Marketing automation and technology innovation has allowed drive-thru restaurants to become a staple in the American way of life. It is critical for business owners to invest in marketing automation and technology to track customers, manage inventory, and streamline marketing efforts.
Investing in the right technology can make your drive-thru restaurant more efficient and profitable. Here’s a look at how marketing automation and technology can help improve your drive-thru restaurant’s bottom line.
The Benefits of Marketing Automation for Drive-Thru Restaurants
Drive-thru restaurants have unique needs since hospitality and speed are top priorities. Marketing automation allows restaurant owners to streamline their communication. It also helps them to free up their productive time, simplify operations, keep customers aware of promotional offers, and focus on providing high-quality service and customer satisfaction.
Using personalized restaurant marketing helps quick-service restaurants increase sales, and it is one of the most effective customer retention strategies for a restaurant. Marketing automation allows owners to build personal relationships through targeted marketing messages while lowering the cost of email and SMS marketing campaigns. (Hanula, 2022)
Automating operations means drive-thru restaurant managers have a new set of data-driven insights. This data can be used to track customer feedback and preferences, analyze data to gain key insights into customer behavior patterns, and optimize internal operations. This allows operators to understand the needs of their customers better and deliver an unforgettable drive-thru customer experience.
How Technology Innovation is Changing the Drive-Thru Experience
Image Credit: Business Wire
According to a survey by Presto, 78% of respondents thought that automation technology is critical for the smooth operations of a fast food restaurant. Many also felt that a technology-augmented experience is more enjoyable, and using technology in a restaurant makes the experience more efficient. Respondents’ other suggestions were ‘drive-thrus with shorter wait times,’ ‘designated line for advanced online orders,’ and ‘automated order taking.’ (Business Wire, 2022)
Technology in the restaurant industry has revolutionized the drive-thru experience for customers and restaurant staff. With innovations such as automated order-taking, specialized line management, and shorter wait times, drive-thrus are becoming more efficient. Restaurants can now take orders directly from customers’ phones and tablets, making the entire experience faster and easier. As businesses streamline their operations, improve customer satisfaction, and maximize profits, they can increase customer loyalty and restaurant revenue.
Examples of Restaurant Technology Innovation
HME: Optimize Team Communication with NEXEO Drive-Thru Headsets
NEXEO | HDX takes communication beyond the drive-thru and into key areas of your restaurant, maximizing productivity and exceeding service expectations. Specially developed for an industry evolving faster than ever before, NEXEO is the restaurant industry’s first communication platform designed to grow with your business. Enhance the drive-thru ordering experience with HDX Digital Audio, increase efficiency with group and one-to-one conversations, improve workflows with voice commands, and more. NEXEO is more than the next generation of drive-thru headsets, NEXEO is the total solution for communication inside and outside the restaurant.
Easily convert PAR Helix from a standard pedestal to a wide range of screen and mounting configurations to fit any job. With a swappable CPU module at its core and limitless flexibility, keeping up with technology is no longer a problem. Downloadable Product Guide
Panasonic: Sustainability
The words pivot and sustainability go hand in hand. Their iQtimer solftware counts transactions by the hour and for multiple-store owners, reports averages can be accessed remotely so you have direct insights into how your business is performing no matter where you are. Remote access to reporting is key to metric driven goals.
The Future of Drive-Thru Restaurants with Marketing Automation and Technology Innovation
Today, companies are taking full advantage of modern automation systems and technology innovation to better serve their customers with convenience, customizations, speed, and overall satisfaction. Drive-thru restaurant owners must keep up with continually changing restaurant technology and marketing trends to remain competitive in today’s fast-paced digital world.
How to Access Winning Automation and Technology
Regarding technology, brands like HME, Panasonic, and ParTech are leading the way with their innovative solutions for restaurants. In addition to helping restaurant owners optimize their operations, they also provide training and support for new and expanding businesses. Whether it’s drive-thru headset systems, intercom systems, POS systems, or a complete ecosystem, choosing the right quick service solutions is the key to your business’ success.
Are You Ready to take Advantage of the Latest Marketing Automation and Technology Innovations?
Business Sound and Communications is your technology resource for a heightened customer experience providing personalization and convenience. We are family owned and operated and have served Houston and surrounding areas for over 25 years. This gives us a competitive edge in sales and service of drive-thru communications, digital menu boards, POS systems, timers, scent marketing, surveillance equipment, and more.
We are a long-term solution for drive-thru operations, quick-serve restaurants, fine dining, and hospitality industry businesses. We are here to help your operations run efficiently, accurately, and timely, resulting in delighted customers. We represent Panasonic, HME, PAR, MoodMedia, and ICRealtime. You can call us at (281) 590-3400.
Work Cited
Hanula, Mary. “The Benefits of Marketing Automation for Fast-Food Brands.” QSR Magazine, 7 Dec. 2022,
www.qsrmagazine.com/outside-insights/benefits-marketing-automation-fast-food-brands.
Business Wire. “Restaurant Customer Survey: 70% of Drive-thru Customers Want More Automation as Wait Times Increase.” Business Wire, 19 July 2022,
www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220719005099/en/Restaurant-Customer-Survey-70-of-Drive-Thru-Customers-Want-More-Automation-as-Wait-Times-Increase.
