Introduction example: Customers who come through the reservation ledger are highly likely to actually visit, and it has changed my image of online reservations (Mizutaki Tobu).

Introduced to reduce the burden of phone reservations and lower the barrier for customers to make bookings

— What inspired you to start a restaurant specializing in mizutaki (chicken hot pot)?

Drawing on my previous experience working at a Hakata-style restaurant, I incorporated mizutaki (chicken hot pot) into the course menu as a chicken dish.

Our restaurant’s mizutaki features a rich chicken bone broth, and for the finishing zosui (rice porridge), you can enjoy an even deeper, uniquely flavorful taste.

In addition, we serve original dishes such as our signature ‘Flying Croquettes’ and chicken natto hot pot, which are unique enough to become the restaurant’s specialty menu items.

— What is the age range of the customers who visit your store?

We have people from a wide range of age groups, from their 20s to their 60s. Before COVID, it was more common for groups to use our services, but recently we’ve been seeing more individual users.

— Before introducing the Respo reservation ledger, how were you managing reservations?

Basically, I used to compile everything I received by phone into a paper reservation management notebook.

— Please tell us why you decided to consider implementing the Respo reservation ledger.

When taking reservations by phone for the course menu, I found it difficult for just two staff members to handle everything because it took a long time to explain the dishes served in addition to the hot pot.

Also, some of our busy customers can’t call during business hours, and some are simply not comfortable making phone calls. Wanting to lower the hurdle for making a reservation even a little, we decided to introduce the Respo reservation ledger.

Customers who book online are highly likely to visit, and there are zero no-shows without notice.

— It’s been about six months since it was introduced; roughly how many customers are currently using the Respo reservation ledger?

It’s about 20% of all reservations. Thanks to the increase in customers who book online, running the business has become easier.

— What kind of customers most often use the Respo reservation ledger?

Most of our users are new. In particular, many are from the younger generation, and they’re familiar with the internet, so my impression is that they use it without any particular resistance.

Even existing customers sometimes find online reservations more convenient and start using them.

Has your impression of online reservations changed?

Yes. To be honest, at first I was uneasy about accepting reservations without communicating directly over the phone. However, people who book online tend to do thorough research and have a strong intention to visit, so my impression has changed.

I’ve never had anyone cancel on me without notice, so I’ve been able to use it with peace of mind.

Reduce phone support so we can focus more on serving the customers right in front of us.

— How do you make use of the reservation ledger at your restaurant?

We manage everything by adding the reservation information received through the Respo reservation ledger to the handwritten reservation notebook we were originally using.

I think we’ve been able to operate without making major changes to our previous methods, while still taking advantage of the convenience of the Respo reservation ledger.

— After introducing the Respo reservation ledger, what kind of impact has it had on your store operations?

We now have fewer phone calls to handle during business hours, so we can focus more on serving the customers right in front of us.

For guests who aren’t fond of the ‘torisashi’ (chicken sashimi) on the menu, we can change it, and online reservations are helpful because people can write in requests like that in the comments.

Intuitive and easy to use, with courteous and reliable support you can feel secure about

--- How is Respo's support system?

Before implementation, we weren’t very used to communicating online, but the support staff guided us carefully, and we were able to get started smoothly.

— How is the usability of the Respo reservation ledger?

It’s intuitive and easy to use, and even when I’m not sure about something, I can email an inquiry and receive a prompt reply, so I feel reassured.

Please tell us if there are any features you think would be useful.

What I like is that AutoReserve’s store pages support foreign languages. If a foreign customer calls with an inquiry, you can direct them to the store page and have them view it translated into English, Chinese, and other languages, which is really convenient.

I want to make better use of the reservation ledger to further increase online bookings.

— How would you like to make use of the Respo reservation ledger?

We can serve the course menu even if you visit us without a reservation, but if you book in advance we can prepare beforehand and you won’t have to wait as long. For that reason, it would be great if online reservations increased even more in the future.

— Finally, could you tell us about your future goals for the shop?

Many of our customers come from outside the city or even from other prefectures, and I feel that those who travel from farther away tend to have a particularly strong interest in food. Going forward, we want to keep sharing what makes our restaurant appealing so that people from many different regions will continue to visit us.

Store Information

Mizutaki Toubu

Address: Hiyama Building 1F, 5-33 Omachi, Yokote City, Akita Prefecture
Phone number: 0182-36-1311
Store details:https://autoreserve.com/restaurants/qRdgrsmykexTxtH97ujF