How Self-Ordering Kiosks Drive Success for Food Truck Owners

August 13, 2024

With people constantly on the clock, food trucks have become an integral part of urban dining culture. They are the culinary delights on wheels, catering to consumers’ demands for quick food. From gourmet burgers to fusion tacos, these mobile eateries offer diverse mouthwatering treats. This is precisely the reason for their surge in popularity. The global food truck market is expected to grow from $4.15 billion in 2024 to $6.87 billion by 2029. [Source]

Food trucks, despite their popularity, often grapple with a significant challenge- managing customer flow. The long queues and cumbersome ordering processes can turn a bustling two-man eating joint into a chaotic scene, particularly during peak hours. This is where self-ordering kiosks step in, a technological innovation that is revolutionizing the way food truck operations are managed.

Self-ordering kiosks offer a seamless experience for food truck patrons. They can browse through menus, customize their orders, and make payments with ease. This not only elevates the customer experience but also streamlines operations for food truck owners, freeing up their time to focus on what they do best-cooking up delectable meals.

So, in this blog, we will delve into how self-ordering kiosks benefit food truck owners and allow them to focus entirely on cooking up delectable meals.

6 Key Benefits of Self-Ordering Kiosks for Food Trucks


Food trucks thrive on speed, convenience, and delicious food. But long lines and order confusion can snag this fast-paced operation. Self-ordering kiosks are a tech upgrade that can grease the wheels of your food truck business, offering a range of benefits:

1. Faster Service:

Self-ordering kiosks streamline the ordering process, significantly reducing wait times. This allows food truck owners to process orders quickly and not have to deploy additional personnel to take orders.

Additionally, self-service kiosks offer secure payment gateways that allow customers to make their payments quickly without waiting for change. This shortens the queues and enhances the customer experience.

2. Improved Accuracy:

Self-ordering kiosks minimize the likelihood of order errors due to miscommunication. The system allows customers to enter their orders directly, ensuring item selection and customization accuracy. This way, there are no errors or mistakes in the order. This reduces the need for manual order entry and decreases the risk of errors in food preparation. This benefit is desirable for food truck owners with less room for do-overs.

3. Enhanced Customer Experience:

Self-ordering kiosks offer a convenient and user-friendly ordering experience. Customers can now browse menus at their leisure and personalize their orders to their liking. The seamless ordering process contributes to overall customer satisfaction and encourages repeat business.

4. Increased Upselling Opportunities:

Self-ordering kiosks can suggest additional items or upgrades based on customer selections, facilitating upselling. They can be programmed to suggest tempting sides or drinks alongside main courses, potentially boosting your average order value and increasing revenue.

For example, a customer visits a food truck near his office during lunch break. As he orders a classic cheeseburger, the kiosk displays a pop-up message: “Upgrade your meal! Add a side of crispy fries and a refreshing drink for just $2 extra.”

As the customer discovers that he can get more food with just a little extra spending, he will jump at the opportunity. This suggests how self-ordering kiosks can effectively encourage customers to explore additional menu items, leading to increased sales and revenue for the food truck business.

5. Operational Efficiency:

Food trucks often need more personnel to take care of everything, from order taking to cooking and serving. This is where self-service kiosks can be a game-changer. These digital marvels free up the staff to focus entirely on food preparation and customer service. With automated order processing, food truck operations become more efficient and streamlined.

6. Data Driven Decisions:

Self-service kiosks are powered by data retention and learning algorithms. They collect valuable customer, sales, and revenue data. This allows you to see what sells best and what gets skipped, and use this intel to tailor your menu and promotions for maximum impact.

Addressing Implementation Challenges of Self-service Kiosks in Food Trucks


While self-service kiosks offer numerous benefits for food trucks, their successful implementation can be accompanied by specific challenges. Proactively addressing these challenges is crucial to maximizing the efficiency and effectiveness of self-service kiosk systems in food truck operations.

  • Limited Space Constraints:

Challenge: Food trucks often need more space, making it easier to accommodate self-service kiosks without impeding the flow of customers or obstructing food preparation areas.

Solution: Opt for compact and space-efficient kiosk designs that can be strategically positioned within the food truck layout. Consider wall-mounted or countertop kiosk options. Prioritize functionality and ease of use without sacrificing valuable space.

  • Connectivity Issues:

Challenge: Food trucks frequently operate in diverse locations, including areas with poor internet connectivity or network coverage, which can disrupt the functionality of self-service kiosks.

Solution: Invest in self-service kiosks equipped with offline capabilities or backup systems that can store data locally in case of network outages. Utilize mobile hotspot devices or satellite internet solutions to ensure reliable connectivity in remote locations.

  • Integration with Existing Systems:

Challenge: Integrating self-service kiosk systems with existing point-of-sale (POS) systems, kitchen display systems, and inventory management software can be complex and may require customization.

Solution: Work closely with kiosk vendors and software developers to ensure seamless integration with these existing systems. Prioritize compatibility and interoperability when selecting kiosk solutions. Conduct thorough testing and troubleshooting to identify and resolve integration issues before deployment.

  • User Interface Design:

Challenge: Designing an intuitive and user-friendly interface for self-service kiosks that caters to customers’ diverse needs and preferences can be challenging.

Solution: Collect feedback and insights from potential users through user experience (UX) research and usability testing. Ensure the vendor you have chosen offers a simple, visually appealing, and easy-to-navigate design with clear instructions and intuitive controls.

  • Security and Fraud Prevention:

Challenge: Self-service kiosks are susceptible to security risks, including unauthorized access, data breaches, and fraudulent transactions.

Solution: Ensure the vendor has implemented robust security measures, such as encryption, authentication protocols, and transaction monitoring. These safeguard sensitive information and prevent unauthorized access. Additionally, your chosen vendor should regularly update kiosk software and firmware to patch security vulnerabilities.

Case Study


Ono Blends, one of the up-and-coming mobile smoothie food trucks, has combined the top trending technologies to enhance its ordering experience and efficiency in servicing.

The smoothie kitchen on wheels started gaining popularity soon after its launch in Q3 of 2019. It ensured that customers received the best possible experience by implementing self-ordering kiosks mounted on its food truck.

This allows customers to select their ingredients, pay with their preferred method, and place their order. Ono Blends has combined self-ordering kiosks and other advanced robotics to provide customers with a hassle-free experience, requiring minimal to zero interaction with personnel.

Result:

Utilizing these advanced methods has resulted in Ono Blends maintaining its industry-leading Net Promoter Score (NPS) of 95. It has also allowed them to churn out more orders, more precisely catering to 60 people with blends per hour, massively outweighing the industry standard of 20 per hour.

Conclusion


Self-service kiosks are emerging as powerful tools for food trucks. They offer the potential to streamline operations, boost sales, and improve customer satisfaction. Yes, there are challenges to consider, like upfront costs, ensuring a user-friendly experience, and providing secure payment gateways. However, with the right kiosk solution, you can rest easy.

EZ-Chow is here to cater to all your needs and more. Our intuitive self-service kiosks and POS integration systems are designed to streamline your operations and boost your revenue and efficiency. Imagine the possibilities! Don’t wait; schedule a demo today and see the future of your food truck business.

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Author

Mo Sloan, EZ-Chow Founder
Click to learn more about Mo Sloan

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