Text Reservations

rwilkins86 · 30th May 2012, 11:01 AM

First off thanks to everyone for posting their ideas on here. The collaboration of ideas is just awesome.

After reading about mobile websites, and SMS lists, and using SMS for appointment reminders i had more ideas that we could add to our offerings to do even more business.

1. SMS Reservations
2. SMS Wait Times

1. Now with SMS marketing they have the lists you can opt in to and short codes that you can send certain texts to and be on the list. How about a SMS reservation system for restaurants. Or "Text Ahead Seating" instead of call ahead seating.

For example you text Applebees Reserve: Wilkins 6 Friday 830 to 75282.
Then the restaurant could check the list and send a text back saying its confirmed or isn't.
It is a little complicated but I feel like its enough to add business to a restaurant. I know for sure I would make reservations alot more often if I didn't have to call anyone.

2. I also know that I hate getting to a restaurant and having a 30 minute wait. If I could text the restaurant and get a response text telling me the wait time it would be a million times easier.

What do you guys thinks/have anything to add?

WillR · 30th May 2012, 06:47 PM

Originally Posted by rwilkins86

First off thanks to everyone for posting their ideas on here. The collaboration of ideas is just awesome.

After reading about mobile websites, and SMS lists, and using SMS for appointment reminders i had more ideas that we could add to our offerings to do even more business.

1. SMS Reservations
2. SMS Wait Times

1. Now with SMS marketing they have the lists you can opt in to and short codes that you can send certain texts to and be on the list. How about a SMS reservation system for restaurants. Or "Text Ahead Seating" instead of call ahead seating.

For example you text Applebees Reserve: Wilkins 6 Friday 830 to 75282.
Then the restaurant could check the list and send a text back saying its confirmed or isn't.
It is a little complicated but I feel like its enough to add business to a restaurant. I know for sure I would make reservations alot more often if I didn't have to call anyone.

2. I also know that I hate getting to a restaurant and having a 30 minute wait. If I could text the restaurant and get a response text telling me the wait time it would be a million times easier.

What do you guys thinks/have anything to add?

Ryan,

Good idea in theory but not in practice.

One of the big problems restaurants here in Australia are having at the moment is people who book and never show up. The restaurant ends up with an empty table they can't fill at such short notice. This is happening to a lot of the top restaurants in Australia and they are actually losing money on some nights because of this problem. It's a serious problem.

The reason I know about this is because there was a news story on this a few months ago. The story was about how the restaurants were trying to fight back by then naming and shaming the people who don't show up by tweeting their names on Twitter the next day. "Thanks John Smith party of 10 for not showing up last night or canceling your booking." A little bit lame, yeah, but if you were in their shoes you might think a little differently.

The reason this problem exists is because it seems what people are now doing these days is booking themselves into more than one restaurant so they can then decide which one they want to go to on the night. So the restaurants they book and do not to go to end up losing out. A lot of these top restaurants are ones that take bookings only so it's not as though they have a line of people at the door they can then fill that table with.

Your idea above is a problem in that, as you admitted yourself, it would make the process of bookings a lot more informal and far too easy, opening it up for a lot more abuse. If all you had to do was text a number to make a booking then these people would easily fire off 5 booking requests to different restaurants for the same night.

I don't see this as something that would solve many problems... I think it would just create a whole lot more.

rwilkins86 · 4th Jun 2012, 09:57 PM

People using OpenTable can blow off a reservation too. What about the 2nd idea? The text to find out a wait routine?

Kiril S · 5th Jun 2012, 01:08 AM

As stated, one major issue that restaurants have is people bailing out on their reservations. Why not fix this problem with SMS? Call it Text Reservation Confirmation.

Say someone reserves a table at X restaurant. Have X restaurant send out a text to this person 1 hour (maybe more or less) before their reservation time. For example, "Text C to confirm your reservation or B to remove it."

If the person confirms, then that reservation is kept. If not, then they give the reservation to another person by sending him a text. Integrate this with a whole SMS restaurant booking system, and the restaurant can SAVE UP a lot of money by avoiding the big issue of missed reservations, and by handing out reservations more efficiently, faster and automatically.

ginnysclub1 · 5th Jun 2012, 08:12 AM

Originally Posted by Kiril S

As stated, one major issue that restaurants have is people bailing out on their reservations. Why not fix this problem with SMS? Call it Text Reservation Confirmation.

Say someone reserves a table at X restaurant. Have X restaurant send out a text to this person 1 hour (maybe more or less) before their reservation time. For example, "Text C to confirm your reservation or B to remove it."

If the person confirms, then that reservation is kept. If not, then they give the reservation to another person by sending him a text. Integrate this with a whole SMS restaurant booking system, and the restaurant can SAVE UP a lot of money by avoiding the big issue of missed reservations, and by handing out reservations more efficiently, faster and automatically.

Or reserve the table with a credit card like what hotels do.

beeswarn · 5th Jun 2012, 08:46 AM

This idea presents a lot of technical challenges. Since no one else here thinks they can overcome them, they leave an opportunity open for you. See if you can find a busy restaurant and persuade them to test your system and help you develop it into something they can use.

rwilkins86 · 5th Jun 2012, 08:53 AM

Kiril thats a good idea. Could use it like appointment confirmations for a drs office.

beeswarn I'm working with a manager of a couple restaurants now to see how well this works. I figured I could combine what we are doing with what others in the forum might be doing too.

beeswarn · 5th Jun 2012, 09:05 AM

Good to hear. You're going to need a strong restaurant manager to help you learn how restaurants want to receive reservations and how they create their floor plans. At all costs, try to coach up the hostesses as much as you can and as early as you can. They control all restaurant reservations and seatings. Unfortunately, they are not, as a rule, the best and brightest people you'll meet in business.

NewParadigm · 5th Jun 2012, 09:10 AM

It'd be easy to replace those flashing/vibrating coasters with text notification when waiting for a table as well. what a great way to get an opt in killer text or email list.

I would have an app for a restaurant that continually shows me where I am on the wait list. It would be huge for the restaurant turnover. why? because it takes up to several minutes once the customers buzzer/flashing coaster goes off for them to finish their drinks, settle their bar tab and get to the hostess stand to be seated. When restaurants have a waiting list, minutes add up to hours and tons of lost revenue. If an app or text notifies you are 2 tables away from top etc....you'd be finishing drinks/settling tab ahead of time.

Kind of like airlines now stressing BOARDING TIMES on boarding pass instead of departure times. That gets people to the gate sooner.

beeswarn · 5th Jun 2012, 09:21 AM

One difficulty you'll face is that some carriers as a matter of policy now block incoming short code text messages for new accounts. The consumer has to call or, worse, log into their carrier account online to change that setting.

This presents a problem when they cannot opt in to a short code campaign, nor receive any short code messages. Imagine them sitting at the bar, think they are duly opted-in, but not receiving their reservation notice. They tend to get steamed when your hostess gives their table away for not responding.

30th May 2012, 11:01 AM	#1
rwilkins86 Marketing Consultant Join Date: 2008 Posts: 14 Thanks: 2 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Text Reservations Share on: First off thanks to everyone for posting their ideas on here. The collaboration of ideas is just awesome. After reading about mobile websites, and SMS lists, and using SMS for appointment reminders i had more ideas that we could add to our offerings to do even more business. 1. SMS Reservations 2. SMS Wait Times 1. Now with SMS marketing they have the lists you can opt in to and short codes that you can send certain texts to and be on the list. How about a SMS reservation system for restaurants. Or "Text Ahead Seating" instead of call ahead seating. For example you text Applebees Reserve: Wilkins 6 Friday 830 to 75282. Then the restaurant could check the list and send a text back saying its confirmed or isn't. It is a little complicated but I feel like its enough to add business to a restaurant. I know for sure I would make reservations alot more often if I didn't have to call anyone. 2. I also know that I hate getting to a restaurant and having a 30 minute wait. If I could text the restaurant and get a response text telling me the wait time it would be a million times easier. What do you guys thinks/have anything to add?
	Ryan W. GenText Marketing LLC Need an invite for RippLn? It's going to be a huge new social network! PM Me!

4th Jun 2012, 09:57 PM	#3
rwilkins86 Marketing Consultant Join Date: 2008 Posts: 14 Thanks: 2 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: Text Reservations Share on: People using OpenTable can blow off a reservation too. What about the 2nd idea? The text to find out a wait routine?
	Ryan W. GenText Marketing LLC Need an invite for RippLn? It's going to be a huge new social network! PM Me!

5th Jun 2012, 01:08 AM	#4
Kiril S WordPress Enthusiast War Room Member Join Date: 2011 Location: Montreal Posts: 157 Thanks: 8 Thanked 20 Times in 16 Posts	Re: Text Reservations Share on: As stated, one major issue that restaurants have is people bailing out on their reservations. Why not fix this problem with SMS? Call it Text Reservation Confirmation. Say someone reserves a table at X restaurant. Have X restaurant send out a text to this person 1 hour (maybe more or less) before their reservation time. For example, "Text C to confirm your reservation or B to remove it." If the person confirms, then that reservation is kept. If not, then they give the reservation to another person by sending him a text. Integrate this with a whole SMS restaurant booking system, and the restaurant can SAVE UP a lot of money by avoiding the big issue of missed reservations, and by handing out reservations more efficiently, faster and automatically.

5th Jun 2012, 08:46 AM	#6
beeswarn Advanced Warrior Join Date: 2011 Location: USA Posts: 550 Thanks: 228 Thanked 166 Times in 108 Posts	Re: Text Reservations Share on: This idea presents a lot of technical challenges. Since no one else here thinks they can overcome them, they leave an opportunity open for you. See if you can find a busy restaurant and persuade them to test your system and help you develop it into something they can use.

5th Jun 2012, 08:53 AM	#7
rwilkins86 Marketing Consultant Join Date: 2008 Posts: 14 Thanks: 2 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: Text Reservations Share on: Kiril thats a good idea. Could use it like appointment confirmations for a drs office. beeswarn I'm working with a manager of a couple restaurants now to see how well this works. I figured I could combine what we are doing with what others in the forum might be doing too.
	Ryan W. GenText Marketing LLC Need an invite for RippLn? It's going to be a huge new social network! PM Me!

5th Jun 2012, 09:05 AM	#8
beeswarn Advanced Warrior Join Date: 2011 Location: USA Posts: 550 Thanks: 228 Thanked 166 Times in 108 Posts	Re: Text Reservations Share on: Good to hear. You're going to need a strong restaurant manager to help you learn how restaurants want to receive reservations and how they create their floor plans. At all costs, try to coach up the hostesses as much as you can and as early as you can. They control all restaurant reservations and seatings. Unfortunately, they are not, as a rule, the best and brightest people you'll meet in business.

5th Jun 2012, 09:10 AM	#9
NewParadigm Senior Warrior Member Join Date: 2011 Posts: 1,141 Thanks: 628 Thanked 286 Times in 222 Posts	Re: Text Reservations Share on: It'd be easy to replace those flashing/vibrating coasters with text notification when waiting for a table as well. what a great way to get an opt in killer text or email list. I would have an app for a restaurant that continually shows me where I am on the wait list. It would be huge for the restaurant turnover. why? because it takes up to several minutes once the customers buzzer/flashing coaster goes off for them to finish their drinks, settle their bar tab and get to the hostess stand to be seated. When restaurants have a waiting list, minutes add up to hours and tons of lost revenue. If an app or text notifies you are 2 tables away from top etc....you'd be finishing drinks/settling tab ahead of time. Kind of like airlines now stressing BOARDING TIMES on boarding pass instead of departure times. That gets people to the gate sooner.

5th Jun 2012, 09:21 AM	#10
beeswarn Advanced Warrior Join Date: 2011 Location: USA Posts: 550 Thanks: 228 Thanked 166 Times in 108 Posts	Re: Text Reservations Share on: One difficulty you'll face is that some carriers as a matter of policy now block incoming short code text messages for new accounts. The consumer has to call or, worse, log into their carrier account online to change that setting. This presents a problem when they cannot opt in to a short code campaign, nor receive any short code messages. Imagine them sitting at the bar, think they are duly opted-in, but not receiving their reservation notice. They tend to get steamed when your hostess gives their table away for not responding.