For the modern restaurant, technology is the key differentiator. In fact, many restaurant owners agree with this. According to the National Restaurant Association, 73% of restaurant operators agree technology’s use in a restaurant provides a competitive advantage.

If you don’t believe that customers want technology incorporated into their dining experiences too, I encourage you to walk into a Starbucks sometime. Even if you don’t run a coffee shop, it’s hard not to be astonished at the number of people you’ll see there that are working away on their laptops. I know I was.

For the past several weeks, I’ve been doing a lot of work at my local Starbucks. What I was really taken by was just how long people were staying there. Some of them were staying for hours on end. There were people that were there when I arrived, and were still there when I left… literally after four hours.

So what drew me (and everyone else) in? Certainly the free WiFi was instrumental. But there’s another key factor that Starbucks utilizes to incentivize long stays at their stores. And it involves technology. If you download and register with the Starbucks app, you’ll get free refills on select drinks. Seriously, what a deal! There’s nothing that pairs with a long writing session like bottomless iced coffee refills.

Then I got hungry. I shortly found myself at the counter, ordering one of their breakfast sandwiches. You stay somewhere long enough, and there’s a good chance that you might end up purchasing something else.

The lesson here is that Starbucks earned another purchase from me, all because of how they integrated technology into their customer experience. Not only that, but they even managed to get me into their rewards program by offering those free refills.

If you’re reading this, there’s a good chance that you don’t run a coffee shop. You might range anywhere from a small quick-service that doubles down on takeout, all the way to a ritzy sit-down establishment. What Starbucks did here isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution to getting more customers. But it does demonstrate an example of how you can leverage technology to make more money, and even create potentially long-term, loyal customers. So depending on your situation, you may have to get a little strategic.

Or do you?

Enter CoGoBuzz

As it turns out, revolutionizing your restaurant experience with technology doesn’t have to be difficult in the slightest. That’s where CoGoBuzz comes in. Our state-of-the-art service redefines your in-store and out-of-store customer experience with WiFi, SMS, and Email solutions.

Here’s how it works. Your in-store customers start by connecting to your HotSpot. They then login via Facebook, phone number, or Email for WiFi access. Customers are taken to your business’s custom landing page, where they can be incentivized to Like you on social media in exchange for a deal, or even join your fully digital text-based Loyalty Program! In addition, we automatically produce a customer profile for every customer that logs in. Check out the rest of our website to learn more about all the amazing features CoGoBuzz comes packed with.

Have you had success using technology in your restaurant? Sound off in the comments!