How to boost your restaurant sales with a branded mobile app

In today’s hyper-connected world, a branded mobile app has become a powerful tool for restaurants to engage customers, streamline operations, and increase sales. Many restaurant owners rely on websites for online orders, but there is a distinct advantage to offering a mobile app alongside or even instead of a website. The benefits are not just technological—they directly impact your bottom line. This post will explore how a branded mobile app can increase sales and customer loyalty, and how easy it is to integrate Appetize with Square POS to offer a seamless experience for both you and your customers.

The Shift in Customer Behavior: Why Mobile is Key🔗

Today’s customers crave convenience. Studies show that consumers are increasingly turning to their smartphones to browse menus, place orders, and make payments. While websites are functional, a mobile app offers a more streamlined and personalized experience that can transform occasional diners into loyal, repeat customers.

A branded mobile app gives your restaurant a direct line to your customers. Instead of relying on them to visit your website, you can be proactive with push notifications, exclusive in-app deals, and personalized experiences. Unlike third-party food apps, which can siphon off a significant portion of your profits, a branded mobile app allows you to take full control of customer relationships and sales.

How a Branded Mobile App Increases Repeat Customers🔗

Mobile apps provide unique tools to engage and retain customers in ways that websites simply can’t. Here’s how:

1. Loyalty Programs to Incentivize Repeat Visits🔗

One of the most powerful ways to increase customer loyalty is by offering a rewards program. A loyalty program integrated into your mobile app allows customers to earn points with every order, which they can later redeem for discounts, free menu items, or exclusive deals.

Compared to a website or physical loyalty card, a mobile app makes it incredibly easy for customers to track and redeem rewards. Appetize allows you to integrate this feature with your restaurant’s Square POS, so when customers order through the app, their rewards points are automatically updated. This seamless experience encourages customers to keep coming back, knowing that every order brings them closer to earning something valuable.

2. Push Notifications to Drive Engagement🔗

Another advantage of a mobile app is the ability to send push notifications directly to your customers’ phones. Push notifications are a great way to remind customers of special deals, upcoming events, or new menu items. For instance, you can send a notification offering a discount on a slow day or promote a weekend brunch special.

With a website, customers need to make the effort to visit your page or open an email. A mobile app, however, brings your promotions right to their fingertips, significantly increasing the chances they will engage with your restaurant. Appetize’s integration with Square POS ensures that any promotions or discounts offered through the app sync seamlessly with your in-house POS system, simplifying the process for both your staff and customers.

3. In-App Offers to Encourage Immediate Orders🔗

Mobile apps allow you to offer exclusive deals and discounts that are only available to app users. This sense of exclusivity is a great incentive for customers to download and use your app regularly. For example, you can create limited-time offers, “buy one, get one free” deals, or discounts on off-peak days to drive more orders.

In-app offers work because they create urgency and are easy to access. When combined with features like one-click reordering or saved favorite items, customers are much more likely to place an order quickly. With Appetize, you can create and manage these in-app offers easily, all while syncing the data directly with Square POS for a unified experience.

Why a Branded Mobile App is Superior to Just Having a Website🔗

A website is a critical part of your restaurant’s online presence, but a mobile app takes your digital strategy to the next level. Here’s why a mobile app has a clear edge over a website:

1. Superior User Experience🔗

Mobile apps are designed specifically for smartphones, making them faster and more intuitive to use than a website viewed on a mobile browser. Customers can quickly browse your menu, place orders, and make payments with just a few taps. Appetize provides a sleek, user-friendly design tailored for the food and beverage industry, making it easy for your customers to engage with your brand.

On the other hand, even a mobile-optimized website may require more steps, such as entering card details or navigating multiple pages, which can result in higher abandonment rates.

2. Always Accessible🔗

A mobile app lives on your customers’ phones, meaning they don’t need to remember a web address or rely on search engines to find your restaurant. Once downloaded, your app is just a tap away. This accessibility increases the chances of repeat orders, as customers are more likely to order from a restaurant whose app is already installed.

3. Personalization🔗

Mobile apps allow you to personalize the customer experience by offering features like order history, saved payment methods, and favorite dishes. Over time, your app can learn customer preferences and provide personalized recommendations or offers. This level of personalization is difficult to achieve on a standard website but can significantly enhance the customer experience, boosting satisfaction and repeat orders.

4. Offline Capabilities🔗

Unlike websites, mobile apps can offer limited offline functionality. Customers may be able to browse your menu or their previous orders even when they’re not connected to the internet. This convenience makes it easier for them to make decisions and order quickly when they do go online.

How Easy It Is to Integrate Appetize with Square POS
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One of the biggest concerns restaurant owners have when adopting new technology is whether it will integrate smoothly with their existing systems. This is where Appetize shines. If your restaurant uses Square POS, you can seamlessly integrate it with Appetize’s mobile app platform.

Here’s how the integration works:🔗

1. Real-Time Syncing: When a customer places an order through the Appetize mobile app, the order is automatically synced with your Square POS system. This means no double entry or manual input—everything is handled in real-time, reducing errors and saving time.

2. Inventory Management: Appetize’s integration with Square ensures that your inventory is automatically updated after each mobile order, so you’ll always have an accurate view of stock levels.

3. Unified Reporting: All orders, whether placed through the app, in person, or online, are tracked within your Square POS. This gives you a unified view of your restaurant’s sales and customer data, allowing you to make informed business decisions.

4. Streamlined Payments: Appetize integrates with Square’s payment system, meaning your customers can use the same payment methods in the app as they would in your restaurant. Payments are processed securely, and the funds are deposited into your account just as they would be for in-person transactions.

Conclusion
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A branded mobile app is no longer just a “nice to have” for restaurants—it’s a necessity in today’s competitive landscape. By offering a mobile app, you provide a superior, personalized experience that drives repeat business, engages customers through loyalty programs and push notifications, and makes ordering more convenient. When combined with the power of Square POS, integrating Appetize into your restaurant’s operations can increase efficiency, reduce errors, and ultimately boost sales.

If you’re looking to take your restaurant to the next level, now is the perfect time to explore how a branded mobile app can become a game-changer for your business.