The spread of Coronavirus in India (and the rest of the world) has had a profound impact on businesses. What used to be a profitable industry is now finding it hard to operate. Yes, we are talking about the ‘Indian Restaurant Industry.’
As the government continues to impose lockdown, small businesses are going for a rough ride nationwide. More than 60% of restaurants in India are small businesses. And as the country fights the Pandemic, most of these restaurants will never reopen.
The Indian restaurant business thrives on social gatherings, and since the only way to prevent Coronavirus from spreading is social distancing, the industry is down to its knees.
Now, what if we tell you how the Indian restaurants can’t only defeat the Coronavirus in India but also improve sales? Read on…
Why Is Indian Restaurant Industry Not Allowed To Operate As Usual?
The Indian restaurant industry is not opening anytime soon, especially considering the spike in coronavirus cases in India.
Why? Because you can’t sit together and eat anymore. The virus hates that. One person with an infection can spread it to almost everyone in a small roadside restaurant. And those people can spread it even further.
Also, the chef preparing meals, if infected, can spread the virus. The worst thing about Coronavirus is that anyone who is affected may not show any symptoms. So, you are meeting a friend at a restaurant, who seems perfectly fine but is actually carrying the virus.
Chefs’ around the world tell us their story of what they’re doing to keep going in their business and in their homes during this current state of crisis. #Worlds50Best https://t.co/9MaJGy4Tmv
— The World’s 50 Best (@TheWorlds50Best) May 14, 2020
How Can Restaurants Be More Effective
As they say, every challenge comes with opportunities. This holds for Indian Restaurant Business as well. We believe that almost every business can operate amidst this Pandemic. For the restaurant business, follow these guidelines and stay strong.
1- Indian Restaurant Business Should Embrace Social Distancing
We may have to wait longer than expected for the medicine or vaccine of this deadly disease. Experts are saying that it could take two to ten years for the cure to be ready.
Are we just going to wait and watch? Do we continue being lockdown and do nothing? Should we let the Coronavirus in India have the best of us?
The answer is no. We have to fight back. For the Indian restaurant business – it has to evolve.
Social distancing rules are here to stay. Rather than whining about it, restaurants should embrace them. They should set bigger tables and allow fewer people. For example, only two to three people should be allowed to take a table.
Waiting areas should be spacey seats there should be well-separated, as per the social distancing rules.
2- No Entry Without Face Masks
If the Indian restaurant business is to survive, face masks should be the new uniform. No entry without a mask should be the restaurant’s number one rule.
Wondering how you will eat with your face covered? Don’t worry, as customers will be allowed to take their masks off once they get their table.
The restaurants can also keep a record of their customers and help the government.
NEW: Restaurants that want to open their doors for dine-in service in Washington State will have to keep a log of all customers, their phone/email, and the time they visited.
It’s part of the state’s plan to build a powerful contact-tracing system.https://t.co/sVI3vfeNq5
— Mike Baker (@ByMikeBaker) May 12, 2020
3- Hand Sanitizers At Entry And Exit
To see business booming again, Indian restaurants should make sure that no one leaves and enters the premises without cleaning their hands with a sanitizer.
They should also have sanitizers on every table.
4- Better Restaurant Management System
We don’t want a massive crowd in any Indian restaurant. To tackle this, the restaurant owner should adequately manage the influx of customers. The idea is to avoid customers waiting in a queue or waiting area. You can do this by enforcing advance reservations and allow no customer to directly walk-in. They have to call and book their table in advance.
Your staff should be properly trained to assign them not only a table but also an approximate time. Also, it is crucial to make sure that once a customer is done dining-in, he should leave and make room for others.
5- Indian Restaurants Should Think More About Take-Aways & Delivery
In general, people are afraid to leave their homes these days. Many of your customers would like food delivery or take-away, especially if they don’t have to compromise on the quality.
Think of creative ways to deliver the same fresh and high-quality food that you serve in-house. You can also partner with third-party food delivery services.
You can also try some of these innovative ideas
Conclusion
The Indian restaurant industry should evolve and accept the new reality. Things we have discussed above are easy, and almost all restaurants can adopt these.
By making small changes to how we work,
- We can keep the business going
- Customers happy
- and most importantly, help the economy by retaining the employees.
