Nothing should come before the collective health of society, especially with the novel Coronavirus out there, but the ordinary functioning of the economy has a tremendous impact on people’s day to day life.
In many regions, businesses had to shut down to reduce the spread of COVID-19, or fundamentally change how they operated in light of new circumstances. Some restaurants reduced indoor seating capacity by 50%, and when they needed to shut down indoor dining altogether, they found other innovative ways to serve food to customers.
Here are some of the ways that restaurants have adapted to survive the pandemic.
Virtual Restaurant Model
Even before the pandemic, some restaurants have realized that the overhead for indoor seating isn’t necessarily worth it because their business model relies more on delivery and pickup orders. The virtual restaurant model is very well-suited to the conditions forced on us by COVID-19 because people are only looking to order food via pickup or delivery.
It’s impossible for more formal, sit-down restaurants to pivot to this sort of model, but for smaller restaurants with a lean and trim indoor seating area, this adjustment is natural and sensible.
Street Food
Some restaurants have been able to barbeque street food and make new specials based on the items that have always been on the menu. This adaptation is perfect for restaurants that make dishes like pulled pork, brisket, or chicken, as these are ideal for sandwiches.
No-Contact Pickup
The no-contact pickup model is similar to ordinary pickup, but it’s been adapted to be safe for COVID-19. Essentially, you can place a food order and pick it up from the restaurant in a way that ensures you don’t need to physically enter the business or come within six feet of anybody.
People who are tired of cooking the same food themselves but don’t want to pay delivery fees enjoy this option.
Meal Kits
Fancier restaurants with inventive kitchens have found a way to deliver complex meals in ways that travel well and are safe for COVID-19. The do-it-yourself Meal Kit approach combines all the elements of a large splendid meal and allows people to assemble them in their own kitchen.
This way, the food is fresher than if it was pre-assembled and then driven over. In addition to that, all the individual ingredients are packaged safely, so you know it’s safe. Restaurants have had to come up with creative solutions that let them carry on business, and this is one new and innovative approach that has been very successful so far.
Technology that helps restaurant businesses operate efficiently is invaluable, no matter what model you’re using to adapt to COVID-19. Look for software that helps restaurants reduce labor costs and helps make their internal communication more efficient.
Restaurants have rebounded since March 2020, when the pandemic began, and their resilience has been encouraging for restaurateurs and citizens alike. Society’s appetite isn’t going anywhere, and with innovative approaches like these, neither is the restaurant industry.
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