Although order-ahead options have been popular with coffee shops for years, the ability to safely order a cup of coffee is now necessary for local bean breweries to stay open. Unless you have a drive-up window in place, mobile order-ahead is the only contactless option for people to get their daily cup-of-joe. If you are looking for an easy breakdown of how to get started going contactless, here are 3 steps to making it a reality for your shop:Here’s a mid-story heading
1. Choose an order-ahead technology
Because this technology is now a necessity, it can be easy to just pick a provider and move on. But not all contactless ordering apps are created equal. For example, big names like GrubHub, UberEats, and DoorDash are well-known and many consumers already have them downloaded. However, they are not coffee specific, and the chances of your shop getting lost in the mix of other restaurants increases.
On the other end of the spectrum, Dunkin Donuts and Starbucks have their very own mobile ordering apps. Obviously they are industry giants and can afford to build these technologies with reward programs, promotional pushes, and notifications.
The key is to find something in the middle. Try a coffee specific app that does all the work for you, exposes your shop to only coffee-seeking consumers, and is already adopted by coffee lovers around the US.
2. Don’t giveaway your profits
An important factor when setting up your contactless order system are the profits that you are able to hold on too. During such an unpredictable time, it's important to find a solution provider with no upfront costs, no contracts or commitments, and no fee to you when starting.
Some tools charge between 15 and 30 percent of every order, taking away your hard earned sales during a time when budgets are tight and businesses are struggling. You should not be paying a fee more than 5 percent. Work with an ordering technology that understands the importance of keeping your profits in your business.
3. Spread the word to your customers
The great thing about implementing an order-ahead system is that it's an easy way to engage with customers. Let them know you are now offering this safe and secure solution. Here are a few ideas on how to spread the word and build adoption:
-Signage - Keep signs with the ordering system/app information at your register, on your tables, near the sugar station, and on your windows/doors. Make sure to include a QR code on the signage for easy scanning and downloading of the technology!
-Social media - Post the information to you social channels like Facebook, instagram, and Twitter. Let your existing fan base know the big steps you’re taking to ensure they are safe when ordering their coffee. Offer a coupon or discount for their first order on the app!-Email - Make sure to include the new contactless-order offering in your next email blast! Let them know you’re dedicated to keeping them safe while powering through these tough times with their favorite local coffee. Your subscribers will appreciate the communication and social distancing measures.
Once your customers are aware of your new ordering system, they’ll jump right into ordering ahead and skipping the line. Contactless ordering systems make a hard situation a little easier.
Ready to learn about contactless ordering? At CoffeePass, we’re here to help.
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