Culinarius (Vienna) Gastronomy is in the midst of digitization. Guests have long become accustomed to online reservation systems and many restaurateurs are already working with digitized ordering processes of the supply industry. Even today, modern cold stores can detect which product is being removed, record it on an inventory, and automatically and independently order as needed.
Great development potential is still in the area of direct customer contact or ordering in the restaurant. However, not every concept will be able or willing to do without the “human being”. However, in self-service concepts or fast-food establishments, digitization may well offer interesting benefits for the restaurateur.
Thats how it works
The Berlin cashier “Gastrofix” offers in cooperation with the Dutch startup company “Table Duck” now an interesting service and digitized order, or payment process for the guest. Table Duck has developed an artificial intelligence-based chat bot, which allows drinks and food orders via Facebook Messenger and this also charged directly by Paypal, credit card or Sofortüberweisung.
Gastrofix offers the matching interface to the POS system. The orders made and paid by the guest in the chat immediately trigger the receipt in the kitchen or at the bar. Guests can thus place orders on their own and are not dependent on direct physical contact with an employee. This can increase turnover rates and reduce staff costs.
No substitute for service personnel
Marc van Benthum, Country Manager of Gastrofix, explains in an interview with the AHGZ (General Hotel and Gastronomy Newspaper): “There are already some bots on the market, but these are so far in their ability on table reservation, automatic answering of frequent customer questions or forwarding on a website limited. Table Duck took the decisive step further with the order and payment options.
This has the potential to revolutionize the ordering process as a whole. “It is also important to emphasize to Gastrofix that the chat bot should only be a support for service personnel and never completely replace them.