Any business owner running a café knows time is a valuable commodity – and there are usually too few hours in the day as it is. Because you’re focused on managing staff, budgets, customer service and the quality of your product, less-important tasks can fall by the wayside. That’s where technology can help. These four tech tools will streamline your café business and give you more time to focus on what’s most important: your customers.
1. Payroll software can improve your bottom line
As a small business owner it will benefit you to have a bookkeeper or accountant to manage your finances at tax time is obvious. However when it comes to weekly tasks such as dealing with payroll, it pays to invest in software technology to take the manual element out of this.
Online accounting apps can give you back those hours. Xero and QuickBooks are popular options for small business owners, as their user-friendly interfaces are super-customisable. They will provide an accurate snapshot of how your business is doing, and best of all they have a free trial period so you can make sure it’s the right solution for you.
2. POS software will keep customers coming back
The most obvious way to improve your café’s cash flow is by driving more sales. But that doesn’t necessarily mean upselling customers. With a mobile point-of-sale (POS) system, you can make the customer experience easier, speed up orders and simplify payments.
There are lots of POS systems available, with popular options like Square and Vend allowing you to create receipts and accept payments on any smartphone or tablet. Not only that, but POS systems can track and transfer inventory, customise buttons to accept different payment methods, create individual profiles for your staff and much more.
3. Let customers order before arriving
Having a dedicated app for your café might be a bit beyond your current needs – and expenses – but that doesn’t mean you can’t jump on the online-ordering bandwagon and boost your cash flow.
Whether it’s EatNow, Menulog, Deliveroo, Uber Eats or any other popular food-ordering platform, taking the time to investigate whether it could work for your café business is worth considering. Not only does it make it easier for regulars to order their food and coffee before dropping into your café, but it can integrate with your Facebook page, and you can even show up on the platform’s map to target hungry customers nearby.
4. Streamline day-to-day tasks with online technology
Running an efficient café business means juggling multiple projects at all times. You need to roster employees across multiple locations while also monitoring attendance and time billing. Then there’s the daily to-do tasks and managing inventory. Without a little help, things can get hectic.
Online tools can provide that much-needed help. With a fully customised solution dedicated to your café business, you can rest easy knowing tasks like rostering and workplace communication are streamlined for your convenience, freeing up time for more important things like your employees and customers.
It’s worth investigating technology solutions not only for yourself, but to improve your staff’s work experience as well. After all, happy employees equal greater retention – and streamlined services equal greater profits for your business.
Want to start boosting business in your cafe? Sign up for a free trial with Deputy today!
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