Have you ever wondered why restaurants across the globe are now using paging systems to help control their seating management and efficient serving of guests? If your establishment hasn’t considered using a restaurant paging system, see if the following scenario sounds familiar.

On a busy weekend a restaurants normal pleasant ambiance can be completely changed by large numbers of guests gathering around the front door trying to arrange a table, for the restaurant owner this is a double edged sword, on one hand it is great news that their establishment is so popular there is a waiting list for tables, on the other the congregation of people detract from the usual elegant atmosphere that is one of the reasons the restaurant is popular with diners.

A hand written waiting list is the answer for many establishments, but problems can arise when waiting guests continually return to the hostess station to ask if their table is ready yet or if their name has been called as they didn’t hear clearly what name the hostess was calling. Generally people will wait a short time to see if they are seated quickly, after this they tend to leave frustrated because the restaurant was to busy or irritated because they feel forgotten. This can lead to upset staff members who are constantly badgered by frustrated guests waiting for tables and potential customers lost to the competition and unlikely to ever return.

A restaurant pager system can be the answer to this problem, a guest call pager is handed to the waiting guest when they are checked in at the hostess station, the guests can then relax at the bar, or even sit outside in a garden area with the peace of mind that once their table is ready the hostess will alert them via their pager.

The latest guest paging systems even incorporate table management systems enabling the hostess to inform the waiting guest of the estimated table wait time from information displayed on the base station this ensures that your guest’s expectations are managed effectively at the time the pager is handed to them. If the restaurant already has a table reservation system many of the modern paging systems can be fully integrated in to these systems. New UHF frequency paging systems have a range of up to two miles so guests are not restricted to a confined waiting area, they can take advantage of all of the venues facilities comfortable knowing that they are contactable the moment their table is available.

Research shows that even with extended waiting times of over one hour guests tend to be happy to wait when they have the freedom a guest call pager offers. Waiting guests are alerted by the pager flashing/bleeping and/or vibrating (alert options are selected by the restaurant) when they are required back at the hostess station for seating. Guests feel more valued when offered a pager whilst waiting to be seated, they understand that the restaurant operators value their patronage and attach a high degree of importance to making the dining experience a pleasurable one.

For the restaurant owner walk aways are reduced and happy contented diners will recommend the restaurant to friends and family and are certain to revisit. A guest call restaurant pager system is an essential business tool for the modern busy restaurant.

Paging systems are also available for kitchen/waiter communication, wait staff have a small discrete vibrating pager attached to their belt or apron, in the kitchen there is a call panel numbered with each pager number and waiters name. Once the chef has food ready on the pass they press the appropriate pager number on the call panel and this signals the waiter by a small vibration that food is ready for collection for their assigned tables. If the wait staff has not collected the food within a predefined time the pager will automatically vibrate again. Once the waiter collects the food from the kitchen they press the button on the call panel next to their name and the paging is cancelled. Systems can even have an alpha numeric pager which the restaurant manager would carry and if a member of the wait staff has not collected their order from the kitchen after three calls an alert appears on the manager’s pager notifying them there is a problem.

Server call paging systems ensure efficient handling of orders and guarantee the prompt delivery of hot fresh food to the table. Using server paging staff numbers are kept to a minimum and in many cases the requirement to have runners delivering food can be eliminated saving the restaurant owner substantial wages bills.

Contented guests that feel valued will tell their friends and family about their pleasant experience at your restaurant, employees that experience an efficient happy working environment are more productive and stay for longer. Paging systems are a profitable business tool for modern restaurant operators that are looking to ensure they offer an experience that both customers and staff benefit from.