Iris Software Systems has launched new features to increase ordering and payment capabilities at hotel food-and-beverage venues and deliver a more personalized user experience.
The platform now offers search and filter function for allergens, enabling guests to personalize their menu choices and refine available items based on their specific dietary requirements. For international operators, the filter options will accommodate and display commonly recognized emoji graphics to help ensure nothing is lost in translation. Any changes made to the F&B items’ attributes will be automatically picked up by the filter function without requiring any further steps, making it easy for staff to make updates and ensure allergen information is always accurate.
The new menu display lets operators accommodate items with multiple prices. Ideal for wine lists, hotels can display both glass and bottle prices on a single item to provide greater choice for guests. Previously they would either have a single price and need to be two separate items, or have the price quoted as “from.” Now operators have the option to build and manage their own digital wine lists which can also be used with the Iris Flat Menu layout, removing the need for a physical menu.
The new split bill functionality has been developed to build on Iris' open tab feature that lets guests run a tab with multiple rounds, then pay with a single transaction at the end. Guests who are all ordering on the same tab will be able to split a bill across multiple devices and pay individually. Each guest inputs the amount they wish to pay, sets their own tip amount individually, pays by card and receives an email receipt. From an operational perspective, staff will be provided with a clear breakdown of how much each guest has paid. This allows staff to pull up the tab according to the table number or room and track the outstanding balance as each person pays. Guests will also be able to see how much has been paid by each person in the Order History, making it easy to split among large groups.
The new call wait staff function lets guests call for a member of staff via the app. A ticket receipt is then delivered to the kitchen or till to notify staff that a guest requires assistance and gives their location. This makes sure wait staff walking the floor are doing so to meet a direct guest need and not waiting in busy pool areas unnecessarily when they are not needed.
The grocery ordering feature has been built to enable guests to pre-order groceries and toiletries in advance of their stay. This lets operators tap into the all-important second wallet ahead of a guest’s arrival. This is good for self-catering guests to stock up their villa or to order flowers and champagne to the honeymoon suite.
From an operational perspective, management teams can set a minimum notice period required for advance orders so that they can be delivered efficiently. Likewise, lists similar to the search and filter function can be edited in line with dietary requirements and allergies. This feature can also be implemented across departments to include catering or IT requests such as AV equipment or projectors for large conferences and the MICE market.
”These features focus specifically on improving staff efficiencies and personalizing the guest experience," Iris product manager David Molofsky said in a statement. "Whether that's reducing the need for physical staff presence, providing guests with clear answers to common questions, or making it easier to manage bills and payments, our goal is to provide F&B ordering solutions that satisfy the guest’s needs and add value to their stay."