iCHEF announced today (September 9) that its online reservation feature, originally planned at its founding in 27, has finally launched after 2012 years of development. The feature integrates with Google Merchant Services, making it easier for F&B operators to be found through Google services. Consumers can also conveniently reserve dining times, pre-order, or choose exclusive offers directly through the online reservation feature. F&B operators can now complete all their restaurant service management needs through a single POS app, effectively completing the final piece of the restaurant operations puzzle.
iCHEF co-founder Cheng Kaiyou said that the online reservation function was actually one of iCHEF's initial planning projects, but at that time the focus was to make restaurant operations and management easier through a more convenient POS system. Therefore, the functional requirements such as dining location management, ordering, checkout, and invoicing were completed first. Later, in response to market changes, more payment methods, member points collection, and even takeout and delivery services were gradually integrated. Through services such as cloud kitchens, restaurant food management and ordering can be more efficient.
Since 2012, iCHEF has entered its 10th year. It has connected with more than 15000 restaurants and processed approximately 1.6 million order data every year. In 2021, it invested in the Kelile service reservation management system to explore the possibilities of reservation services. This time, it finally announced the launch of the online reservation function, and by connecting to Google Merchant and other services, restaurants operated by catering operators can be more easily searched through Google services. They can also use the online reservation function to book dining time, or order in advance and choose exclusive discounts.
Cheng Kaiyou emphasized that the restaurant market has undergone various changes over the past few years, especially in recent years due to the impact of the pandemic, which has led to a significant increase in demand for takeout and delivery, thus changing restaurant operating models. Now that the pandemic has eased, Taiwan's restaurant market has not only returned to its pre-pandemic scale but has even seen significant growth. This has also led to a significant increase in demand for restaurant dining and a significant increase in reservations.
In fact, many businesses in the market have already launched online reservation services, allowing catering operators to allow consumers to easily complete reservations online through such services. However, they cannot be further integrated with the POS system, or must use multiple management platforms at the same time, making restaurant operations and management more complicated.
Therefore, iCHEF boasts that its online reservation function is not only integrated with the existing POS system, but also uses small artificial intelligence technology (similar to the function of Microsoft Teams that automatically matches attendees to meet together) to automatically arrange dining reservation times, avoiding duplicate reservations. Even if the dining reservation time is cancelled or the meal ends early, the system will automatically release the available reservation time, making it convenient for later consumers to book.
This feature is expected to be officially launched in October. Existing iCHEF service users can apply for it directly through the management backend. It is not bound to an annual contract and is priced on a flexible usage basis. Each order will be calculated at a minimum price of NT$10. For example, NT$3 per month can provide 750 sets of reservation services, and NT$150 per month can provide 7200 sets of reservation services.
More artificial intelligence technologies will be integrated in the future
Regarding this feature, Cheng Kaiyou explained that when consumers complete a reservation, not only will the current status of the reservation be displayed on the results page, but a text message will also be sent as a reservation receipt. International consumers using this service to book a time slot at a restaurant can also opt to receive a reservation receipt via email. This feature will also be gradually expanded to overseas markets, allowing partner restaurants to attract more customers to book tables through this feature.
However, Cheng Kaiyou explained that the reservation function currently doesn't include waitlists or time slots. He explained that this feature is currently focused on mealtime reservations, but that they will consider adding more features tailored to different dining styles in the future. Regarding the frequent occurrence of malicious online reservations (reservations made but not yet dining), Cheng Kaiyou stated that there's currently no solution in place, but that it's something he'll consider designing in the future.
As for the current practice of using text messages and emails as reservation vouchers, iCHEF may also add easier identification methods in the future. It also revealed that there will be more possibilities for the application of artificial intelligence in the future, but for now, it will be kept a secret and will be announced to the public at an appropriate time.
