Wagamama
Noodle bar chain Wagamama has become the first UK restaurant group to implement a fully integrated iPhone delivery application, which will eventually facilitate ordering from all its locations.
The company has teamed up with iPhone maker Apple and hospitality systems provider Micros to integrate phone ordering with its point of sale systems and central database.
The implementation means Wagamama customers can now place and pay for an order that they collect at an agreed time. The ordering process is accelerated significantly by eliminating the interaction with a member of staff over the telephone and processing the order online via the iPhone app.
The system remembers the customer by creating a unique account portfolio, which includes all previous orders, simplifying order entry for repeat customers. Wagamama hopes that offering a fully integrated online ordering service will improve overall guest experience and employee efficiency, with additional benefits including order tracking and links with kitchen systems.
Wagamama chief executive Steve Hill says: "At Wagamama, we have always embraced the newest technology, and we are proud to be first to market in the restaurant sector with our new iPhone app.
"Bringing the Wagamama experience to the iPhone offers more flexible ordering than ever before, coupled with the speed and quality of service that our customers know and love."
TGI Friday's
TGI Friday's has implemented a wireless card payment system across its 46 UK restaurants.
The Ocius VX670 system, from card payment processing software provider Commidea, has been integrated fully with TGI Friday's Micros electronic point of sale (EPoS) system, which enables full "pay at table" functionality.
This means that waiting staff can complete a bill transaction without having to return to the central till. Staff just need to swipe their employee card through the mobile terminal and select the correct table.
The Chip & PIN system can manage tips; split bill payments such as half card, half cash; and can also process gift cards.
The advanced reporting feature has also reduced administration, as the system is completely integrated with EPoS payments and can produce one central report.
The software is pre-approved by all UK card companies and meets PCI DSS security compliance requirements.
Jeremy Dunderdale, IT manager at TGI Friday's UK, says: "In the past, we used slow dial-up terminals that only allowed one terminal connection per line. Our serving staff had to leave the table to clear the bill, which could frustrate the waiting guests. There was often a delay closing bills for tables on the EPoS solution, which skewed our data. Now it is dealt with swiftly at the table.
"The 'pay at table' system will make a significant difference to service levels, credit card and guest statistical reporting."
Marcus Wareing at the Berkeley
Marcus Wareing at the Berkeley in London has implemented new EPoS and table management software from supplier Agilysys.
The two-Michelin-starred restaurant, opened by former Gordon Ramsay Holdings chef Wareing in 2008, is using InfoGenesis POS, an EPoS system that combines reporting and configuration capabilities with a touch-screen terminal application, and ResPAK software for dining reservations and table management.
The restaurant is already reaping the benefits of the deployment. It was keen to print bespoke customer receipts on high-quality paper, using a layout and font of its choosing. This was eventually achieved by adding a special software program to change the layout sent via InfoGenesis POS, creating unique receipts that reflect the restaurant's fine dining ethos.
Wareing says: "Our goal is to deliver first class hospitality to every guest. We rely on effective systems in our back of house, including ResPAK and InfoGenesis POS, to help our front-of-house team reach our goal. We are not using every facet available to us yet but, with these systems, we are already seeing an improvement in how we work. We see the value of accurate records and the benefit of accurate billing, even for a business as small as ours."
Middlesbrough FC events team
Middlesbrough FC's special events team, Riverside Events, recently rolled out events management software from supplier Clarity Commerce to enhance the club's hospitality facilities on non-match days.
Non-match day revenue is extremely important to the football club and the ClarityLive for Hospitality software will enable Riverside Events to host a variety of events on days when games are not taking place.
The software allows the events team to customise stationery and documentation for each event without the assistance of the support desk, while the diary checklist option ensures the efficient and effective management of sales, with follow-up calls.
One major benefit of the software was highlighted during last year's festive period when the events team used the multi-room option for Christmas party bookings. They kept everything electronic, even inputting the Christmas menu choices into their event manager system, making it easy to pass information to the venue services team efficiently.
Teresa Dickson, special events co-ordinator at Middlesbrough FC, says: "The software has made managing our off-field operations very straightforward, allowing us to take a flexible approach to our events organisation. Crucially, it has enabled us to be efficient from an initial enquiry right the way through to delivering the event on the day and invoicing clients."
For the next stage of implementation, Riverside Events will integrate match day bookings into the Clarity software.
Apex London Wall
The new four-star Apex London Wall hotel has installed a wired and wireless high speed internet access system to ensure it can offer its guests full Wi-Fi access.
The 89-room hotel contracted Rieo Communications, the hospitality broadband provider, to install the system and provide round-the-clock support.
Rieo Communications provides a full 24/7 helpdesk facility for both guests and hotel staff. It also monitors the networks for any faults in a bid to maintain uptime and provides monthly online reports on the number of sessions, the bandwidth used and the number of guest calls to IT support.
Andrew Jacques, IT director of Apex Hotels, says: "We like to include Wi-Fi in our room rate. Guests expect it to be there, and to be 100% up and running; and they need a quick resolution to any problem. The real-time monitoring offered by Rieo was one of the main drivers for choosing the company."
The move reflects the focus Apex places on technology at its hotels. The group, which has seven hotels in London and Edinburgh, recently introduced an e-signature system for check-in. Guests sign an electronic screen that is linked to the central reservation system, removing all paper from the process.