ISVs must help their restaurant clients meet consumer demand for omnichannel restaurant experiences with the right technology.

Even before the pandemic, the “omnichannel restaurant” model was becoming more common. Competitive restaurants realized that offering off-premises dining would be critical for long-term success. Restaurateurs tracking consumer trends understood that busy lifestyles required the need to adapt. From ordering dinner during a lunch break that could be picked up after work to exploring new cuisine that could be delivered right to their doorstep, consumer demand for this convenience gave rise to omnichannel restaurants that gave them new options.

The pandemic accelerated the adoption of off-premises dining, taking it from a differentiator that gave restaurants a competitive edge to, often, a necessity for staying in business.

Now, online food sales are expected to reach $200 billion by 2025, and more than 50 percent of consumers view online ordering as essential to their way of life. Even as some consumers return to dining rooms, 75 percent of restaurant operators are considering off-premise dining to be their best growth opportunity.

Operating an omnichannel business efficiently takes new processes both inside and outside the restaurant:

Omnichannel restaurants also realize that new digital engagements allow them to collect data that can help them operate more profitably while personalizing the service that turns a casual foodie into a loyal customer. With all of a customer’s data, rewards, and payment information all in one system, restaurants can develop a complete view of their customers’ preferences – and promotions and rewards that increase traffic.

To evolve from brick-and-mortar businesses into omnichannel restaurants, operators need help implementing and optimizing their tech stack for maximum efficiency and profitability. This requires the expertise of ISVs and VARs. And those who will be most successful will adapt to new solutions and possibly new partnerships in order to serve their market better.

For example, if your clients traditionally used terminal POS and card-present payments, talk to your customers about the benefits of implementing an omnichannel payments platform. However, before you do ensure your business has the right partnerships in place to benefit both your customers and your business. You will see more growth and less friction if the omnichannel solution you are offering provides you with full residual earning potential on e-commerce transactions and card-present transactions through a single processing provider.

Helping your customers evolve into omnichannel restaurants is vital to both the restaurant’s relevance in an increasingly challenging market, as well as your own competitiveness as an ISV.

Datacap’s industry-standard integrated payments solutions empower any Point of Sale, regardless of architecture, with the payments flexibility to accommodate any merchant. Via one simple interface, POS developers can keep pace with evolving trends and payment industry standards, so they can spend development dollars on POS innovation rather than payments.