More than 90% of our customers are very satisfied! We were able to cut the equivalent of one person’s monthly labor cost. (Sumibi de Iroiro Yaitetekureya)

--- Could you tell us what prompted you to consider introducing Respo Self-Order?
For a while, I’d been wanting to reduce the time spent walking back and forth when taking orders.

Around that time, I learned that the local government was providing subsidies to stores implementing COVID-19 countermeasures. To solve the issues our restaurant was facing, we decided to use that subsidy for “Respo Self-Order.”

— How many seats are there in total at your restaurant?
We have 60 seats in total. However, due to COVID-19 precautions, we are currently operating with only 30 to 40 seats.

— Originally, how many staff members were running the shop?
On weekdays, we basically ran it with two or three people. On weekends and holidays, even at the busiest times, we had at most six.

---After introducing Respo Self-Order, has the number of staff you need decreased?
Since we introduced Respo Self-Order, the number of times customers call for staff has dropped significantly, so we’ve been able to reduce the number of staff.

On weekdays we’ve reduced the staff by one person and basically run things with two people. On weekends, having four or five people is plenty, and we’ve been able to cut one person’s worth of labor costs per month.

— How did you first learn about Respo Self-Order?
Our company president found it on the internet. While searching for “a good ordering system,” he picked out several candidates, and one of them was Respo Self-Order.

— Finally, could you tell us why you ultimately chose Respo Self-Order?
The biggest factor was that we could keep both the initial and running costs down. The overwhelmingly low price compared to other companies was a major deciding factor.

— Thank you very much! Are there any other reasons?
Another reason is that customers can place orders on their own smartphones, so we can keep the equipment we introduce to a minimum.

Since COVID-19 is spreading right now, if customers can place orders on their own smartphones, it can also ease concerns about hygiene. I felt this is truly the ideal ordering system for the COVID era.

---Have there been any changes at your restaurant since introducing Respo Self-Order?Since we’re no longer swamped with taking orders, we now have the capacity to focus on other aspects of our work. We can be more attentive to our customers, and the quality of our service has improved.

It’s also helpful that customers can check their own order history, so we no longer need to print receipts, which saves both effort and paper.

— That makes me really happy! By the way, in what kind of situations do you feel the quality of the service has improved?
For example, we’re now able to have staff replace the grill net before customers call us over. In the past, when it was busy, we just didn’t have the capacity to pay attention to that.

Besides, from the customer’s point of view, asking to have the grill net changed is a hassle, and if the staff look busy it’s hard to call them over. Now that our staff proactively change the grill nets, I think customers can enjoy their meals more comfortably than before.

— How did the staff react?
At first I think there was a little confusion, but everyone got used to it quickly.
The younger staff in particular are used to handling smartphones, so they understood how it works right away. Everyone says it’s “comfortable.”

— Have there been any unexpected benefits from using Respo Self-Order?
Being able to check customer reviews is really valuable. By learning honest opinions through Respo Self-Order, it becomes clear what we can improve in the store.

Since customers can easily post their feedback, I think it’s also a big benefit for them.

— How did customers react to the change in the ordering method?
At first there were a few people who were a bit resistant, but once they tried it they said, “Oh, this is easy!” and it quickly caught on with our customers. More than 90% of them are happy with it!

Since it can be difficult for elderly customers to operate the system, our staff assist them. Because this reduces the burden of handling orders from other customers, we’re now able to serve our elderly customers with even greater care.

— Since your shop is located in Akita Prefecture, this time the implementation was done entirely online. Were there any difficult parts?
No, not really. At first there was a lot I didn’t understand, but it turned out to be much easier to implement than I had imagined.

Even when I had questions, the support center replied right away when I contacted them, so I was able to start using it from the first day without any problems.

— To be honest, when you introduced the new system, didn’t you have any concerns…?
Honestly, at first I was really worried, thinking things like, “It seems like it’ll be a hassle to implement,” and “What if it doesn’t work properly?”

But once we tried it, there was nothing to worry about at all. I’m not good with digital technology myself, but it was still easy to introduce, so I don’t think other shops need to worry either.

— At Sumibi de Iroiro Yaitetekureya, you serve “creative yakiniku,” right? What are your most popular dishes?
Our signature popular dish is “Garlic Tongue.” It’s sliced beef tongue topped with rounds of garlic, and it enjoys unwavering popularity.

Our cold noodles are also popular, and many customers finish every last drop of the soup. Ninety percent of our customers come back again.

— That looks delicious! What kind of customers do you get?
We have a wide range of customers, from children to the elderly, but the largest group is people in their 20s to 40s.
They come for all sorts of occasions, like family meals, dining with friends, and dates.

—Since your restaurant is so rooted in the local community, do you mostly get regular customers?
We do have first-time customers as well, but most are regulars. We’ve been running this place in Akita for over 30 years, so people who used to come here as children with their parents now come back with their own kids after getting married.

— It’s clearly loved across generations. Could you tell us about your vision for the shop?
First of all, I want to cherish the customers who come to us now and focus on serving the people right in front of me.

And then, for customers who can’t visit the store due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we will continue making steady efforts to provide even higher-quality service.

Rather than constantly chasing after something new, we aim to grow as a shop by building on and adding to what we have cultivated so far.

Address: 3-11-5 Sotokanda Yayanagi, Akita City, Akita Prefecture
Phone number: 018-868-4129
Store details:https://autoreserve.com/restaurants/5CBLhYer9pkgzQ7dTnnJ