iPads now replacing menus

With the advancement of technology, every nitty gritty of our daily lives have gone online — from ticket booking to hotel reservations!  But now it appears that technology’s wand has touched the hospitality industry too. Don’t be surprised if the next time you visit a  restaurant, you are handed a tablet based device instead of your regular menu to order an a la carte. Yes, the iPad is going to be the new age menu card.

City-based restaurants are shifting from the whole idea of printed menu cards and  going digital. This interactive digital media platform consists of various components developed specifically to address the needs of the restaurant to reduce operational costs at the same time growing revenues by attracting more diners and enhancing diner experience.

This digital menu platform uses the iPad to replace a paper-based menu, and allows diners to view images and customise their order in a simple way. Nityandan, owner of restaurant Pebbles, says, “We have introduced this concept to help diners visualise the dish that they are going to order. In terms of the management level, we get an online report and have freedom to control all the functions of our restaurant.”

Some of the restaurants that have started this are Pebbles (Andheri West), Mainland China, Fat Cat Cafe, Fil Fil (Versova) among others. Says Ameya Hete, CEO of Titbit, the software providers in the city, “Till now the hospitality industry has been behind the scene, when it comes to technology. This digital menu takes care of two things — consumer experience and price management. There is also an option of personalisation, where the customer can give special instructions to the chef.”

It’s not only restaurants where iPads have stormed into; even high-end hotels nowadays have in-room iPads. These help the guests to order room-service, make spa appointments and research local attractions. It is the same with spas in the city. The spa’s staff members are not bound to the reception desk, but can walk around and address guests in the entire spa. Schools too are succumbing to the convenience of an iPad. Apparently two schools have made iPads mandatory, right from Class I.

sayantan.dalal@dnaindia.net