How to approach software sales to physical locations?

[Connor T]

For example a soft play venue. The owners are generally busy and don't want to waste time (and money) on things that wont bring value.

Is there a preferred method of booking in around 15mins of the owners time so they can make the decision of whether they're interested?

 

[fisicx]

What sort of software?

What benefits does your software provide that they don't already have via the umpteen existing applications?

I take my granddaughter to a soft play area. You turn up, pay your £10 and they go any leap around the place while I sit and have a cup of tea and bit of cake. They then have chicken nuggets and chips and we go home. Not sure what software they would need other then POS.

 

[Connor T]

What sort of software?

What benefits does your software provide that they don't already have via the umpteen existing applications?

I take my granddaughter to a soft play area. You turn up, pay your £10 and they go any leap around the place while I sit and have a cup of tea and bit of cake. They then have chicken nuggets and chips and we go home. Not sure what software they would need other then POS.

Nothing ground breaking, it's order to table software so people can get their coffees and snacks without leaving the kids or queuing up. The reason ours is different is there's no hardware fee or subscription fee so it pays for itself if the venue sees an uplift on sales, and free otherwise making it more attractive to smaller places like this.

 

[fisicx]

What's the benefit to the business?

At the soft play place we go to there are two girls behind the counter. It all works really smoothly, very few in the queue and no stress.

To use your system I've got to download the app (wifi is pants in the building) then sign up, then sort out how to order a coffee then go up to the counter to get my coffee. Which probably won't be ready as the girl doing the coffee's hasn't seen my order as she is busy serving customers.

I'm not suggesting it's not a great application (they use similar at a local Garden Centre) but getting customers to sign up isn't easy.

As an aside, my local soft play centre has a big display of sugary things attractive to a three year old to get you to buy more when you get your coffee.

Have you got your local soft play area to use your app? If so have they seen a big boost in sales?

Really don't want to be all negative but this is nothing new. There are umpteen apps that already do this. The hard part is convincing people there is a benefit to downloading and using the app.

 

[Connor T]

What's the benefit to the business?

At the soft play place we go to there are two girls behind the counter. It all works really smoothly, very few in the queue and no stress.

To use your system I've got to download the app (wifi is pants in the building) then sign up, then sort out how to order a coffee then go up to the counter to get my coffee. Which probably won't be ready as the girl doing the coffee's hasn't seen my order as she is busy serving customers.

I'm not suggesting it's not a great application (they use similar at a local Garden Centre) but getting customers to sign up isn't easy.

As an aside, my local soft play centre has a big display of sugary things attractive to a three year old to get you to buy more when you get your coffee.

Have you got your local soft play area to use your app? If so have they seen a big boost in sales?

Really don't want to be all negative but this is nothing new. There are umpteen apps that already do this. The hard part is convincing people there is a benefit to downloading and using the app.

Thanks for the reply and a few clarifications for you. So there's no download and no sign up you scan the QR and off you go. The order will be brought to your table.

The venue you visit sounds very efficient but the venue we built this for had a single lady handling sign in and also ordering. They saw an order value increase (avg) of 15% due to the in service upsells, like you get a fruit shoot for the little one we also recommend a coffee / cake for you etc etc. We also offer them table decorations that appeal to the kids so they dont miss out on that.

The main value increase also came from those who physically cannot queue. Those with disabilities or temporarily injured are free to browse the menu and order.

I really appreciate your time responding and I take no offense in your counter points! The whole point when we developed this is we know its nothing new, its something people use everyday, but our selling point is for smaller venues they can't justify the costs of the existing solutions, ours is literally free if it doesn't increase your revenue, and it pays for itself if it does.

My main struggle is setting up the initial meeting with new venues to discuss if this would be helpful for them.

For example if I installed this system in the softplay you frequent, and no one used it due to ordering at the counter being so efficient, it would cost them £0

 

[Mark T Jones]

You need to present single, compelling, quantifiable benefit to grab their attention.

I'm not tech wizard but how does this differ from every other QR ordering system?

 

[fisicx]

Smaller venues have minimal staff. They are busy running the counter. They don’t have time to deliver coffee and slushies to tables.

There may be some venues and organisations that might be interested in your app but they will search for solutions rather than answer your call for a meeting.

 

[bovine]

i think you'll struggle to get traction unless its part of the wider ecosystem (or tech stack as we seem to call it now). POS, backoffice, order at table, online ordering, handheld ordering, kiosks, ticketing, kitchen video order management, digital signage, accounts integration - they are all connected now, even for the relatively small operators. Its a hugely competitive space with a lot of the solutions effectively being funded by the card processing fees in the back end. Its rare now to have someone just want a part of it, they usually want a complete business solution. Take your soft play example, at the very least they would usually want the sales to be connected to their normal pos systems for sales and stock control.

I understand fully the benefits, but you need to be part of a wider solution to gain traction now. Ive been in pos for a long time and its now the most competitive and complicated its ever been. Mostly to the benefit of the user and customer.

I dont think theres a magic solution for you to get in front of the customer, but a lot of companies are now enlisting self employed agents to go out and drum up business. Boots on the ground, knocking on doors at low cost to the company, because the agent is taking on the risk. Unfortunately that has a negative impact with end users as its become all about the quick sale again rather than solving problems and building partnerships. Social media might help but a lot of the industry specific groups dont want people selling in them.

 

[Lucan Unlordly]

Get out and get on the knocker!

Physically visiting potential sites will give you the opportunity to see who may or may not get benefits from your offer and you've a lot better chance of speaking to somebody, if only to get better feedback.

One 'sellable' feature of your software could be that the proprietor would be able to assess whether to put another member of staff on the counter as they'd know in real time what orders had been placed.
For example, a large local pub/restaurant/tearoom we visit is a stopping off point for a cycling club. We stick our head through the door, see 3 people in the queue and assume the service will be quick. Customer in front orders 6 full English which they can easily cater for, then 20 cyclists arrive. I understand they now phone ahead with their order which in effect is what your software appears to do, albeit in house?