With the melee that often ensues right inside the door of a dining establishment, all kinds of restaurants from big chains to indie-operated shops rely on restaurant paging systems to get customers their orders with speed and accuracy. This new technology has replaced the voice calling out for names and numbers, and in a lot of cases, a restaurant paging system works really well.

Busy managers can get great vending solutions for these time-saving devices online from restaurant paging systems manufacturers, as well as some extra agreements and tools for dealing with getting them operating well in the eatery environment. Look for:

1. Technical ID systems to make your restaurant pager systems your own.

2. Support for restaurant paging systems on an ongoing basis so that managers can get questions answered in the case of "technical difficulties" on the floor.

3. Extra features for restaurant pagers that help control the flow of food to tables and generally help out with making the most of restaurant paging systems.

Action Steps
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Look for restaurant paging systems with unique channel service

Getting your own specific paging hardware tuned to your restaurant's channel means there won't be an incentive to steal them. Some restaurants report limited problems with theft of the devices. Unique channel also helps if your restaurant is near another one in a public space to eliminate signal overlap.

I recommend: Ask HME Wireless about how the unique system ID on ServerCall pagers will limit walk-off problems. Advanced Hospitality Systems offers other unique channel solutions.

Get support for restaurant paging systems

You'll want to be able to rest easy about your purchase of these high-tech devices. From installation to daily use, there are a lot of questions you may have about your restaurant paging equipment, and having a tech staff on hand from the seller is a big plus.

I recommend: The CommTech Wireless means you won't be left high and dry trying to understand the ins and outs of using your restaurant beepers and other gear. Support options are also on the table from MicroFrame, including up-front returns and troubleshooting for your devices.

Get multi-use restaurant paging systems

Restaurant pager systems aren't just for customers, they can also provide better communication between the front of a restaurant staff and the staff in the back. If you've ever studied the day to day of any restaurant, you'll know this can make big improvements. Get restaurant business paging system options that work for wait staff as well, to really take advantage of what the technology has to offer.

I recommend: The UHF Chef Call Paging Transmitter from INTERPAGE handles orders using 6 server capacity, a powerful 4 watt UHF transmitter, optional numeric or alphanumeric messages, expansion modules and LED paging status features. iPort Communications offers both Guest Call and Server Call systems to get a fully functioning set for a busy restaurant.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Don't stop with the purchase, be sure to arrange training modules for staff and check into retail design options for storing your restaurant pagers between uses.

Restaurant paging systems have changed the way restaurants manage waiting lists. Not long ago, restaurant workers were forced to call names over an intercom or shout over the din of a packed lobby or bar. Now, thanks to restaurant pagers that vibrate, beep and light up when a table is ready, employees don’t need to leave their station, and diners can sit at the bar, go for a walk or even run an errand at a nearby store while they wait for their name to crawl towards the top of the waiting list.

Restaurant pagers have become extremely popular with diners and with restaurant owners. And with good reason, as restaurant pagers offer tech-savvy eateries numerous benefits. Among them:

1. Restaurant paging systems help restaurants reduce waiting time and turn more tables.
2. Restaurant pagers help restaurants locate waiting patrons quickly and efficiently.
3. Restaurant pagers improve customer service and satisfaction.
4. Restaurant beepers commit guests to waiting, reducing the number of walk-aways and increasing the number of bar patrons.

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Stick to basics with coaster pagers

While there are many different kinds of restaurant beepers, the most common type of restaurant pager is the coaster pager. Because they're stackable, vibrating coaster pagers are easy to store. And because they're shaped like coasters, coaster pagers also encourage drink purchases among waiting patrons.

I recommend: Market leaders selling both simple coaster pagers and more elaborate restaurant paging systems include Long Range Systems, JTECH Communications, HME Wireless and Commtech Wireless.

Use restaurant pagers to advertise your business

An alternative to coaster pagers, paddle pagers are rectangular in shape and can fit easily into guests' pockets. Extending from the restaurant pager base is a banner-shaped plastic arm on which restaurants can advertise products and promotions.

I recommend: While the most popular paddle pager is Long Range Systems’ Adverteaser, other providers of paddle-shaped restaurant pagers include InterPage, Curbell Electronics, Redi-Call and iPort Communications.

Turn guests' cell phones into restaurant beepers

Increasingly popular are cell phone paging systems, which call customers' cell phones with a prerecorded message when their table is ready. Ideal for restaurants that are located in malls or shopping centers, cell phone paging systems allow customers to put their name on your list and run nearby errands while they wait.

I recommend: A leader in cell phone paging systems is Queuent, which sells the Wait List Manager, a popular mobile phone-based restaurant paging system.

Entertain guests with next-generation restaurant pagers

To keep impatient customers waiting, forward-thinking restaurants are turning to upgraded restaurant beepers that include clocks, video games and puzzles.

I recommend: EPDesigns sells a restaurant pager called InfoCubeOS. Able to display games, movie show times, news, sports scores and trivia, it puts traditional restaurant beepers to shame.

Improve operations with restaurant paging systems for servers and managers

Restaurant pagers aren't just for customers. Many restaurant paging systems also include restaurant beepers for servers, to let them know discreetly when customers' food is ready, or for managers, so that they know when a complaining customer requests their presence.

I recommend: Companies selling restaurant paging systems for servers include POSNation.com, NFS Hospitality and Microframe.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  While restaurant paging systems aren't cheap, they are effective. A typical system costs approximately $3,000 and includes a transmitter, a charger and 40 restaurant pagers.
• •  Before buying, be sure to compare restaurant paging systems. Relevant points of comparison include transmitter distance, the number of restaurant pagers the system can handle and the cost for replacing or repairing restaurant pagers.
• •  To discourage theft, buy restaurant beepers that will work only with your particular system.
• •  Consider only restaurant paging systems that feature rechargeable batteries. Restaurant beepers that use run-of-the-mill batteries end up being extremely expensive due to the cost of frequently replacing them.
• •  Don't run a restaurant? Restaurant pagers can be helpful in a variety of business settings. Doctors can use them in their waiting rooms, for instance, and retail stores at their customer service desks.

Restaurant pagers have evolved with new technology, and today's options sometimes don't even require that a restaurateur buy any pagers. Cell phone paging is the newest innovation in dining services, but traditional handheld pagers, vibrating coasters with flashing lights, and even text pagers still have a place in restaurants of varying size and atmosphere.

Begin using restaurant paging systems confidently, and avoid embarrassing mistakes that could cost you patrons. Once you've chosen from among the restaurant pager systems that meet your needs, find out what it takes to get your restaurant paging system up and running.

1. Use the most widely recognized restaurant paging systems: coaster pagers.

2. Employ integrated restaurant paging systems for staff and servers.

3. Explore the next generation of restaurant guest pagers: customer cell phones.

Action Steps
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Select and install restaurant guest pagers to get your patrons' attention

Fine eating establishments can easily put a restaurant reservation pager system into service with a few adjustments and some staff training. The first step to PA-free dining is to select a computer -- usually the one at the hostess or matre'd station -- and install the system software. Connect the wireless paging device to the computer's CPU, follow the installation instructions for your system software, and start using your pagers.

I recommend: Build a fully integrated restaurant business paging system, starting with table service pagers for patrons, with JTECH installation instructions from Amerisafe Communications. Or, learn how to configure your pagers' frequency so it doesn't conflict with nearby competitors' pagers. Read "How Restaurant Pagers Work" from HowStuffWorks.

Train all your staff to use vibrating paging systems to improve customer service

Even the best restaurant paging systems, coaster pagers and computerized call programs won't do much to improve patron loyalty if the service is lacking. Implement a comprehensive paging system, especially for upscale dining establishments, to include server calling and valet paging services. Many of the most popular paging systems come a la carte, the perfect plan for a growing business that can start with the basics and expand to improve service even more.

I recommend: Get quotes and setup information from restaurant paging systems manufacturers that offer systems and advice to help you implement them, such as Unify Technologies' Waiter Call. Learn the basics of paging system implementation and optimal component layout from Ira Brodsky's "Wireless Computing: A Manager's Guide to Wireless Networking."

Modernize your eatery with cell phone-based restaurant guest paging

A well-orchestrated service call paging system for restaurant use can do wonders to improve service in your establishment, but you can move into the 21st Century and offer customers the high-tech service they've come to expect with cell phone paging. The systems require access to an Internet-equipped computer, or even offer the option of a self-service kiosk that plays the role of hostess. Patrons simply make a few selections on the touch-screen to reserve a place in line. The system then calls with wait-time updates and ready-to-seat audio or text messages. Customers have the option to accept future marketing calls and text messages from your restaurant, a fact that could help you build an electronic marketing presence.

I recommend: Forego traditional restaurant paging equipment and page your customers on their cell phones. Find out more from QLess, or plug in your cell phone number to get a sample call from Wait List Manager.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Charge and sanitize every restaurant pager you'll be using before its inaugural run in the hands of a customer, and repeat the practice every evening. Some pager providers offer products made from anti-microbial materials -- an investment in health that diners can appreciate.

Restaurant paging systems make your waiting list a lot easier to maintain. No matter what system you ultimately choose, there are important key terms that you should learn when researching a restaurant paging system. So whether it's coaster pagers you choose or you want to go with a next-generation paging system, these terms will help you in gaining valuable information about the many styles of restaurant paging systems available.

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Coaster pagers

Coaster pagers work by submitting a UHF frequency to the unit. They come in many different colors, styles and types of paging methods such as flashing, vibrating and beeping.

I recommend: Pager Net offers a guide on coaster pagers and their specifications to help you learn about how they function and their benefits to your restaurant.

Paddle pagers

Paddle pagers are similar to coaster pagers, but they usually display either instructions or some form of advertisement that the customer can read. They also feature a vibration and/or tone that lets the customer know his or her table is ready.

I recommend: iPort Communications displays a crystal-style paddle pager system and explains the many functions and capabilities of it.

Paging system solutions

Paging system solutions is simply an upgraded form of a restaurant pager system. These systems have an extensive list of feature upgrades. From built-in games to high-tech transmitters, these are top-of-the line paging systems.

I recommend: Call Systems Technology showcases a variety of paging system solutions, each with different functions and capabilities.

Transmitter

A master transmitter signals the pagers in a restaurant paging system that's used on the premises; the paging system wouldn't work without the transmitter sending out the signal.

I recommend: eSSORTMENT explains how paging systems work, including the transmitter and how it functions.

Rechargeable batteries

Rechargeable batteries are paramount in making your restaurant paging system run smoothly since the batteries won't have to be constantly replaced.

I recommend: Rechargeable Battery Info has information on what rechargeable batteries are and how they are used over and over.

Web-based

Web-based paging systems allow the restaurant to page a customer's cell phone instead of handing them a pager that can be lost or stolen. This eliminates bulky paging systems.

I recommend: Wait List Manager shows specifications and the benefits of a web- based paging system.