The biggest football game of the year is the ultimate test for restaurants – a non-stop rush of fans, food, and orders coming in from every direction. With packed dining rooms, surging takeout and delivery orders, and a demand spike that feels like a fourth-quarter comeback, it’s arguably one of the busiest days of the year for most restaurants.
A strong game plan can turn this stressful event into a blowout win, but without the right technology, restaurants risk setbacks like long wait times, stock shortages, and overwhelmed staff. Just like a championship team relies on strategy and execution, restaurant brands need to leverage the right tech that keeps operations running smoothly and maximizes profits. From a POS that can handle the blitz of orders to Restaurant Operations Management solutions that keep staff in top shape, the right solutions help dominate gameday.
Here are 6 tech tips that will help restaurants score big during the National Championship:
A Winning POS System for High-Volume Days
The Big Game will surely put any restaurant’s operations to the test. With a surge of guests and orders, the key to maintaining control is leveraging a POS System that performs under pressure like a championship-caliber quarterback. An advanced POS system, like PAR POS, can handle high-order volumes, split checks quickly, and streamline payments without missing a beat.
But it’s not just about speed; efficiency is equally crucial. During the National Championship, restaurants must seamlessly manage both in-house and off-premises dining. Your POS must integrate with online ordering platforms and third-party delivery services to ensure no orders slip through the cracks. This keeps kitchens running smoothly, helps staff stay on track, and ensures customers receive their orders promptly and correctly. Whether it’s wings, pizza, or cold drinks, these integrations keep restaurants in the game and service flowing smoothly.
Know Your Opponent: Personalizing the Game-Day Experience with Customer Data and Digital Wallets
Just like the head coach studies the competition before a big game, restaurants must understand their customers’ preferences and behaviors to prepare for major events like the National Championship. With a modern POS, payments platform, and loyalty system, restaurants can gain valuable insights into their customers’ preferences, order history, and favorite game-day foods.
With this data, restaurants can personalize the experience to meet their guest’s needs and expectations. Whether it’s offering targeted promotions on popular items, sending exclusive rewards to loyal fans, or creating personalized marketing campaigns through digital wallet loyalty, leveraging customer data effectively can enhance guest satisfaction and increase repeat business.
And with guests in a rush to catch every second of the game, they don’t want to waste time on lengthy loyalty sign-ups. Digital wallets enable frictionless loyalty enrollment by turning quick transactions into lasting relationships. Instead of filling out forms or handing over contact details at checkout, guests can instantly join the loyalty program with a single tap to pay and start earning rewards right away. This streamlined experience keeps guests happy and engaged while providing restaurants with the tools needed to grow their loyalty base effortlessly.
For restaurants already using Apple Wallet loyalty, designing a National Championship-themed pass adds an extra layer of excitement. Once updated, guests will see the refreshed design in their wallets, creating a fun, game-day moment that strengthens their connection to the brand. These small touches turn casual visitors into loyal fans, ensuring restaurants win big, long after the final play.
Play to Your Strengths: Optimizing Labor for the Big Game
The National Championship is no time for a one-dimensional approach to staffing. Restaurants need a game plan that’s flexible and can pivot with the flow of customers. By leveraging labor management and scheduling tools within a comprehensive restaurant operations solution like PAR OPS, restaurant brands can gain real-time insights into customer traffic patterns. This helps restaurants forecast peak rushes and adjust staffing levels accordingly, ensuring both front-of-house and kitchen teams are properly staffed during key moments.
With the ability to make quick adjustments, staff can serve efficiently and keep the atmosphere lively without burning out. Plus, real-time tracking of labor costs and performance ensures restaurants are not only prepared for the big game but also help optimize budgets and resources.
Don’t Fumble Your Stock: Inventory Management
Nothing throws a wrench in the game like running out of best-sellers during critical moments. By leveraging a robust inventory management solution, restaurants can track stock levels in real-time, ensuring they are always ready for the big plays.
Additionally, these solutions offer predictive tools that forecast demand by analyzing trends, special events, and past sales, helping restaurants stay stocked and prepared for shifts in demand. As orders roll in, the system alerts operators when it’s time to restock or adjust the menu, ultimately avoiding shortages. Integrating inventory with your POS ensures the kitchen stays on track and inventory levels are updated in real-time. With the right tools, restaurants can keep their kitchen running smoothly and deliver the perfect play every time.
Call an Audible: Pay at the Table (SMS/QR Codes)
When the game gets intense, the last thing guests want is to wait for the check. Integrating payment solutions, like PAR Pay, with your POS opens the door for pay-at-the-table options which ensure smooth, quick transactions, allowing guests to settle their tabs with QR codes or SMS without waiting for a server. This seamless integration speeds up the payment process, maintaining the momentum and enabling staff to turn tables faster.
With fewer delays, guests can stay focused on enjoying the game while restaurants maximize sales and efficiency. Plus, this integration reduces the risk of bottlenecks, helping restaurants maintain a steady rhythm throughout the day and close out the game with a win.
Recovering Lost Revenue: Turning Setbacks into Wins
With the surge in National Championship orders, missing or incorrect deliveries can chip away at your bottom line. A strong loss recovery tool within a complete restaurant operations management solution like PAR OPS ensures restaurants can reclaim revenue efficiently. By leveraging technology that monitors transactions 24/7, restaurants can identify and dispute recoverable losses from third-party delivery platforms like DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub.
Automated reporting provides instant insights into disputes and recovered funds, keeping restaurants in control of their finances. The right solution must streamline the process, reducing manual work and maximizing the money recovered, ultimately helping restaurants stay profitable even after the final whistle blows.
For restaurants, the Big Game is more than just a game; it’s a chance for them to shine and make a lasting impact on their guests. From optimizing labor and inventory to seamless pay-at-the-table solutions, technology is the MVP of your game-day strategy. So, suit up, get your tech in top shape, and prepare to score big during the National Championship this weekend.
