Why Self-Order Kiosks Are Such a No-Brainer for Hospitality Owners

Let's face it: running a hospitality business today is no walk in the park. Between staff shortages, rising costs, and ever-higher guest expectations, restaurant owners and managers are turning to smart tech to stay ahead. Enter the self-order kiosk – a sleek, intuitive touchscreen that's revolutionizing how guests interact with your business. Whether you're running a fast-food chain, an airport café, or a buzzing beach club, kiosks can seriously elevate your operation. Here's how.

With a self-order kiosk in place, fewer front-of-house employees are needed to take orders and process payments. That translates into significant cost savings for your business. Instead of manning the counter, your staff can focus on other high-value tasks like food prep, hospitality, and ensuring quality. It's a smart way to streamline operations and optimize team performance, especially during peak hours.

Ever feel rushed when ordering at a busy counter? So do your guests. Kiosks eliminate that pressure. In fact, QSR Magazine reports that customers spend about 20% more time placing orders on a kiosk – and when they're not rushed, they make better (and often bigger) choices.

People are more comfortable exploring the menu when they're in control. No judgment. No pressure. Just a screen, some tasty options, and time to think.

Kiosks don't just take orders, they sell smarter. Through intelligent upselling, they suggest tempting add-ons at just the right moment:

• Eye-catching visuals and prompts ("Add bacon for €1?")
• Consistent upsell offers – every time, with no training needed
• No awkwardness – guests can say yes or no without feeling judged

According to Forbes (2023), upselling via kiosks can lift your average order value by up to 15%. That's some serious ROI!

Got a high-margin combo meal or seasonal special you want to push? A kiosk makes it easy. You control the design, flow, and visual hierarchy. Put your top items front and center, use bright colors or larger images, and promote what matters most to your business. No need to rely on staff remembering it all.

Bonus: you can use the kiosk's home screen as a billboard for promos, events, or limited-time deals.

Tourists? International guests? No problem. With multilingual support, kiosks let customers choose their preferred language, making the ordering process smoother and more inclusive. Fewer misunderstandings. Happier guests.

Talking to a stranger to place an order isn't everyone's cup of tea, especially for younger generations. A PYMNTS.com (2022) study found that 54% of Gen-Z and 49% of millennials prefer ordering from a screen. And it's not just them, many guests from other generations appreciate the freedom to browse and order at their own pace.

Traditional counters take up a ton of space. Kiosks? Not so much. Many are double-sided, meaning more guests can order in less space – perfect for busy or compact venues, making room for extra tables and work space.

Kiosks can automatically update your menu based on stock with many POS systems. When an item sells out, it disappears from the menu, reducing disappointment and saving your staff from explaining it 100 times, giving the guests and your staff a bad experience.

• Auto-switching menus (breakfast → lunch → dinner)
• Fewer order errors, no messy handwriting, typos or misunderstandings
• Real-time data insights to optimize your menu and service
• Faster transactions during rush hours

Self-order kiosks aren't just a tech trend, they're a powerful tool to streamline operations, boost revenue, and meet your guests where they are. Whether you're looking to reduce staffing stress, sell more, or simply create a smoother guest experience, kiosks are worth a serious look.

Ready to see how a kiosk could transform your business? Let's talk.