you cut down on wait times at your restaurant, resulting in happy customers and better revenue.
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