Technology and Bubble Tea
Technology is becoming a big part of many different industries, including the food and beverage industry. People are now getting accustomed to having a digital screen to place orders from, without having to speak to a member of staff. We see it every day in fast food chains like McDonalds, Starbucks and Black Sheep Coffee, and we have to agree, it is very efficient and easy. Let's break down these useful technologies so you can decide if you want to integrate this into your bubble tea shop, cafe or restaurant.
Self-Serve Kiosks
The most commonly known self-service technology is a self-service kiosk. You just go click onto the screen, pick your order, and pay. As simple as that. There is no need for a staff member to place orders for the customer, the staff simply prepares the orders. The art with these kiosks is to make a very easy interface that is straightforward and immediately understandable. This way, older generations who didn't grow up with technology won't have difficulty placing their orders. And for the younger generations, they are just obsessed with sleek and modern technology interfaces. So it can be a win-win. And you as a business can utilise your human resources elsewhere and lose less time taking orders, more time preparing the orders.
Besides time management and efficiency, these kiosks also add an element of centralisation of data. Orders and inventory can be logged and tracked more easily. Demand can be predicted over time, and in turn, waste can be reduced.
Online Ordering Platform // App
Another way of placing orders that are becoming widely popular are mobile apps or online ordering platforms. This way customers can hop onto your online or mobile webshop and place orders to either collect them later, or get them delivered to their house. This reduces queuing time and increases data points. Based on the data gathered via apps or order platforms, loyalty schemes can be set up (e.g. loyalty points, discounts…). This helps build customer relationships and retention.
Social Media Marketing
Today's generation is all about social selling. Whether you have a link on your Instagram profile that directs you to a webshop, or you sell items on TikTok shop, today's generation is obsessed with learning what the new trend is and what's the next thing they should try out. An effective digital marketing campaign can trigger brand awareness, engagement and conversion. Whether you do it organically or via paid advertisements, social media advertisement helps you build credibility and trust. Businesses that show themselves online, give users the feeling that the company is real. People these days love to have a look first and see what the company is about, before buying.
If someone is new to bubble tea and they see that a shop has many recipe ideas and suggestions, the customer will feel supported and will place their trust in the shop. Health-conscious people who are nervous about bubble tea as it's known to be unhealthy can be put to ease by being shown that bubble tea can be healthy and a part of your diet. People love storytelling and love to be advised on things they are passionate about. Other than helping your closest customers, you can also reach thousands of previously unattainable customers you never thought you could reach. Just one viral video or post can turn your store into the hottest place in town, launching a domino effect as interest spreads. You can either hire someone to run social media marketing (SMM) campaigns for your store, or you can handle it in house. However you choose to approach this, the benefits that can come from properly investing into SMM make it absolutely worth the time and effort required. Be sure to check out our TikTok for inspiration.
Email Marketing
Emails… do people read those still? The answer is, yes! But…you must be careful with the type of content in those emails. People receive many emails a day. They decide which emails they open based on the title and preview text only. If these don't sound appealing, the email will be thrown into trash. How do you break out of this cycle of “boring” emails? Simple: be different. Be unconventional. People are drawn to sentences that are shocking or make them pause for a second. Look at the below examples:
“We have a new bubble tea recipe for you” vs “This recipe should be illegal. It's that good”
What would you be more drawn to open? Or what would you notice quicker? It's all about piquing interest of your customers. Only then will your emails be opened. The only catch? You must obtain your email addresses legally with permission of your customers. With legally obtained addresses, you can launch targeted email marketing campaigns and personalised offers for your customers.
In Summary
As the food and beverage industry continues to modernise and innovate, it's valuable to explore your options and to be open-minded to try new things. We know technology comes with high costs, but qualitative technology lasts a long time. If a self-serve kiosk is too costly Try to start to post on social media. You don't have to instantly spend money and do campaigns. Just share photos or videos. Showcase the company and what you as a company care about. Then slowly integrate technology when you are ready. Rome wasn't built in a day.