Are customers ready to do their own ordering by SMS?

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Debra Straka on July 26, 2008 at 12:52pm

I read that on "Smart Brief" as well. When the major grocery chains around here started putting in self-check out terminals they remained mostly empty (amazing when you would see lines of people and carts 10-15 deep), but slowly I often see people checking out at these terminals. I prefer them as I can use my canvas bags and bag my own groceries faster usually then going through a checker. Like everything else, ATM's, cell phones computers and even restaurants, the most resistent will eventually learn to use self service as long as it can be done quickly. It does give a whole new meaning to service and the service industry.

Permalink Reply by Noah Herbert Glass on December 13, 2008 at 8:56pm

Glad you saw that post.

As one of the companies featured and the first to offer text message ordering in the US, I can safely say yes, Americans are really up to the task. :)

Text message and online ordering are great ways for restaurants to fundamentally shift where food ordering transactions take place. The point of sale is no longer locked within the four walls of the restaurant; it's everywhere you customers are!

Please learn more by visiting us at GoMobo

Permalink Reply by David Curtis on February 5, 2009 at 6:23am

Each new technology has a certain adoption period that takes time for folks to adapt its use. Certainly the SMS / Mobile phone ordering and other personal ordering technologies represent a new way of conducting a transaction and as with many things in the mobile arena will be adopted first by the youngest among our consumers. The Gen Y'ers and millenials have grown up with these technologies much like we did with telephones, color TV, and to a certain extent computers. These are the first adopters of these technologies and the drivers for adoption for restaurants and other retail businesses. That being said, take a walk around your restaurant, who are your customers. If you are like Ted's you might see a lot business folks, families, late boomers, and gen X'ers (folks in the 30's, 40's and 50's). If this is your customer, you are not likely going to be needing to adopt this technology in the near future until it trickles up from their kids / grandkids. One telling place to look is in your feedback e-mail. I get more e-mail from service providers and vendors than I do from customers who decry the lack of this service in our restaurants. So, as with so many things, it comes down to know who your customer is and adapt to their age groups cultural needs. If you have a lot of young folks in your restaurant, this is a technology to look at.