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“Grow or die” has long been an axiom of the restaurant business. With the global pandemic receding and labor costs rising, restaurants are adjusting to serving larger groups while trying to overcome competition from virtual brands. From touch-and-go streamlined operations to ghost-kitchen preparation, the Paytronix platform minimizes growing pains for your innovative brand.

1. Capacity Management: Even in the heat of a rush, Paytronix keeps your kitchen cool. As demand for ordering and delivery has increased, underprepared restaurants have been buckling under the pressure, often cancelling or confusing customers’ orders. Labor shortages and disruptions in the supply chain have created a volatile delivery market, leaving restaurants in need of a tool to manage order capacity and communicate effectively with customers. The Menu Throttling feature from Paytronix enables staff to get ahead of the curve, effortlessly toggling delivery status to prevent kitchen backups and errors.

2. Easy Set up for Ghost kitchens: Paytronix takes your ghost kitchen from a phantasm to a reality.  Its best-in-class Order Experience Builder is intuitive and flexible, perfect for a thriving ghost kitchen. You can easily add or remove menu items through a platform that works across all devices and conveniently integrates with delivery services to provide estimated delivery times. In addition, you don’t need to fear the specter of a tablet farm like the one pictured to the right. Integrations with third-party platforms mean that the status of an individual menu item can be updated automatically. So if you’re haunted by the thought of opening a ghost kitchen, who you gonna call?

3. Menu management: Paytronix helps ensure accurate menus to avoid customer frustration. Since the pandemic accelerated the digitalization of ordering and delivery, many restaurants now display their menus on the apps of third-party delivery services. Keeping those menus current can be a pain, especially amid widespread out-of-stocks and inflation, but Handoff^SM from Paytronix allows restaurants to update their menu pricing and items from a single hub – in real time. Beyond being able to inform customers of menu changes to prevent canceled orders, you can experiment with menu pricing to see what works best for both your guests and your restaurant.
    

The Paytronix platform keeps management clear and easy by centralizing your control over data and the customer experience. And when your brand is ready, Paytronix effortlessly mobilizes your order and delivery solution into a ghost-kitchen setup – without the jump scares. 

Request a demo of Paytronix Order & Delivery or consult the great tech resources on the Paytronix website.

QDOBA’s streamlined new rewards program is an example of how to build loyalty by offering guests a great customer experience and listening to what matters.

We know that a better customer experience does great things for a brand. Well-designed and executed loyalty programs, especially programs like this one, can have a substantial impact on visit frequency, incremental revenue, and overall customer lifetime value. Research conducted by Paytronix and PYMNTS found that 70% of quick-service and fast-casual patrons take advantage of loyalty programs offered by several restaurants they purchase from frequently, and 64% of customers use loyalty programs at multiple restaurants from which they frequently purchase.

But it’s also true that what works today cannot work forever, so it’s important to have a technology platform in place that offers flexibility, and a team that knows how to take full advantage of a platform.

QDOBA is a long-time Paytronix partner, with a very successful loyalty program. But we are always looking for ways to increase revenue and to make the entire experience better. Working with the Paytronix Data Insights team, QDOBA took a deep dive into the data, asking questions of both active and lapsed users to understand how they interact with the brand, what they love, and what they want.

Guests made a few things clear. They loved the food and they loved earning rewards that got them free meals, but they wanted it to be easier. In short, easy redemption and relevant, compelling rewards are key to strong member engagement.

The result is a simplified program that offers a fast path to rewards which increases visit frequency and boosts customer acquisition.

It’s this kind of work that creates a thoughtful program that keeps the customer front and center.

Paytronix-powered loyalty programs are among the best in the country at keeping customers happy, according to Newsweek‘s annual “America’s Best Loyalty Programs” rankings.

Newsweek’s independent survey of more than 4,000 loyalty program customers included those
for restaurants, retailers, and service providers. With over 20,000 evaluations collected, they based their final rankings on six criteria:

1. Ease & Enjoyment – how much do customers like being in the program?
2. Benefit – do customers think the rewards are worth it?
3. Overall satisfaction – did the program fulfill customer expectations?
4. Customer Support – how happy are customers with the way things are handled when
   something goes wrong?
5. Trust – are customers alright with the way the loyalty program uses personal data?
6. Recommendations – how likely are they to recommend the program to friends or family?

An impressive 13 Paytronix-powered brands made the Newsweek list:

Top Ranking Restaurants and C-Stores Using Paytronix:

Andy’s Frozen Custard

No membership fees, a free treat just for registering, bonus point offers – these are just a few of the ways Andy’s Frozen Custard has mastered keeping customers coming back, again and again.

Learn why rewarding your guests early on, providing point tracking, and other aspects of Andy’s model are crucial for a loyalty program to succeed here.

Peet’s Coffee

When Peet’s revamped its loyalty program to Peetnik Rewards, the company delivered on three important objectives: personalization, flexibility, and visibility. Customers can choose their reward, redeem it on their own time, and track their rewards – all from one mobile app platform so they can bring a piece of Peet’s wherever they go.

Bruster’s Real Ice Cream

Equally sweet (and real) as the ice cream at Buster’s are the rewards. Customers earn a point for every dollar spent at any participating Bruster’s location. And since ice cream is a reason to celebrate, Bruster offers a referral award along with a Birthday treat. There’s plenty more to the surprises, delights, and bankable points at Bruster’s.

Curious whether a program like theirs is right for your brand? Learn more here.

QDOBA

It’s okay to double dip at Qdoba – well, not like that. QDOBA’s recent revamp features a two-tiered loyalty program (foodie and chef) that offers more rewards (and queso dip) than ever. After visiting 12 or more times per year, “foodie” guests are upgraded to chef status and gain access to a ton of bonus points, mystery offers, and seasonal challenges.

P.F. Chang’s

When you earn a reward at P.F. Chang’s, they make sure it counts. Customers earn 10 points for every $1 spent and at 2,000 rewards points, customers receive a $15 credit to use on anything they want, from dim sum, to entrees, to dessert. Traveling for your Birthday? P.F. Chang’s prefers a birthday month – customers can redeem your complimentary dessert or appetizer at any point within the special month.

Learn more about what Birthday rewards programs can do for your brand here.

Caribou Coffee

Caribou Coffee is all about thinking ahead – from buy-online-pickup-in-store (BOPIS) orders to product sneak peeks, Caribou’s loyalty program is fully caffeinated and ready for what’s next. Customers earn 2 points per $1 spent on a great variety of products and loyalty members enjoy exclusive access to offers and birthday rewards.

California Pizza Kitchen

“An instant party for your tastebuds” says California Pizza Kitchen about its loyalty program offerings. With built-in incentives like free small plates for new registrants, California Pizza Kitchen has partied its way to the top.

Thinking a tiered automatic conversion program may be right for your brand? Learn more here.

Panera Bread

Panera is here for every kind of loyal customer. Panera veterans are impressed by the degree of personalization but kept on their toes with surprise offers. Businesses love the catering rewards, and for those who aren’t quite ready to jump into MyPanera appreciate a 3-month free trial to the “Free Coffee & Tea” subscription program.

Learn more about Panera’s subscription program here.

Einstein Bros. Bagels. 

Who doesn’t love free bagels? The Shmear Society rewards program at Einstein Bagels lets customers “eat the benefits,” by cashing in accrued points on rewards of their choice. And it all happens from an easy-to-use mobile app.

Jimmy John’s

Jimmy John’s Freaky Fast Rewards program rewards customers for “what they already do – eating sandwiches.” In a world of complex loyalty programs, Jimmy Johns keeps it simple fast with free sandwiches, sneak peeks at new menu items, and special promotions.

Learn how to optimize your loyalty program and begin driving revenue for your brand here.

Papa Murphy’s

Papa Murphy’s treats their loyal customers as “pizza insiders.” The brand’s MySLICE rewards program goes the extra mile to get to know customers, allowing them to save favorite orders and locations to make the next transaction even easier than the last.

Dutch Bros

You don’t have to Double Dutch your way to rewards at Dutch Bros. With attainable rewards conversions and contactless payments, Dutch Bros lets you win early on – and gives you stickers to show off.

Learn more about how contactless payments can smooth out your loyalty program.

MAPCO

Customers taking pit stops at MAPCO are winning the savings race. With MAPCO MY Reward$, customers save 3 cents on every gallon and can earn points both at the pump and in the store.

Learn how loyalty programs can help bring your convenience store to the next level here.

A top loyalty program is a sign that a brand values its top customers and knows what will keep them coming back.

Congratulations to these brands for putting their customers first, with Paytronix.

As 2021 comes to a close, the Paytronix team took a look at some of our favorite apps from restaurants and c-stores.

In its early days, order and delivery services were an indulgence, a treat for the occasional lazy night-in after a long workday. But during the pandemic, online delivery became a lifeline for people stuck at home, and a competitive edge for c-stores and restaurants. Now we’re entering the next phase with “ghost kitchens” and “dark stores” rising out of vacated storefronts that were once home to traditional mom and pop businesses. These stores operate virtually, fielding orders digitally, fulfilling them behind closed doors, and dispatching couriers within minutes. 

Today, mobile apps have become front and center for all brands, which means that restaurants and c-stores are transforming their apps to seamlessly integrate all of their services into a single touch-and-go hub. These services include:

• Loyalty programs
• NFC and in-app payments
• Multi-channel messaging
• Geo-tracking
• Customizations such as product favorites and re-order capabilities

Experience is everything. A successful app captures the essence of your brand and delivers your services to customers in seamless and exciting ways.