The #1 Way to Reduce Restaurant Costs with Online Ordering

Online ordering can boost restaurant revenue and make the customer experience better. But its benefits go beyond that. Online ordering also helps reduce operating and labor costs.

Online ordering systems also help create savings in:

• Marketing 

• Operational expenses 

• Third-party delivery fees

To learn more, keep reading.

UNDERSTANDING RESTAURANT LABOR COSTS 

Labor is right behind food in restaurant costs. It is usually 25-35% of sales­­. These costs increased 18.3% between 2019 and 2022, according to the National Restaurant Association. In 2024, the NRA found that 98% of operators say labor costs are a major concern. This is up from 89% in 2023. 

This is caused by:

• Increasing minimum wages

• The struggle to keep staff

• Post-pandemic operational changes

But an online ordering system can help you reduce labor costs.

LOWER LABOR COSTS WITH A FIRST-PARTY ONLINE ORDERING SYSTEM 

Use a first-party online ordering system to help lower labor costs. It automates: 

• Order processing

• Payment transactions 

• Inventory control

Your own online ordering system makes work easier for your staff. Your team can put more attention to: 

• Enhancing guest interactions 

• Upselling

• Improving loyalty programs

Replace printed menus with digital

Digital menus reduce costs. Let's look at Toastique, a toast and juice bar with 20 locations. With Paytronix Online Ordering and Order Experience BuilderSM, Toastique saves three hours on every adjustment to the mobile app’s online ordering menu. 

Paytronix puts menu management in one place across locations. That saves Toastique time and restaurant labor costs. It also gives the brand more control over guest engagement strategy. 

Online menus offer several cost-saving advantages: 

• No cost for reprints: Updating paper menus is expensive. Online menus eliminate 80% of menu-related costs. 
• Quick menu changes: You can quickly update items or prices without reprints. Because the average restaurant menu is updated three times per year, that saves hours of labor costs. 
• Visual appeal: An online menu makes for better visuals. 
• Sustainability: Going digital reduces the environmental impact of paper waste, accounting for about 26% of landfill volume (The World Counts). 

Easily update your online menu

Optimizing your online ordering menu is a must. It is a powerful sales tool when it is:

• Current 

• Optimized

• Enticing

Adding a menu to your ordering system offers many advantages, including: 

• Better menu management: For operators with multiple locations, Paytronix Enterprise Menu and Setting Management allows you to make edits across groups of restaurants.

Four menu strategies:  

1. Test menus: Create multiple digital menus and test them to see which is best.
2. Highlight popular items: Show your best-selling dishes and promote them with strong placement. 
3. Find upsells: Recommend items based on customer choices to increase spend. 
4. Inventory management: Make sure items on your online ordering menu are always available.