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After the recent global health crisis, patrons expected restaurants to improve customer safety. Guest safety in restaurants carried a new meaning after the outbreak.
Before the pandemic, most people thought of safety in terms of proper food and beverage handling and caution signs for spills or other hazards. Innovations in building technology take safety measures into the digital transformation age.
Today, those who own and operate restaurants and other public spaces have begun focusing on customer safety by promoting social distancing and providing patrons with appropriate hygiene solutions.
Key Takeaways:
- Restaurants across the nation are finding ways to improve customer safety through innovations ranging from how people wait for seating to ordering methods and ways to pay.
- Social distancing is a significant priority for more than half (57%) of Americans. Innovations in waitlist management notify when their table is ready without waiting at the restaurant.
- Digital menus, contactless payment options, and mobile ordering and payment reduce contact with germs from contaminated surfaces.
- Touchless faucets and fixtures, portable handwashing stations, and sanitizing technologies promote public health and safety and encourage hygiene efforts.
6 Innovations to Improve Customer Safety in Restaurants
There are restaurants across the nation that are some of the most innovative dining companies. The top national chains include Panera Bread, Chipotle, and White Castle.
Fast Company's article highlighting these innovative food service companies mentions a dining organization called the Rockwell Group. This architecture firm based in New York City develops modular kits so restaurants can set up outdoor dining spaces.
These kits allowed restaurants to remain open during the pandemic when health mandates prohibited indoor dining. As mandates lifted, restaurant owners and operators began to use these spaces to encourage social distancing and promote public health and safety.
Panera, the Rockwell Group, and the rest of the restaurateur innovators are great examples of how to improve customer safety. Here are some things you should consider at your establishment.
1. Waitlist Management
Do you remember when restaurants introduced those big block-looking pager systems that would vibrate when your table was ready? Technology today allows hostess staff to page guests waiting for a table no matter their location.
One limitation with the pager systems was that you had to remain within a specific proximity to the establishment for it to work. If you wanted to sit in your car to wait, you'd have to cross your fingers and hope it would be able to catch the signal.
The text services restaurants use today allow you to even wait at home if you live close enough to the restaurant. You will receive the notification if your cell phone has service.
Why wouldn't you want to offer these services to your guests, especially for the roughly 57% of Americans who still prefer to practice social distancing?
2. Digital Menus
Restaurant menus contain 185,000 bacteria strains per square centimeter. That's more than what you will find on a toilet seat in a public restroom.
Digital menus can include QR codes your guests scan with their smart devices. Digital menu boards are another option, as are menu features for tabletop payment machines.
Promote customer safety by eliminating the potential for your customers to come in contact with these bacteria strains.
3. Contactless Point-of-Sale
More restaurants are switching to contactless point-of-sale (POS) systems. They allow customers to use their credit or debit card using the tap feature (as long as the card contains a chip).
Customers can also use their smartphones or mobile devices. That way, the cashier never touches the card (or phone), and there is less chance of spreading viruses.
There are various types of contactless POS systems, including:
- Tabletop systems
- Mobile payment apps
- Card readers with the tap function
POS kiosks are also available. Some tabletop systems take orders and payments. Others only allow you to pay the bill. They almost all have games and other interactive features and offer a hygienic way to pay for your order without risking your health and wellbeing.
4. Touchless Fixtures
Sinks are a hotbed for germs. Frequently used faucets contain 229,000 germs per square inch. Touchless fixtures promote public safety by eliminating the need to touch a dirty faucet to turn on the water.
Install these faucets throughout your establishment in the kitchens, restrooms, hand washing stations, and behind the bar. Consider touchless actuators for fixtures such as toilets and urinals to promote restroom hygiene as well.
5. Portable Hand Washing Stations
Restaurants are a brilliant place to set up a portable handwashing station. Lines in public restrooms in malls, venues, restaurants, and bars are often long. If a customer needs to wash their hands before they eat, a portable hand washing station is the perfect solution.
Several varieties of these mobile fixtures are available. Some are more advanced than others. A high-traffic establishment will need durable fixtures that can easily handle heavy wear and tear.
6. Automated Dish Sanitizing Technologies
These innovations provide the restaurant with a dishwashing system that streamlines the cleaning process and ensures your customers get their meals served on fully sanitized dishes. You can program these systems to use the correct water temperature and flow rate every time.
These systems not only ensure your customers' safety by providing dishes free from contaminants. They also conserve water. Pair your automated dish sanitizing system with a pre-rinse valve and reduce water consumption by over 7,000 gallons annually. That's enough for nearly 5,000 racks of dishes.
Improve Guest Safety with Innovations from Chicago Faucets
At Chicago Faucets, we have touchless faucets, handsfree actuators, pre-rinse valves, and other plumbing safety fittings and accessories to help you keep your guest safe.
We care about you, your customers, and public safety. That is why we make our durable and sustainable plumbing fixtures that give you the innovations your restaurant needs to improve customer safety.
Check out our line of faucets, fixtures, and fittings that promote health and wellness for all.
