Starting a business is a complicated process. From finances to inventory, there’s a lot to keep track of. One thing you can’t slack on, however, is communication. If you own a restaurant, your operation efficiency and your customer service all depend on effective communication. You might be taking online orders, confirming table reservations, or answering questions about items on your menu—these all require a robust and dependable communication system to make your restaurant flourish.
Voice over Internet Protocol (or VoIP) is a cloud-based phone system that allows for voice communication over broadband internet connections rather than through a landline. This means less hardware, less cost, and less hassle while also consolidating all of your communications into one streamlined digital system.
Being able to have solid, reliable phone lines that can handle heavy call volume is essential when you’re trying to run a restaurant. Whether you’re taking orders or communicating with other branches, your business will run more smoothly and provide a better dining experience by having improved VoIP communication.
Enhancing Customer Service
Just like in any service-based industry, customer service makes up the bedrock of your business. If the customer is happy, things are great. But if the customer has a subpar, or even frustrating, experience with your service, it can lead to bad reviews, which can severely impact your bottom line.
Some of the features of VoIP phones that you can leverage to improve the customer experience include on-hold messaging, automated attendants, and call forwarding. These all ensure that calls aren’t missed or dropped, and the customer is taken care of if they have to wait for someone to answer.
Since VoIP phones are just software, they can be easily integrated into customer relationship management tools (or CRMs). Imagine having a database of all your customers, partners, contractors, and suppliers that contains everyone’s contact information and a record of all voice and text interactions. Having all this information at your fingertips gives you the ability to tailor your communication to each customer. Did a customer make a reservation and request wheelchair space? If you just took the call over a landline, you could easily forget that information. With a VoIP phone integrated into a CRM system, you’ll have that info front and center when you call.
Lastly, a VoIP solution allows you to handle larger quantities of calls when your restaurant is experiencing peak hours. Features like call queuing and routing functionalities can ensure you never have to send a customer to voicemail, leading to better interactions and more sales.
Cost-Effectiveness and Scalability
As if convenience and enhanced customer relationship weren’t enough, VoIP phones are also light on the balance sheet. Landlines require specific hardware, have monthly fees, and are expensive to set up. Cloud-based restaurant phone systems turn your existing devices and internet connection into an upgraded phone line.
The fact that VoIP phones aren’t bound to any specific hardware means they provide the flexibility to expand and scale your business. Opening a new location on the other side of town? Now you don’t have to have a professional come and install an additional phone system at the new branch, just add more devices to the existing internet connection and you’re all set.
Using a VoIP restaurant phone system also gives you access to other helpful features such as call analytics, voicemail-to-email options, as well as advanced tracking and reporting to see how your operations are performing so you can identify areas for improvement.
How Rhode Island Telephone Can Help
If your restaurant is still dependent on traditional landlines for its phones, you may be missing out on opportunities to streamline your business and provide better service to your customers. Missing calls, losing order messages, and getting reservations mixed up are just some of the ways that traditional phone lines can hold your restaurant back, not to mention the increased cost and lack of flexibility.
Here at Rhode Island Telephone, we pride ourselves on taking business communication to the next level. Helping companies of all sizes upgrade from a traditional landline to a VoIP phone system to dramatically increase their communication effectiveness is our bread and butter. Contact us today to speak with a specialist and see how we can enhance your restaurant phone system.
