Post-pandemic, the hospitality industry is recovering at a pace and technology is playing a crucial role. From managing real-time food deliveries to the digitized dine-in food menus, tech is accelerating the recovery. In addition, as marketing and restaurant branding has become vital growth pillars, augmented reality is easing both factors.

Restaurant and hotel chain owners can utilize an augmented reality menu to attract more customers. Besides offering them a visual treat before the actual dish arrives, customers can check the nutritional information.

With digital trends evolving rapidly, AR apps are no longer limited to high-end fine dining places. Be it fast-food chains or casual eating places; AR technology brings in several opportunities to grow business.

AR for restaurants brings dual benefits — on one side, it improves customer experience and allows the staff to work productively.

Augmented reality food apps transform the complete experience

Using an AR-based menu lets customers compare, analyze, and pick dishes they want to enjoy with a cosy ambience. As traditional menus can’t include detailed information due to space limitations, AR overcomes this problem smartly. When users scan a dish, they get complete nutritional information, pictures, and other vital aspects.

The simple activity of opening a menu card and then picking up dishes becomes engaging, and it transforms the complete experience. As a result, it becomes a reason for word of mouth that ultimately attracts more customers.

With growing competition, every food chain strives to deliver the best food and services. But, restaurant owners get a competitive edge with AR that feels futuristic and interactive.

How augmented reality food apps help restaurants

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AR is a boon for restaurant owners who want to grow with the ongoing trends and make their place innovative. Below are some creative aspects of how this technology helps restaurants:

Innovative personalization

With AR, restaurants can personalize how their every dish will look and display the necessary information. They can offer a 360° visualization of delicacies in their AR menu. As customers have become more fitness-focused, owners can display portion size, allergic information, calorie count with dishes.

Cross-sell dishes

Diners often don’t know what to pair with their main dish to enhance the experience. With AR, restaurant owners recommend appetizers and dessert pairings. As a result, it helps restaurants to cross-sell more products and boost revenue.

Promote offers

A standard restaurant runs multiple offers, including happy hours, special discounts, new dishes promotions, and more. AR simplifies all these promotions and makes them more interactive for customers.

The staff doesn’t have to repeat the special offers every time a new customer arrives. Restaurants can also promote their seasonal menu through their AR menu cards.

Real-time modification

Restaurants can let customers do real-time customization with their order can ensure they’ve ordered the correct dish. In addition to this, diners can also check out chef’s recommendations, testimonials that boost branding.

Even before the dish arrives on the table, customers can enjoy it visually. When restaurants offer this prompt and unique service level, they don’t need additional marketing tactics to attract customers.

In-depth analytics

Restaurants can improve their overall experience by diving into customers’ preferences and analytics. Be it checking the most ordered dishes to personalization options and least ordered dishes; all data is available on the go. When the owners have this accurate data, they can make data-driven decisions.

How AR technology helps customers

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While trying out new restaurants or dishes, augmented reality applications in food help them take quick decisions. Below are some exciting benefits customers have with AR:

Detailed information

While trying unique dishes or international cuisines at a restaurant, customers often remain sceptical about the ingredients, calorie portion, and how the dish will look. With AR, customers get all information without asking anyone’s help. This feature makes it easier for tourists to order dishes and enjoy the local delicacies without thinking about what they’ve ordered.

Order personalization

Many customers are allergic to certain ingredients, and using an augmented reality app, diners can check & remove them while ordering. Thus, it makes it easier for people to order their favourite dishes considering all allergic precautions. In addition to this, customers can pair their favourite beverage with their dishes and also look for chef’s recommendations.

Menu translation

Customers can translate the menu into their native language to understand more about the dishes. As it’s not possible with the traditional menu, AR makes it convenient and fast. It is a futuristic and useful feature that customers need in a restaurant.

Final thoughts

AR in the restaurant industry is revolutionizing traditional processes to make the experience more interactive. Augmented reality-based menu cards benefit both owners and customers and make the restaurant futuristic. We will see smaller restaurants and food chains having complete AR-based menus over physical ones in the upcoming time.