How Can Technology Be Used to Improve Operations in Pubs?

All over the world, pubs are used as meeting places for both new and old friends – a place to unwind after a long day at work or a comfortable space to socialise with friends and meet new people.

In the UK, some may argue that pubs are more than that. They’re an inherent part of British culture, a quintessential component of the English way of life, both in bustling cities and remote countryside towns. No matter where you go, one thing you won’t need to worry about is finding a pub.

As technology has progressed across the board in recent years, several new and exciting innovations have cropped up not only in the hospitality industry, benefitting hotels and restaurants, but in the world of bars and pubs too.

With a universal objective of making everything better, faster and more cost-effective, several creative entrepreneurs have identified ways in which pub management and operations can be improved, and they’ve done this by means of first identifying the primary aspects of running an establishment.

 

What Kinds of Things Need to Be Done in Pubs?

 

Of course, it all starts with the obvious need to pour good drinks for thirsty customers and successfully accept payments for said drinks. These days, most pubs, especially those in the UK, will offer patrons some kind of food too, from pub grub snacks to full-on hearty meals.

But, what about beyond that?

Believe it or not, while the bartenders at your local may seem cool, calm and collective, there’s actually a lot going on behind the scenes that needs to be dealt with by both bar staff and managers alike.

Some of the most important tasks that need to be taken care of in pubs include:

 

• Stocktake and Inventory Management
• Cleaning
• Replacing Kegs
• Managing POS Systems
• Cashing Up and Managing Finances
• Data Analysis
• Payment Systems
• Online Booking and Reservations

 

…and more. If all of these things are properly taken care of, pubs can run smoothly and both the patrons and staff ought to be happy – the former probably more so than the latter, for obvious reasons.

However, it’s a lot to manage and take care of, and doing it all manually is not only time-consuming (and ultimately expensive), but it also creates the potential for the introduction of errors.

That’s why innovations in technology have been, and are still going to be, such a game changer in the pub industry.

 

Types of Tech That Can Be Used to Improve Pubs

 

From advanced software to help staff keep themselves organised to self-service equipment, here are some ways that innovative entrepreneurs are working to use technology to improve pub management.

 

Advanced Point of Sales (POS)

 

A point of Sale (POS) system is one of the most important pieces of tech used in the service industry, including pubs.

In the most basic sense, POS systems allow staff to place orders for drinks (and/or food) in such a way that the orders are sent straight to the bar/kitchen for preparation. The POS is also able to keep records in terms of stock.

That means that if a pub starts the day with 100 bottles of beer, every time another is ordered, that will be subtracted from the 100 until the stock is depleted, at which point staff won’t be able to place orders for that item anymore.

Basic POS systems have been around for a while, but the old-school systems were computer-like devices. These days, modern technology has made it possible for POS software to be used on portable tablets and smartphones, allowing staff to place orders on the move. This can be super helpful when pubs are busy.

Most modern pubs now use electronic point of sales (EPOS) systems that can not only be portable, but are also able to help manage your menu, collect data and produce reports, contributing to business management. An EPOS will also be integrated into your payment terminals, receipt printers and bar printers too.

Another thing an advanced POS system will be able to do is provide you with data analysis regarding things like cash flow, sales trends, demand and more. This information can be super helpful for creating targeted promotions and specials for low-traffic times.

 

 

Online Booking Systems

 

Pubs don’t always take reservations in the same way that many restaurants do, but for those that do operate based on bookings, modern online booking systems can be an absolute game changer.

Rather than taking reservations manually by means of a receptionist or other busy staff having to answer the phone, customers can just book online by means of a few clicks. The software will be able to tell customers whether or not there’s space, what time there’s availability and more.

Making use of online booking systems will save staff loads of time and also reduce human error in terms of things like double bookings.

Other advantages of using online booking systems include the fact that customers can be sent automated reminders and the software can also save and store customer information for future use and analysis purposes.

 

Digital Menus 

 

Digital menus became super popular, especially during the height of Covid-19, but now they’re here to stay, and there are plenty of advantages to using them over old-school printed menus.

Digital menus are cheaper in the long run as pubs don’t have to pay for printing and they can’t get damaged. They’re also ideal for making changes and updates as you won’t have to get rid of all your menus and create brand-new ones every time you change the menu.

The other great thing is that digital menus can be accessed by anyone at any time if they please – all you need is a smart phone, a tablet or another device with internet access.

 

Advanced Payment Systems

 

These days, cash payments are mostly a thing of the past, and these days, most people (and establishments) use tap-to-pay systems on their phones or smartwatches. That’s normally by means of banking apps or other payment apps like Snapscan or Zapper.

To accept contactless payments, pubs need to have modern devices that can receive these payments. Most card machines have this functionality as a default anyway these days, but the benefits of being able to accept contactless payment are huge, making things significantly more efficient during peak times.

 

Self-Service Beer Taps

 

You may be used to self-service counters at grocery stores and train stations, but have you tried a self-service bar?

They’re not particularly common just yet because using self-service beer taps means eliminating the need for barmen and barwomen (although not necessarily completely) and there are also issues of trust and more to consider.

However, self-service beer taps offer a great deal of potential. Instead of customers having to order through waitrons or bar staff, they can simply pour themselves a beer and handle the payment on their own. For businesses, this offers opportunities for saving money on staff and more.

But, how would this work?

Different companies may try varying methods, but the most common and simple way to get this right is for customers to load credits (or money) onto a specific card used at the establishment. From there, the card can be tapped at the device above the beer taps and by means of the chip in the card, customers will be charged accordingly for what they’ve ordered via the corresponding screen.

Once they’ve ordered and paid, the tap will be enabled and pour the beverage of the customer’s choice.

With an advanced system like that, businesses won’t need to worry about trusting patrons as there won’t be any way to get free beer. However, these systems are complex in terms of needing to integrate payment devices and software with an ordering system and the actual beer-pouring mechanism.

It’s possible, of course – in fact, it’s already a reality in some places – but it is an expensive investment for businesses.

 

Will Bar Staff Be Replaced By Technology?

 

The question of staff being totally replaced by technology is one that comes up in just about every industry, and the answer is almost always the same.

Although nobody knows exactly what the future holds, it seems safe to say that while technology and the automation of many processes and systems may take over some of the responsibilities of staff, it doesn’t seem likely to eliminate the need for them altogether.

The most likely scenario is that there may simply be a need for fewer staff, and overall, their lives will probably a whole lot easier.