AUSTIN, Texas, May 19, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- A new Oracle
Food and Beverage survey shows that 71% of US diners are ready
to eat out again and 42% feel comfortable being seated indoors.
They also plan to eat out more frequently, with 78% planning to
dine out monthly (up from 59% last year). Given 53% of respondents
felt "devastated" or missed going to their favorite bar or
restaurant during the pandemic, this comes as little surprise.
However, diners are still cautious and want to limit contact where
possible. The majority of consumers (73%) plan to reduce their use
of cash, and 49% want to reserve their table, order, and pay
through a mobile device.
When it comes to ordering out, 81% of people indicated their
loyalty lies with restaurants over third-party delivery apps.
Sixty-eight percent prefer to order directly from a restaurant's
own website or app if given a choice.
"After a year of take-out, consumers are looking forward to
going out to eat, and restaurants are certainly eager for them to
return," said Simon de Montfort
Walker, senior vice president and general
manager, Oracle Food and Beverage. "The challenge will be
balancing the steep increase in on-premises dining with continued
demand for take-out service. Being able to adapt quickly to the
changing needs in staffing, kitchen operations, and inventory for
this hybrid environment requires technology that will cultivate
this great guest experience."
The results were part of an Oracle Food & Beverage global
study conducted by Untold Insights in March 2021. The survey polled 511 US residents
and an additional 1,533 consumers in Australia, the United Kingdom, and Mexico to understand their expectations on
eating out. Download the Restaurant Scene: 2021 Consumer
Trends report here.
New rules of engagement for operators and
consumers
The survey shows that the behaviors that became a
necessity during the pandemic will be the norm moving forward.
- 73% plan to reduce their use of cash at restaurants moving
forward.
- 49% would like to minimize human interaction by reserving
tables, ordering, and paying through a mobile device.
- 46% want to settle the bill on a mobile app without waiting for
a server.
- 39% prefer to order ahead on their device to reduce wait
times.
- 37% would like to track the status of their order through a
mobile app.
Consumers also understand they must adjust how they engage with
restaurants, which still operate on razor-thin margins.
- 75% surveyed won't object to cancellation fees if their party
doesn't show up for a reservation.
- 71% won't mind if restaurants limit reservation windows,
restricting the allotted amount of time per table.
These are generally considered acceptable strategies for
businesses to manage social distancing measures that have reduced
seating capacity. On the other hand, 41% of those surveyed objected
to being charged if members of their dinner party don't show up,
and (35%) would be unhappy if they were charged for lingering
beyond their allotted time at the table.
Customers have gotten more loyal to their favorites and
prefer ordering direct
A similar July survey showed that
39% of customers ordered more frequently from
local/independent restaurants over the past year. As the pandemic
continued, this loyalty grew.
- 44% think ordering directly from a restaurant best supports
local independent businesses.
- 47% seek out promotions and discounts directly from
restaurants.
- 40% look to restaurants for loyalty/rewards schemes.
"Consumers see the benefit of third-party delivery apps as a
resource to discover new restaurants, but understand the importance
and value of buying direct," added de Montfort Walker. "Consumers
are motivated by personal offers but are only willing to share so
much. It's incumbent upon restaurateurs to ensure they have a data
strategy the allows them to deliver highly personalized offers, and
that's where a smart mobile strategy really helps."
As consumers' enthusiasm around the return of fully open indoor
dining increases, technology will play a key role in creating
better, safer experiences that customers have come to expect.
About Oracle Food & Beverage
Oracle Food and
Beverage, formerly MICROS, brings 40 years of experience in
providing software and hardware solutions to restaurants, bars,
pubs, clubs, coffee shops, cafes, stadiums, and theme parks.
Thousands of operators, both large and small, around the world are
using Oracle technology to deliver exceptional guest experiences,
maximize sales, and reduce running costs.
About Oracle
Oracle offers integrated suites of
applications plus secure, autonomous infrastructure in the Oracle
Cloud. For more information about Oracle (NYSE: ORCL), please
visit us at oracle.com.
Trademarks
Oracle, Java, and MySQL are registered
trademarks of Oracle Corporation.
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SOURCE Oracle