Since a cloud kitchen usually relies on online food aggregators, websites, and mobile apps to generate orders, in this sector, technology plays a crucial role. To accept online orders and to support operations, a cloud kitchen includes an integrated online restaurant ordering system.
Here we have listed in detail, the technological requirements of a cloud kitchen business.
1. CENTRALIZED ACCEPTING ORDERS FROM MULTIPLE ONLINE AGGREGATORS.
A POS system that centrally accepts orders from multiple online food aggregators such as Swiggy and Zomato is the biggest technical necessity for a cloud kitchen. Since your cloud kitchen will hopefully be listed on various online food ordering sites, it is a major hassle to insert the orders manually into the POS at the end of the day.
All orders from different sources are approved by an automated POS system and records of orders received by each channel are maintained. You can then review the reports and determine which platform works best for you, and build sales-boosting strategies accordingly.
2. ONLINE ORDERING THROUGH WEBSITE AND/OR MOBILE APP
Although it is possible to link up with online food aggregators, you will need to have your own restaurant website or mobile app to accept orders. Online food aggregators from third parties charge a hefty margin per order, which usually ranges from 12-18 percent for online order acceptance and 18-25 percent when delivery is also included. This number will seriously eat up your earnings, which is why it is important to have an organic source of online orders.
You should have a user-friendly and SEO optimized online ordering powered restaurant website and mobile app so that your customers can conveniently order food online.
Your landing page for food ordering should also be cleverly designed to garner more online orders.
3. CALL CENTRE PANEL FOR RECEIVING TELEPHONIC ORDERS
If you receive a high volume of telephone food orders, it is vital for your cloud kitchen company to have an integrated call centre panel. A POS integrated Call Centre panel will help you streamline all your telephone orders if you have several brands and channels, because orders are pushed directly into the POS.
You will also be able to access the customer information and order history, thereby eliminating the need to inquire again and again for the customer address and other information.
4. INTEGRATED KITCHEN DISPLAY SYSTEM
The order preparation time for a cloud kitchen is usually about 10-12 minutes, if you want to deliver the order within 30 minutes. An integrated Kitchen Display System acts as a boon in the high-paced cloud kitchen to maximize the order preparation time.
As soon as the order is issued, the KDS is updated automatically. As well as the order pick-up time, the kitchen staff will view the order details and plan the order accordingly.
This makes the process not only smooth, but also helps you to recognize any lags and optimize the planning time further.
5. INTEGRATED DELIVERY SYSTEM FOR FOOD DELIVERY
It’ll make your life much easier to have an in-house delivery system for your food delivery. For one, you wouldn’t have to pay third-party logistics the extra commission, and second, you’d have far more control over your distribution services.
A food-delivery system allows you to delegate your orders based on their position and availability to the delivery executive. You will also be able to monitor the order status via automatic SMS notifications and communicate the same to your customers.
6. ROBUST INVENTORY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FOR STOCK MANAGEMENT AND WASTAGE CONTROL.
For any food company, inventory management is important, and the same applies to a cloud kitchen. A smart inventory management system will allow you to control your daily consumption of stock and also prompt you when required to order more stock. It also helps you avoid waste and keep your food expenditures in check.
In the smooth running of a cloud kitchen enterprise, technology plays a critical role and also ensures operational effectiveness.
