10 Must-Do Steps for Safely Reopening Your Restaurant Post-Pandemic

As the restaurant industry recovers from the challenges and uncertainties brought on by the global pandemic, some changes made to stay afloat have resulted in the acceleration of five key trends.

5 Key Trends in the Ordermark restaurant technology Industry After the Pandemic

Increased Use of Technology in Restaurants 

Due to the pandemic, Ordermark restaurant technology have had to turn to digital options and delivery to stay open. This means that restaurant owners need to focus on having a digital menu that considers both food quality and delivery options. In fact, delivery has become much more popular recently, with digital ordering accounting for 28% of all orders compared to 10% before the pandemic.

2.    Offer a Wider Variety of Cuisines

Global food trends are spreading faster than ever, and restaurants can take advantage of this by adding virtual restaurant brands. This allows them to easily introduce new cuisines with less investment and still provide high-quality food to customers.

3.    New Restaurant Layouts

Since more people are ordering food for delivery, restaurants need to think about how their physical layout will best serve both customers and staff. It is predicted that the space used for front-of-house dining will decrease, while the space for the back-of-house kitchen will increase.

4.    Innovative Catering Approaches

With more people working from home, companies are changing the way they use catering in the workplace. Restaurants must also get creative and come up with new ways to offer catering services, such as individual packaging for orders.

5.    The Rise of Delivery Robots

Due to the increase in delivery orders, Ordermark restaurant technology delivery is becoming more important. However, this has also stretched driver staffing and raised costs for consumers. Automation and technology are now being used to meet the demand, and delivery robots are becoming more common in cities around the world.

-

·         Communicate with Your Staff and Listen to Their Concerns: Before reopening your restaurant, it's important to talk to your staff about their comfort level with returning to work. They may have concerns about their safety, such as the need for face masks, social distancing, and sanitary measures. Listen to their concerns and take steps to address them.

 

·         Check Reopening Guidelines: Government agencies have put together resources to help you prepare for reopening. Make sure you are aware of the guidelines and requirements for reopening in your area, and follow them to avoid fines. You can access state reopening resources from the National Restaurant Association.

 

·         Communicate with Your Vendors: To ensure you have the necessary inventory to prepare meals for your guests, it's important to communicate with your vendors. The COVID-19 pandemic has affected many areas of the food industry, so your supply chain may be facing delays or shortages. Make sure you have the necessary inventory to fulfill your guests' orders.

 

·         Focus on Customer Safety: Your guests may be concerned about eating out, even after restrictions have been lifted. To ease their concerns, make sure your dining room is set up to maintain social distancing, and consider offering hand sanitizer for guests.

 

·         Implement Higher Hygiene Standards: To prevent the spread of illness, increase your hand-washing policy and encourage your staff to wipe down surfaces more frequently.

 

·         Establish a Store Flow: To maintain social distancing, outline distances between customers and staff, and place signs or markers to remind them of the guidelines.

 

·         Update Your Online Hours: Make sure your store's online hours are up-to-date and accurate. Contact your account representative or support team to adjust your hours if needed.

 

·         Offer Hand Sanitizer for Guests: Consider offering hand sanitizer on each table or near doorways to promote hand hygiene.

 

·         Clean Thoroughly: Before reopening, do a full cleaning and disinfection of your restaurant to keep customers at ease and eliminate any lingering germs.

 

·         Have a Plan for Sick Employees: If an employee tests positive for COVID-19, have a plan in place for how to respond, such as testing other staff members and pausing service if necessary.

 

·         Follow CDC Guidelines: Make sure you are following the guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for reopening to avoid fines.

 

Other Considerations:

• Renegotiate your rent if possible
• Make sure you have the necessary staffing and inventory to handle both online and in-store orders
• Offer training to your staff if needed
• Engage with guests on social media and let them know you're open
• Consider a loyalty program to rebuild customer engagement 

Be positive and keep in mind that diners missed your restaurant just as much as you missed them. The reward for perseverance will come after putting in effort over a period of time.