How can you improve your restaurant service?

For your customers to judge the quality of your restaurant, it's not just about the food. 82% of customers admit that they have left their table after receiving poor restaurant service. You can cook the best food or have the best decor in town, but if the quality of service doesn't keep up, customers won't be tempted to invite their friends.

In this article, we’ll give you 5 tips on how to make your restaurant's customers feel more welcome.

1. A solid recruitment process

How involved are you when it comes to recruiting your waiters? Putting in the time and energy to find the right person can pay off. To choose the right person, Danny Meyer in his book The Transforming Power of Hospitality in Business recommends recruiting a person based on their technical skills (49%) and emotional skills (51%).

The most important qualities include warmth, empathy, intelligence and integrity. 

2. Write a staff manual

If your staff don't have clear instructions, there's a good chance they won't achieve your service objectives. Instead of simply telling them to improve service, write up a short manual describing the steps to be taken from the moment a customer arrives in your establishment: greeting, informing them of the waiting time, making recommendations, etc. These steps may change depending on your service standards, but the important thing is that you write them down. Setting clear objectives not only motivates your staff but also ensures that service quality is maintained over time.

3. Train your employees

What could be better than showing your employees first-hand the best practices for welcoming your customers? Hands-on training will keep them motivated and involved, and improve their efficiency. You can work with them on empathy, anticipating customer needs and timing. What's more, it's the perfect opportunity to help bond your team. Don't forget that motivated employees are 88% more productive.

4. Talk to your customers

This is basic advice, but it's not often applied in some restaurants. It's all about listening to your customers' comments, responding to them and engaging them in conversation so that they feel valued and heard. In this way, you can build better relationships with your customers, leading to loyalty and greater customer satisfaction.

5. Invest in high-quality technology

Today, good service is also measured outside your establishment. It's on the web that your service can stand out. Make sure you are active on social networks, replying to messages and interacting with customers. Another tip? Open a chat function on your Facebook page so that your guests can book and order their meals in advance.

A high standard of service is essential for your restaurant. This is also why SumUp is committed to providing you with a point of sale solution that simplifies the management of your business, giving you more time and energy to devote to your customers. Find out more here.