GRUBBRR, the industry-leading provider of self-ordering technologies, continues to revolutionize the way commerce is transacted globally. This past holiday season, GRUBBRR offered free employees to restaurants struggling to survive amid the labor shortage, and will continue the promotion through the New Year.
They are providing free employees in the form of the Samsung Kiosk powered by GRUBBRR to all qualified restaurant operators determined to keep their doors open. By providing this free kiosk employee, GRUBBRR enables restaurants to deploy a dynamic labor solution that has been proven to decrease operating costs, increase revenue, and improve the customer experience.
With the extension of the promotion, GRUBBRR is also looking to reach new customers within the QSR, fast casual, and retail industries to help them innovate their businesses with self-ordering technology.
GRUBBRR helps operators affected by the labor shortage beyond the holidays.
“The pandemic caused numerous challenges across industries by shutting virtually everything down. But, for us, the pandemic proved to be a good thing as it expedited the implementation of self-ordering technology within the restaurant industry,” says Sam Zietz, CEO of GRUBBRR. “Businesses now had to meet consumer demand for clean, contactless, virtual ordering. That is exactly where GRUBBRR comes in.”
The analogy Zietz uses to describe the growth of GRUBBRR is the implementation of technology within the banking and travel industries. Before technology, people would go to the bank and make deposits and withdrawals from a teller. Now, people bank using online banking and ATMs. The same is true for air travel.
“This same business model has started happening to the restaurant industry using kiosks, mobile or online ordering, whether through a website or third-party delivery service,” says Zietz. “GRUBBRR developed these technologies early to become a leader in the industry.”
Samsung and GRUBBRR are making self-ordering technology affordable and accessible like never before. “Now that we’ve partnered with Samsung, we’ve completely democratized the cost of kiosks making them both accessible and affordable. For less than $3,000 a unit, you can transform your business with a self-ordering kiosk.”
However, the timeline for implementing innovation within the restaurant industry was drastically accelerated, with many operators looking to implement self-ordering technology now instead of waiting years to invest. Zietz explains that the three main factors influencing this acceleration are the pandemic, rising minimum wage, and the booming gig economy. All of these factors have contributed to one of the greatest labor shortages in American history.
“Workers don’t want to return to an industry with poor working conditions. Restaurant operators don’t want to or can’t afford to improve these conditions. As such, these workers have found other industries,” he explains. For restaurant operators, this means they will have to find other solutions to the labor shortage, such as self-ordering technology.
Consumers prefer to use self-ordering technology as it delivers a curated personal experience that is quick, easy, and correct every time. Gone are the days of waiting in long lines, dealing with rude employees, and sending back incorrect orders. Instead, customers can order at their own pace from a kiosk or other device and be assured that their food will be delivered quickly and accurately.
Recent surveys indicate that 65 percent of customers would visit a restaurant more often if self-service kiosks were offered. In addition, 70 percent of consumers prefer to order digitally when at a restaurant. Self-ordering kiosks increase restaurant revenue through customized upselling technology. The kiosk will remember past orders, execute suggestive selling, and even curate the menu based on weather and time of day.
Nevertheless, restaurant operators are still hesitant to try new technology. “Restaurant owners are used to throwing cheap labor at their problems. They have been notorious laggards when it comes to implementing technology. Given the current labor shortage, restaurants can no longer find nor afford labor to solve their problems and must turn to self-ordering technology,” says Zietz.
According to Restaurant Business Online, restaurant employment has decreased by 8 percent since the pandemic began. More than one million restaurant workers are gone, with 25 percent planning to leave the industry for good.
In total, over 110,000 U.S. restaurants have closed since the beginning of the pandemic. The labor shortage is devastating an industry already fraught with razor-thin profit margins and high closure rates.
Deploying self-service technology such as the Samsung Kiosk powered by GRUBBRR allows operators to adapt to the labor shortage by repurposing employees to other functions of the business. For example, replacing a cashier with a kiosk enables that cashier to be moved to the production line, thereby increasing throughput and revenue. The kiosk is affordable, easy to install, and customizable to any business. Kiosks always show up, always upsell, never call in sick, and are ready to work 24/7, even on the holidays.
Implementing kiosks also allows restaurants to streamline efficiency, reducing average transaction time. In addition, self-ordering kiosks also minimize human contact and eliminate ordering errors, reducing food waste when wrong orders are thrown in the trash. GRUBBRR also allows businesses to implement integrations, such as loyalty programs and discount codes, that reward consumers.
What’s more, consumers spend on average 12 to 20 percent more when they order with their eyes and with touch from a self-service kiosk than from a cashier. The one-time cost to install a kiosk is a fraction of the price of carrying a cashier. On average, keeping a cashier at a quick-service restaurant open 15 hours per day will cost more than $6,000 monthly. The Samsung Kiosk powered by GRUBBRR is available for less than $3,000 for the whole unit.
“During the coming year, the labor shortage is going to continue, and restaurants will have no choice but to implement self-ordering technology if they want to survive,” says Zietz.
Zietz has been in the Fintech space for almost 20 years. When he met Bhavin Asher, the founder and creator of GRUBBRR, Zietz knew this was the future. “We were in sync together on what the future of the restaurant industry looks like,” explains Zietz. “It is our core belief that the cashier is obsolete, as well as the traditional point of sale system.”
With this free employee promotion, GRUBBRR aims to help restaurant operators thrive amid the labor shortage by providing them with a dynamic kiosk employee. To qualify for the promotion, operators must have multiple open locations within the fast casual, quick service, or retail industries. Those eligible will receive the Samsung Kiosk powered by GRUBBRR, including hardware and software, for a free 60-day no-obligation trial.
To apply for a kiosk or learn more about GRUBBRR solutions, visit www.grubbrr.com/free or connect on socials including LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok.
