{"id":9284,"date":"2025-02-10T17:33:53","date_gmt":"2025-02-10T17:33:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.getcraver.com\/cafe-operations\/"},"modified":"2025-11-26T12:00:05","modified_gmt":"2025-11-26T19:00:05","slug":"cafe-operations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.getcraver.com\/blog\/cafe-operations\/","title":{"rendered":"3 Ways to Streamline Your Cafe’s Operations with a Mobile App"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Cafe and coffee shop mobile apps have been a hot topic for years, from the 2009 launch of Starbucks\u2019 in-app loyalty program<\/span><\/a> to the number of delivery app integrations we predict will skyrocket in 2025<\/span><\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And, while you\u2019re likely familiar with the range of customer-centric mobile app benefits like loyalty and delivery\u2026 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You might have a few other cafe-centric questions before you\u2019re totally sold. Questions like:  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Does a mobile app do <\/em>anything for cafe owners and operators?\u201d <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCan a mobile app benefit my<\/em> cafe as much as it does my <\/em>customers?\u201d <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDo mobile apps have any benefits that <\/em>actually impact my cafe\u2019s day-to-day?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fortunately, the answer to all three questions is yes \u2014 and we\u2019re about to show you how. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this blog, we\u2019ll take you through three ways a mobile app can streamline your cafe\u2019s operations, from helping your staff easily handle daily rushes to integrating with existing systems for a seamless customer experience. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019ll also show you three mini case studies, detailing how Sips Coffee<\/span><\/a> streamlined their cafe operations with a Craver app and what it\u2019s meant for their business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s get into it, shall we?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Perfectly Timed Pickups and Deliveries Improve Cafe Operations<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A mobile app can streamline your cafe\u2019s operations through perfectly timed pickup and delivery estimates, a highly important feature because people don\u2019t like waiting. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to Waitwhile\u2019s \u201cThe State of Waiting in Line<\/span><\/a>\u201d report, 43% of consumers<\/span><\/a> feel \u201cless satisfied with businesses that require them to wait\u201d in a line. And, what\u2019s more, 80% of consumers<\/span><\/a> won\u2019t wait in line longer than 15 minutes, with 6 in 10<\/span><\/a> reporting they\u2019ve left a too-long line before their turn. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But if your cafe has a mobile app with online ordering capabilities, that means no more waiting in line, right?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Right, as long as your mobile order pickup or delivery orders are accurate \u2014 which they aren\u2019t always. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

(The growing frequency of inaccurate order pickup times is why \u201cmore accurate mobile order pickup times\u201d is one of our <\/em>top five cafe trends this year<\/span><\/em><\/a>, by the way.) <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s where having a mobile app that integrates with your cafe\u2019s KDS comes in handy, just like Craver\u2019s mobile app<\/span><\/a> for Sips Coffee. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Sips<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Craver x Sips Coffee<\/span><\/a>: A Case Study in Streamlined Cafe Operations <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Sips Coffee\u2019s business largely revolves around pick-up and delivery orders, making perfectly-timed orders a \u201cmust-have\u201d for their cafe \u2014 not a \u201cnice to have.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But when the coffee business started using Craver\u2019s KDS-integrated mobile app, accurate pickup and delivery times became a non-issue for their cafe operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our mobile app\u2019s order throttling feature helped the cafe manage the influx of orders during busy or rush periods, preventing staff from getting overwhelmed and falling behind on order preparation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Craver\u2019s mobile orders also stand out from in-person orders, both visually and with a unique notification sound. That made it easier for Sips Coffee\u2019s staff to distinguish between online and in-person orders, making sure online orders never got left behind. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Guests ordering through Sips Coffee<\/span><\/a>\u2019s mobile app are also kept in the loop with real-time tracking and pickup notifications, from when the order is sent to the cafe\u2019s KDS to when it’s ready to be picked up. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Improve your cafe\u2019s pick-up times \u2014 and see sales growth up to 40% \u2014 with Craver.<\/div>\n\t\t\n \n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tBook A Demo\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\n\t<\/div>\n\n\n\n

How Easier Order Management Improves Cafe Operations<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The second way a mobile app can streamline cafe operations is through improved order management \u2014 because easier order management means everyone<\/em> wins. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Take your cafe\u2019s staff, for example. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When your staff handles \u201corder management\u201d by calling out orders or jotting them down on cups, feeling overwhelmed becomes part of the deal. And, when your staff members are overwhelmed, it\u2019s easy to fall behind or make mistakes on orders\u2026 two things guests won\u2019t always <\/em>forgive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a customer experience survey by PwC, 17% of respondents said they\u2019d \u201cstop doing business with a brand they loved after one bad experience<\/span><\/a>.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even the most loyal guests have taken their money elsewhere because of inconsistent in-store experiences (~15%<\/span><\/a>), inefficiencies (~45%<\/span><\/a>), and unfriendly service (~68%)<\/span><\/a> \u2014 all possible outcomes when staff members are overwhelmed and scrambling to catch up on orders. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Luckily, a lot of these \u201cmake or break\u201d issues can easily be addressed when your cafe has a KDS-integrated mobile app \u2014 just like Sips Coffee<\/span><\/a> does.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Craver x Sips Coffee<\/span><\/a>: A Case Study in Streamlined Cafe Operations<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

With a staff largely composed of high school and college students, Sips Coffee quickly noticed a trend:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Their young employees were great <\/em>at picking up new tech solutions with ease, but less great<\/em> at consistently following manual processes and procedures. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That led to consistency issues that Sips Coffee knew they had to correct\u2026 and that\u2019s where the cafe\u2019s brand-new Craver app stepped in to smooth things out. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Sips<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Our mobile app seamlessly integrated with Sips Coffee\u2019s existing systems, automatically sending mobile orders directly to the cafe\u2019s KDS and Square POS system. This reduced the number of orders for staff to enter manually, improving Sips Coffee\u2019s speed of service and order accuracy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Plus, the integration was easy for Sips Coffee\u2019s tech-savvy staff to adapt and adhere to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That meant staff had an easier time following the cafe\u2019s newly digital processes and procedures, while guests enjoyed a faster, more accurate experience at Sips Coffee than they\u2019d had before. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThe integration has helped staff stay more organized, and our sales have gone up.\u201d \u2014 Nina Laughlin, Manager of Sips Coffee<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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Want to increase your cafe\u2019s average order value by up to 20%? A Craver app can help.\u00a0<\/div>\n\t\t\n \n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tBook A Demo\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\n\t<\/div>\n\n\n\n

How Convenient Ordering for Guests Improves Cafe Operations<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The third (and final!) way a mobile app can streamline cafe operations is by offering guests a more convenient ordering experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the National Restaurant Association (NRA), \u201c[convenience enhacing] options<\/span><\/a>\u201d have become a \u201cdeal breaker<\/span><\/a>\u201d for guests. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, 84% of respondents<\/span><\/a> said mobile apps were their preferred technology for placing orders, with 40% stating they want more tech-powered solutions that \u201cmake ordering easier [and] faster<\/span><\/a>.\u201d A DoorDash survey also suggests convenient ordering can support more frequent ordering, with 49% of consumers<\/span><\/a> placing repeat orders online at least once a week and 70% <\/span><\/a>having used online ordering in the past month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What\u2019s more, consumers associate tech-powered, convenience-first ordering options with a more positive customer experience, too. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

An NRA survey found that consumers believe tech options can \u201c[speed up] transaction times, provide more accuracy, and [promote] more efficient [service]<\/span><\/a>\u201d \u2014 exactly what Craver\u2019s custom-branded app did for Sips Coffee<\/span><\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

 Craver x Sips Coffee<\/span><\/a>: A Case Study in Streamlined Cafe Operations<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Not long after launching their Craver mobile app, Sips Coffee started seeing impactful changes in their guests\u2019 online ordering behaviors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

First, it became clear that the convenience-focused mobile app encouraged repeat purchases from existing guests. Regulars began placing their usual daily orders through the mobile app, seamlessly integrating Sips Coffee\u2019s new mobile ordering into their existing coffee routines. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Sips<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Second, Sips Coffee\u2019s highly convenient Craver mobile app started attracting new customers, with the cafe noticing brand-new signups daily. To make things even better, Sips Coffee also saw those new users become regulars thanks to the app\u2019s speed and ease of use. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finally, the mobile app proved highly accessible for Sips Coffee lovers of all ages. The cafe received feedback from guests well into their 70s that the app was user-friendly and easy to use, proving that a well-designed app can<\/em> be a barrier-free experience for users of all ages and technological capabilities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cCustomers have been raving about how easy it is. They love it. It\u2019s super user-friendly for every age. I have one gentleman who’s 75 and he just learned to use the app and he uses it three times a day.\u201d \u2014 Nina Laughlin, Manager of Sips Coffee<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Wrap Up<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

At the beginning of this blog, we flagged a few questions you may have had percolating (pun intended).<\/em> Now, after seeing the operational improvements Sips Coffee accomplished with a mobile app, we\u2019ve got one more question to ask:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don\u2019t you want to see what a Craver mobile app can do for your cafe operations, too? <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cI have absolutely nothing but great things to say about the whole thing. If we open a second location I would integrate this again.\u201d \u2014 Nina Laughlin, Manager of Sips Coffee<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n

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