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As a restaurant owner, you know it all too well: long queues at the register, staff struggling to keep up, and that nagging feeling you’re missing opportunities to generate just a bit more revenue. I see it daily with hospitality entrepreneurs who are doing their best but getting stuck in the operational grind. Fortunately, there’s a solution that both increases your revenue and makes your operations more efficient: digital ordering technology.
In this article, I’ll walk you through the concrete steps you can take to optimise your menu using modern ordering systems. From smart upselling to menu engineering, you’ll learn exactly how to get more out of every order — without it feeling pushy.
Let’s be honest: your staff are doing their best, but in the heat of a busy shift, opportunities are lost. When a customer is standing at the counter, your employee often doesn’t have time to naturally suggest extras. An extra drink? A dessert? Those questions often go unasked.
On top of that, there are hidden costs. Incorrect orders due to miscommunication cost money and cause frustration for both staff and customers. Long queues deter potential guests, especially during peak hours. And that’s before we even mention labour costs in a sector where margins are already tight.
This is where digital ordering technology comes in. A self-service kiosk or digital menu takes away these challenges while simultaneously creating new opportunities to structurally increase your revenue.
Menu engineering has been a proven strategy in hospitality for decades. It revolves around analysing your dishes based on two factors: popularity and profitability. By strategically organising your menu, you guide customers towards dishes that are both popular and deliver a strong margin.
Every dish on your menu falls into one of these categories:
With a paper menu, you’re limited in how you can present dishes. A digital menu, on the other hand, offers endless possibilities:
A fast-food restaurant in Utrecht, for example, saw premium burger sales increase by 28% after using digital menu boards — purely through visual optimisation.
Digital ordering systems excel at subtle upselling. Where employees may forget or feel uncomfortable making suggestions, a digital system does this consistently with every order.
The smartest digital ordering systems use various upselling techniques:
Customers don’t experience this as pushy. They take their time ordering, without pressure from a queue behind them.
A well-known sandwich chain in the Netherlands implemented self-service kiosks with smart upselling. The result: a 23% increase in average order value. Not through more expensive products, but because customers more consistently added extras.
At Onesix, we see similar results. Restaurants using Onesix Kiosks report an average of more than 20% revenue increase thanks to faster throughput, higher accuracy, and more attention to the full menu.
1. Analyse your current menu
Collect data: what sells best, what has the highest margin? Use at least three months of sales data.
2. Simplify your menu
Limit it to 20–30 strong dishes. Less choice overload, less waste, and a clear overview on digital screens.
3. Optimise for digital presentation
Use professional photos (even with a smartphone), attractive descriptions, and visual hierarchy.
4. Implement strategic pricing
Use anchoring, bundling, and psychological pricing (€9.95 works better than €10.00).
5. Test, measure, and optimise
Use data and A/B tests to continuously improve. Small adjustments often lead to significant revenue differences.
Shorter wait times = more customers With kiosks, multiple customers order simultaneously. For a busy restaurant, this can mean €200–€300 in extra daily revenue.
Consistent customer experience Every customer receives the same optimal presentation, regardless of staff experience.
Fewer errors, higher satisfaction Customers enter their own orders — fewer misunderstandings, more satisfied guests.
Operational efficiency Staff can focus on service and quality while orders are processed automatically.
Digital systems collect valuable insights:
At Onesix, customers use this data to improve their menu every quarter. A restaurant in Amsterdam increased its lunch revenue by 18% this way.
New technology may seem daunting, but it’s easier than you think.
The hospitality industry is changing fast. Customers expect convenience, speed, and personalisation. Those who embrace digital ordering technology stay ahead. Major chains like Subway and Bakker Bart are already seeing the results, but local restaurants benefit too.
You now know how digital ordering technology can improve your menu, revenue, and operations. Start today: analyse your menu, optimise your presentation, and test an Onesix Kiosk in your establishment.
The hospitality industry is challenging, but with the right tools you can grow without extra stress. Onesix helps you with that — with technology that works for you, not the other way around.
Have you already tried digital ordering systems? Or are you curious how to get started? Share your story in the comments below — together we’ll take hospitality to the next level.
Want to learn how Onesix products like Kiosks, QR codes, and POS systems can strengthen your hospitality business? Feel free to contact us and visit this page for a complete overview of our hospitality solutions.
Daan works as Head of Marketing at Onesix. This news site offers relevant articles for people who work in or have an interest in hospitality, retail, and amusement parks.
