We recently talked about how changes following the 2024 budget could affect the restaurant industry.
But one of the biggest impacts felt by food & drink businesses has been a repeat offender for decades – the no-show.
Customers that reserve tables then fail to appear are a perennial problem, which many establishments are turning to digital platforms to solve.
What do no-shows cost businesses?
Back in 2015, a survey by Zonal estimated the cost of no-shows to the UK restaurant industry to be £16bn.
In the intervening decade, it’s fair to assume that rising supply chain costs and global pandemic recovery have put further strain on bottom lines.
It’s not just the loss of custom from the original booking – other knock-on effects can include:
- The opportunity cost of turning away other customers
- Unnecessary preparation time
- Wasted ingredients
- Superfluous staffing
With profit margins wafer-thin for so many businesses, the real cost of £89 per no-show is one that’s hard to swallow.
But a significant percentage of these can be mitigated, or avoided altogether – simply by putting smarter support systems in place.
What solutions are available?
A digital booking management platform is the first line of defence against revenue lost to no-shows.
In addition to often improving the convenience and overall experience of booking for the customer, it can also:
Send automated reminders
SMS or email reminders can be sent to bookers ahead of their upcoming reservation.
This reduces the likelihood of them forgetting to show, with no need to pick up the phone or leave a message manually.
Create financial accountability
A table booking system can reduce casual cancellations, by taking a deposit amount, or pre-authorising a card payment.
You can decide how much to apply, or which types of booking are required to do so, making for a more transparent and trusted service.
Display data history
Need to know who your reliable patrons are compared to the habitual no-shows?
A table management system can give you access to reservations data that shows booking history.
Support your staff
By freeing up your front-of-house team, a table management system enables them to focus on other essentials.
Less time spent on the phone taking bookings means more time providing excellent service to your customers.
And of course, with real-time insights from analytics, you can further optimise your table turnover and assess staffing needs.
Time to start tackling no-shows?
Want to combine the above benefits with a more reliable and professional booking experience for your diners?
With the correct digital table booking system, you can – while simultaneously cutting waste and conserving costs.
To talk further about how we can reduce no-shows, or to arrange a free demonstration, please contact us.