Whether you’re already a café owner or you’re thinking of opening your own café, there are things that you may have overlooked when considering how to run your business. Everyone knows that running your own business is difficult, but they may not be aware of the technologies available to them out there that can not only help them run it but also make it more attractive to customers.
Here are some essential technologies that you should use in your café in order to grow your business.
Point of Sale Software
The truth is that very few people use cash these days, even for something as small as a coffee. That’s why you’ll need a point of sale (POS) system in order to process debit and credit card transactions. With the right merchant services provider (the ones who supply and manage your POS system) you’ll be able to:
- Placeand process orders
- Automatically track inventory levels
- Accept gift cards, split cheques, transfer tabs, and apply tips
- Use mobile devices like an iPad and credit card reader attachment to take orders
- Get the latest credit and debit card machines that can even come handheld
- Data encryption to protect your customers’ data
Customers these days expect the ability to make payments quickly, safely, and easily, and you won’t be able to do that without an advanced POS software solution.
Free Social WiFi
When people think of a café they often think of it as a place where they might be able to settle in with a coffee and do some work or studying. According to this article on LinkedIn.com, 75% of people surveyed think that WiFi is the second-most important element that a café needs (the first being, obviously, coffee).
Because of this, it might be a good idea to offer your customers social WiFi, which is an alternative to your standard WiFi that requires them to select your WiFi connection from a list and then enter a password. Instead, customers can login to your public WiFi using Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and other social networks in order to gain access. They’ll be prompted to like your café, share their location, etc., which is great for promoting your business. Meanwhile, your customers can enjoy free secure WiFi with ease.
A Website
This is probably the most obvious one on the list, but no business today can successfully run without a website. A website gives people a chance to check your establishment before making the commitment to visit, and if they can’t find a website, they’ll likely not visit at all.
Your website should have key information like a menu, your hours of operation, location, and also your contact information. You can also use your website to advertise specials or events that you might have coming up, like if you plan on a hosting a local artist’s performance.
There’s so much you can do with the latest technology available today, so if you’re thinking of starting up your own café, or want to improve your existing café, then don’t forget these items above – with them, your business will grow and have more chances of success.
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