HoReCa stands for Hotel Retail Café, one of the most dynamic, competitive and complex business sectors. Experts estimate the global HoReCa market size will grow at a CAGR of 3.15%, with a value of USD 2.38 trillion by 2030. Based on its experience in restaurant app development, DigitalMara has compiled a list of tech trends that are shaping the industry. This market is strongly affected by technology, innovation and changing customer preferences, while the pandemic has spurred the growth of contactless technologies.

The DigitalMara team has collaborated with a big IT vendor to work in the HoReCa domain, working on an extensive project for restaurants with the aim of seeing it used widely across Europe. The developed application allows hospitality industry accountants to keep track of resources in real-time and wait staff to serve guests and accept payments using mobile devices and terminals.

These venues are looking for solutions that assist in internal regular operations and at the same time help them deliver the best possible customer experience. The software solves a wide range of tasks, from logistics and accounting to staff management and customer engagement. HoReCa application development is progressing in the following directions:

Automated inventory management software: This serves to assist kitchen personnel and accountants, who can use it to track the goods in stock, monitor deliveries, and keep all accounts in order. The system also is capable of creating flowcharts that calculate the cost of each meal.

Cloud-based POS systems: These combine features such as a restaurant CRM solution, guest feedback, reporting, analytics and payroll, and should be integrated with an inventory management platform. Such POS systems are flexible and scalable, providing high-speed processing and convenience to guest services.

Digital kitchen boards: This system connects kitchen and service personnel and allows for organizing work more efficiently. Wait staff may take customers’ orders using mobile devices. Beyond merely selecting a dish from the menu, the system makes it possible to add modifications to the food as notes to the kitchen. This is a helpful option for serving guests allergic to certain ingredients.

The kitchen immediately receives orders digitally and can start preparing. And the order system is connected with the POS system, so all orders are immediately available on the terminal. Bills are generated automatically after the guest finishes the meal, and all transactions go in real-time to the inventory management platform for bookkeeping.

Table reservation system: Customers can book tables via a restaurant website or mobile app, and cancel or edit booking details. The administrator, meanwhile, can efficiently distribute work among the wait staff, manage reservations and monitor table occupancy.

Contactless payment: Customers can make payments via mobile phones, smartwatches and smartcards, quickly and conveniently.

Online ordering systems and delivery apps: Both options are interactive apps for customers. They can read the full menu with detailed descriptions and place an order. Special features of the app include filters, recommendations, order status, notifications, feedback and order history.

QR codes: Auto-scanning codes can be placed on tables, coasters, doors and websites. Clients can get access to the menu, orders and payments with no need to download the app.

Chatbots: They can recommend food and drinks, offer promotions, announce events, ask clients for feedback and even process payments. A chatbot can be integrated with both the restaurant site and the mobile application.

Final words

A comprehensive solution unites back office and all front-of-house operations in the restaurant and fulfills the needs of all of the restaurant’s employees: administrators, wait staff, accountants, chefs and owner. Software can be split into modules and used both together and separately, and can be integrated with the venue’s own systems.

Such solutions allow restaurants to manage business processes efficiently and improve their services. The result: more satisfied customers and an increased return rate.