One of the most important aspects of running a successful restaurant is to track and analyze sales data. Sales data can provide valuable insights into customer behavior, preferences, and satisfaction, as well as identify areas for improvement and growth.
Some of the important sales data that a restaurant manager can share with their serving staff to help increase sales are:
Number of orders placed through different sales channels (online, in-person, third-party apps): This can help the staff understand how customers prefer to order and how to optimize the service for each channel. For example, online orders may require faster delivery, in-person orders may require more personal interaction, and third-party app orders may require more promotion and incentives.
Best-selling and most profitable menu items: This can help the staff recommend the most popular and profitable dishes to customers, as well as upsell or cross-sell complementary items. For example, if a certain appetizer or dessert is a best-seller, the staff can suggest it to customers who order a main course. Similarly, if a certain drink or sauce has a high profit margin, the staff can offer it as an add-on or upgrade.
Total Percentage of Upgrade Sales: This can help staff be aware of then they are not selling as many upgrade items. For example, if the highest performing server per hour is averaging 15% of sales in appetizers, then other servers who are only averaging 9% of sales as appetizers may have an opportunity to increase there overall sales by focusing on selling more appetizers for a period of time.
Average value of each order: This can help the staff measure their performance and set goals for increasing the average check size. For example, if the average order value is $20, the staff can aim to increase it to $25 by offering more options, bundles, or specials.
Total amount of revenue generated from sales: This can help the staff understand the overall performance of the restaurant and how their efforts contribute to it. For example, if the restaurant has a monthly sales target of $100,000, the staff can track their progress and celebrate their achievements.
By sharing these sales data with their serving staff, a restaurant manager can motivate them to provide better service, increase customer satisfaction, and boost sales. ðŸ½ï¸
(1) Total restaurant industry sales | National Restaurant Association. https://restaurant.org/research-and-media/research/economists-notebook/economic-indicators/total-restaurant-industry-sales/.
(2) National Statistics | National Restaurant Association. https://restaurant.org/research-and-media/research/industry-statistics/national-statistics/.
(3) Restaurant Data Analytics: Turn Insights into Action | Uber Eats. https://merchants.ubereats.com/us/en/resources/articles/restaurant-data-analytics/.
(4) Six Ways for Analyzing Sales – Restaurant Informer. https://restaurantinformer.com/2021/09/analyzing-sales-how-to/.
(5) Retail Sales: Restaurants and Other Eating Places (MRTSSM7225USN) – FRED. https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/MRTSSM7225USN.
(6) en.wikipedia.org. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Restaurant.