If the COVID-19 pandemic taught us anything, it's that you need to be ready for anything. Now that we're on the other side, businesses in QSR especially, have learned quite a few lessons on how to set their businesses up to withstand unforeseen circumstances. To ready your business for whatever the next big disruption to daily life is, consider these guidelines.
1. Be prepared to cater to increased demands
Consumer behaviors and customer expectations can change in an instant. We've seen that firsthand. So how do you prepare your business for the unknown?
When it comes to QSR scheduling, make sure you have the flexibility built in to be able to pivot your strategy quickly. This might mean pivoting some in-store staff to delivery driving or vice versa.
When asked 'How often do you plan on dining out?', 50.9% of those surveyed by VP Insiders felt like they would do the 'same as before', while 45.9% chose 'less than before.' It's still essential to ensure that there are sufficient staff on-ground, as manpower will also be required to maintain a safe environment for customers.
31.9% of customers have indicated that they are 'very likely' to use 'curbside delivery' as a service, whereas 18.2% chose 'extremely likely' and 34.4% chose 'somewhat likely.'.
By incorporating curbside delivery, you may be able to reach a greater base of customers, especially those who may not be willing to dine in, but are still a fan of your offerings.
2. Always put the safety of employees and customers first
Some COVID-era safety precautions have stuck around and for good reason. When asked, 'Are disposable, single-use menus important to you?' 58.7% indicated yes, implying that this is, in fact, something that customers would prefer. But why not take it a step further by providing digital menus that can easily be accessed by scanning a QR code?
Customers can easily scan the menu, decide on what they want and immediately place an order online. Not only does this save the environment, but it also reduces the amount of surfaces your employees need to clean and your customers need to interact with.
Another lesson the pandemic taught us, is that if you're sick, you should stay home. Gone are the days of sucking up a cold to get hours in, especially in the restaurant industry. Having a QSR scheduling system in place that allows your employees to easily swap shifts on their own makes it easier for employees to take a sick day without feeling guilty.
3. Manage your manpower
It's always better to be overstaffed than understaffed. It enables you to continue to provide the same level of customer service and experience, even when your staff may be sick or some unforeseen circumstance suddenly increases demand. Here are some recommendations to help you combat any QSR scheduling crisis.
Make applying and hiring simple (for applicants and your team)
Through text-to-apply posters, not only can you utilize your physical stores to publicize new job openings, the application process is also convenient and quick! Visitors can scan the QR code on these posters, or text the number displayed to get a link to all open positions.
Job board integrations will also help simplify the hiring process, as hiring managers no longer have to copy and paste to multiple job boards. Instead, they can post to over 25,000 job boards with a single click and view all applicants within a single dashboard. Artificial intelligence is also used to optimize your job postings across multiple boards to ensure that job posts are shown to 10 times as many job seekers.
Move online (and maximize technology)
If increased demand for your service makes it hard to hold physical interviews, why not get applicants to submit a video resume instead? Not only does it set the application process apart from others, but it's also an easy way to narrow down applicants who are genuinely interested in the role. The best part? No more having to sift through hundreds of boring resumes!
Automated scheduling is another feature that you should consider. With a QSR scheduling app, you can select candidates you'd like to meet, and they instantly get a text message link to your calendar (with pre-allocated time slots) to schedule a Zoom meeting. They will be able to choose a time that best suits their availability and get reminders closer to the interview date. In the event that something crops up at the last minute, they will also be given the option of rescheduling, effectively preventing ghosting.
Create a seamless onboarding processes
When you've finally secured a candidate, have an entirely paperless onboarding process by uploading documents online, collecting and storing electronic signatures and setting up trigger alerts for incomplete paperwork.
Mobile training is an effective way to onboard new staff, as you may send handbooks, checklists and training videos via a text message link, which makes these documents easily accessible. SMS reminders will also be sent to guarantee completion.
4. Create an online presence through social media marketing and word of mouth
Finally, how can you market your brand to reach your target consumers? More people are turning to their mobile devices to search for best dining spots, widely reviewed locations, and good deals.
This is further highlighted through customers' responses to the question 'What's the most effective way restaurants can market their offers to you,' with 27.1% choosing text messaging marketing and 23.3% opting for social media.
Running engaging campaigns, encouraging followers to share your posts and having giveaways are just some ways to increase awareness and brand loyalty on social media. Paying for ads and boosting your posts is another option to reach a greater audience beyond those currently following your brand.
Most importantly, never underestimate the power of reviews or word of mouth. A 4-5 star review goes a long way, while a 1-star review may also significantly impact your brand image. By maintaining a certain standard of customer service and satisfaction, customers are bound to come back for more.
Still unsure of how to apply these tips to your QSR? Schedule a call with us now—we're more than happy to help!