Food Service Truck Technology Changes Affecting Consumer Acceptance
Food Service Truck Technology Changes Affecting Consumer Acceptance
Food service trucks have recently been exploring alternate methods of business to compete with their brick and mortar rivals. The use of technology has been a ‘game changer’ for food service trucks in the way they market their products and conduct day to day business operations. Today, food trucks are innovating with marketing tools, productivity apps and the truck design itself resulting in an influx of new and repeating customers.
Food trucks have attracted a key demographic in their marketing techniques, gaining mostly young followers who flock to the trucks for their cheap food and trending designs. Maureen Morrison stated (Morrison, 2012, para. 4) “in the Technomic 2011 Food Trucks Innovation report, 42% of consumers surveyed ages 18 to 30 said they visit food trucks at least once a week; 38% of consumers ages 31 to 40 answered the same way.” By working with new technology food trucks have become more flexible in how they interact with their customers, getting on their level to provide fully functional service. One of the best methods food trucks have been using is integration with innovative technology to manage and maintain their businesses, while attracting new customers with flexible ordering options and modern design.
Until recently food service trucks only accepted cash from customers, but new digital tools such as Square and GoPayment allow the users to accept credit card payments via mobile devices such as iPhone, iPad, and Android. These tools have opened up a new realm for food service trucks customers to pay for their meals. This has been a huge break-through for the food service truck owners because it minimizes their worry over whether customers will have enough cash to pay for their food order. In some cities, Foodtoeat.com is equipping food trucks with GPRS printers to wirelessly receive online orders in seconds. This allows the food service truck owner to
Food service trucks have recently been exploring alternate methods of business to compete with their brick and mortar rivals. The use of technology has been a ‘game changer’ for food service trucks in the way they market their products and conduct day to day business operations. Today, food trucks are innovating with marketing tools, productivity apps and the truck design itself resulting in an influx of new and repeating customers.
Food trucks have attracted a key demographic in their marketing techniques, gaining mostly young followers who flock to the trucks for their cheap food and trending designs. Maureen Morrison stated (Morrison, 2012, para. 4) “in the Technomic 2011 Food Trucks Innovation report, 42% of consumers surveyed ages 18 to 30 said they visit food trucks at least once a week; 38% of consumers ages 31 to 40 answered the same way.” By working with new technology food trucks have become more flexible in how they interact with their customers, getting on their level to provide fully functional service. One of the best methods food trucks have been using is integration with innovative technology to manage and maintain their businesses, while attracting new customers with flexible ordering options and modern design.
Until recently food service trucks only accepted cash from customers, but new digital tools such as Square and GoPayment allow the users to accept credit card payments via mobile devices such as iPhone, iPad, and Android. These tools have opened up a new realm for food service trucks customers to pay for their meals. This has been a huge break-through for the food service truck owners because it minimizes their worry over whether customers will have enough cash to pay for their food order. In some cities, Foodtoeat.com is equipping food trucks with GPRS printers to wirelessly receive online orders in seconds. This allows the food service truck owner to
References: 1. Food Trucks Embrace Technology in Keeping With the Times 2012. (2012). Retrieved from Foodtoeat website http://dailyfoodtoeat.com/2012/01/13/food-trucks-embrace-technology-in-keeping-with-the-times/ 2. Save the Food Trucks 2012. (2012). Retrieved from Foodtoeat website https://www.foodtoeat.com/Foodtruck.aspx 3. Case, Tony (2011, June). Food Trucks Inspire Other Small Businesses to Hit the Road. allBusiness, page 4 paragraph 2. Retrieved from http://www.allbusiness.com/trends-events/trends/15613611-1.html#ixzz1w6bU3HHi 4. Morrison, Maureen (2012, February). Food Trucks Spread ‘New’ Cuisine, Shake up Restaurant Model. Advertising Age, , paragraph 4. Retrieved from http://adage.com/article/news/food-trucks-shaking-restaurant-model/232532/ 5. Scarpa, James (2011, June). Food Trucks Becoming Upward Mobile. Nation’s Restaurant News, paragraphs 5, 6, 10. Retrieved from http://nrn.com/article/upwardly-mobile