Labor is an ever-increasing challenge for quick-service operators, but technology is here to help manage that problem. Specifically, for those who can’t staff a full restaurant every day—and even those who can—self-service kiosks have become a key piece of the modern customer experience.
Kiosks automate the ordering and payment process which creates a positive work environment for employees by eliminating long lines at the register that make multitasking difficult, if not impossible. Not only does this help restaurants stand out as an employer of choice by making employees’ lives that much easier, but it eliminates unnecessary multi-tasking that helps create more efficient operations, says Thibaud Denolle, Director of Innovation and Marketing at Acrelec.
“No employee should feel like they have two or more jobs,” Denolle says. “Kiosks automate the ordering and payment process and create a positive work environment while reducing operating costs.”
Acrelec’s kiosks also leverage artificial intelligence to upsell and upsize orders, adding to the reasons why the kiosks are featured inside McDonald’s, Burger King, KFC, and Dunkin’ restaurants. Denolle says franchisees typically see their return on investment between six and 18 months, depending on the operation’s size and placement of the kiosks.
“Our records show that our self-service kiosks grow average check sizes by 30 percent compared to front counter sales,” Denolle says. “Why? Because customers can order at their own pace and have more opportunities to browse the menu, combined with the fact that the AI-driven suggestive selling gets to know the customer and showcases add-ons that feel personalized and relevant.”
Acrelec’s recent kiosk-related innovations include touchless ordering for a safer experience, facial recognition technology to speed up the process, and partnerships with the largest POS providers to help integrate the kiosks within an operation.
“With 15 years of deployments and low failure rates, our customers see better results,” Denolle says. “They like our innovation that increases their profitability and operational efficiencies. And the touchless experience means a safer environment for guests, which is especially pivotal right now.”
One more reason Denolle believes Acrelec has been so popular with quick-service brands across the country is due to the company being a “one-stop shop” for its clients which makes starting projects easy.
“We offer hardware, software, and service,” Denolle says. “We can scale to really any size. For example, we are in the middle of a 12-month kiosk rollout for all 650 locations for a chain famous for its burgers and milkshakes. Our ability to scale makes implementing kiosks, digital signage, or whatever technology a brand might need a pain-free process.”
Denolle says kiosks are just the tip of the iceberg for what Acrelec has to offer to help increase revenue and productivity. In addition to kiosks, the company has long been a leader in the field of digital signage and other drive-thru technologies that enhance the customer experience and process orders faster.
For more information, visit acrelec.com.
