When it comes to drive-thru equipment, headset and timer systems get most of the attention. But the equipment outside your kitchen is just as important as those on the inside – especially your vehicle detector.

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If you own a quick-serve restaurant, a Protection Plan offers a cost-effective option for repairing your drive-thru equipment. If you own multiple QSRs, a Protection Plan is a necessity.

The more restaurants you have, the more drive-thru equipment you have to maintain. And no matter how well you treat your equipment, it will eventually break down or wear out, requiring repair or replacement. A Protection Plan provides peace of mind by providing unlimited drive-thru repair services for one fixed monthly fee.

Not all Protection Plans are created equal, which is why so many QSR owners and managers contract with Commercial Electronics. With several options for your drive-thru maintenance needs, Protection Plans are the best bang for your buck at CE.

• We offer one fixed, low, monthly payment to eliminate the surprise of unexpected drive-thru repair costs – no matter how many repairs you have. 

• Our flexible contract options, including duration, shipping options and advance exchange options, can be tailored to your exact needs.

• Our Protection Plans cover any mix of drive-thru headsets and timer brands, including HME, Panasonic and 3M.

Whether you have one or one hundred stores, a Protection Plan from CE will keep your drive-thru equipment in top operating condition.  Call today and you’ll never again have to worry about unexpected drive-thru equipment repairs.

Okay, so I’m not the most organized person in the world. But thanks to CE, I don’t have to be when it comes to troubleshooting my drive-thru equipment.

I’m one of those people who always says that one day I’ll get around to organizing my office. But when you manage several QSRs with round-the-clock drive-thrus, it seems like there’s never enough time to do it. So when I have problems with my drive-thru headsets or timer system, the odds of finding the manual I need to identify and resolve the issue are not good.

This used to be a huge problem until I switched to CE for all my drive-thru maintenance and repairs. Now, if I can’t locate the operating instructions for my HME belt-pac or audio system, I simply log on to the CE website and browse their extensive online library of manuals and reference guides. Once I find the right document, one click of the mouse is all it takes to download a .pdf file and find the information I need.

What amazes me is the size of the library. In addition to wireless communication systems, it also contains manuals for message repeaters, timer systems, battery chargers, accessories and even software. In short, everything I need to troubleshoot my HME drive-thru equipment.

Has the aroma of barbecue ever made your mouth water? How about the sight of a big, juicy burger on TV or the sound of crackling bacon in a frying pan? The role these senses play in your food consumption doesn’t only have an impact on the specific food you choose to eat, but where you choose to purchase it. By exercising the five senses you’ll be sure to attract more customers to your drive-thru.
 

Sight—You only have one chance to make a lasting first impression. Since the first sense customers use when they pull into your restaurant is sight, you’ll want to make sure the perimeter of your building, including your drive-thru, is clean and spotless. Also focus on your drive-thru menu board. Ensure it’s brightly lit and clutter free. Use authentic, sharp-quality photos sparingly to entice customers to try new or higher-priced products on your menu.

Sound—Because communication is necessary in the ordering process, drive-thru sound quality plays a really important role in winning over your customers. If you haven’t upgraded to an HD Audio or digital drive-thru system, and aren’t maintaining your drive-thru headsets on a weekly basis, you could end up with detrimental sound-quality issues. To ensure customers are able to communicate their order without difficulty, test your headsets with other employees regularly before you open for the day, or during slow periods.

Smell—Nothing will turn a person away from hunger quicker than the smell of something foul. This is yet another reason to keep the parking lot and perimeter of your restaurant clean. If you currently store dumpsters next to the menu board or drive-thru lane, think about relocating them. If that isn’t an option, seal garbage bags as best as possible before placing (not throwing) them in the dumpster, and keep the lid closed to help reduce the escape of bad odors.

On the other hand, smells can also work for you. Try upselling dessert at the window if you’ve just pulled a fresh batch of cookies from the oven. With the aroma of freshly baked pastries filling their car, how could your customer say no?

“Touch”—Drive-thru efficiency doesn’t include cutting corners. The way an order is presented to the customer has more of an impact than you may think. If food isn’t wrapped properly or has spilled over in the bag when the customer receives it, it leaves  the lasting impression that your establishment is messy and unorganized. It also suggests that your employees don’t take pride in their job. A neatly packed order and courteous staff will earn you big points.

Another way to set your store apart from other restaurants is by adding a special touch to each order. Whether it’s an after-dinner mint, affirmation, trinket or board game on the packaging itself, an extra little take-away for the customer will be appreciated and remembered.
   

Taste—The number one element people rely on with their favorite quick-service restaurants is the taste of the food. Each menu item was designed to taste a specific way, and it should taste that same way every time. In order to achieve this, the ingredients need to be precise. Not only is it important to use the same and only the same ingredients each time, but the measurement of each ingredient should be the same every time as well.

Now that you’ve learned how to use all five senses to attract drive-thru customers, put them into practice and watch your sales soar. For more information on drive-thru maintenance, how to improve drive-thru efficiency, increase customer counts, or questions regarding any other drive-thru-related topic please call 877-731-0334, or check back next week to learn more.

Drive-thru maintenance is a critical part of running a quick-service restaurant. Most managers do a great job of keeping the exterior of the building clean and menu items and prices up to date, but many forget about the most important piece of the puzzle – their drive-thru equipment. Since ordering is impossible without communication, it is essential that your drive-thru headsets are always in tip-top shape. Whether you need a new drive-thru battery, ear foam replacement, or a complete drive-thru headset repair, CE has the solution for you.

Drive-Thru Repairs—If you have a broken headset or belt-pac send it to CE for repair. It will be fixed and shipped within 24 hours of receipt. Not only that, but you’ll also receive a four-month warranty with your repair. In the unlikely event that it breaks again within that time period, you’ll be able to send it in for a free repair.* For your convenience, CE provides free inbound shipping labels. Get yours here.

Advance Exchange—If you aren’t able to wait for a repair, CE will overnight replacement equipment to you for the price of a repair plus a small fee. Once you receive the replacement equipment it becomes yours, and all you have to do is send your broken equipment back to CE.

Accessories—If your drive-thru headsets are functioning but could use a little freshening up, CE also has an online shopping cart for small accessories. You can purchase anything from a new drive-thru battery or ear pad to microphone covers, belts and battery doors.

Technical Support—Aren’t sure what’s wrong with your headset, belt-pac or drive-thru timer? Call CE’s technical support at 877-731-0334. They will diagnose the problem and either help you fix it over the phone or provide next steps to take. For serious issues that require assistance on-site, or if you need help with installing any drive-thru equipment, CE also has a network of onsite technicians nationwide that can help.

From drive-thru repairs and accessories to technical support and nationwide installation, CE provides everything you need to keep your drive-thru up and running. If you have any questions regarding these services or would like to learn more, please visit www.cerepairs.com or call 877-731-0334.

Class isn’t quite back in session, but that doesn’t mean you can’t learn something new. Most quick-service restaurants spend anywhere from hundreds to thousands of dollars on drive-thru repairs each year. But did you know that you can cut that dollar amount down significantly just by performing routine maintenance on your drive-thru equipment? Here are a few simple steps that, if followed, will help dramatically reduce your drive-thru repair bill:

Avoid Liquids

Electrical components and liquids simply don’t mix. Keep water and any other solvents away from your drive-thru headsets. If a headset does fall into some form of liquid, take the battery out immediately and allow your headset to dry completely before attempting to turn it on again.

Battery Performance

For best sound quality, make sure you are using freshly charged batteries. If your drive-thru battery gets low, swap it out with a fully charged battery from the charging station. Also be aware of the age of your batteries. Most will have a manufacture date printed on them. If you’re operating with a drive-thru battery that is more than one and a half to two years old and you’re having issues with sound quality, chances are you may need new batteries. 

Clean and Test-

Routine cleaning is one of the most important steps of maintaining your drive-thru headsets. Pick one day a week and set time aside to thoroughly clean each one. Once you have finished cleaning, test each headset to make sure it’s working correctly. If you come across a broken or non-operable headset put it aside until you have completed testing the rest.

When a drive-thru headset repair is needed, place the broken equipment in a box and print out a free shipping label from our website. Simply attach the label to the box and drop it off at a UPS facility or hand it to your UPS driver. CE also offers current customer and new customer promotions. Check the special offers tab to see if there is a coupon for your drive-thru repair.

Check back next week to learn more about drive-thru maintenance. If you have a specific question regarding any of your drive-thru equipment, call CE at 877-731-0334.

Motivating your quick-service employees during the summer months can be quite an undertaking. While everyone else seems to be having fun in the sun, the last place your crewmembers want to be is working indoors. One way to keep your employees engaged is by hosting a friendly competition between shifts using the store’s drive-thru equipment. This will not only boost morale, but also increase your speed of service which will ultimately improve your drive-thru sales. Here are a few games you can introduce to your employees:

Speed Game

Everyone knows the quicker you move cars, the more cars you’ll be able to service, and the more money you’ll make. Because speed is such an important part of the quick-service industry, this game is sure to have a great impact on your sales.

To start, access your reports from the previous week for each shift. If you have an HME ZOOM® drive-thru timer, use the report for multi-day comparison. You’ll fill in three fields. In field one select shift, in field two select the time period, and in field three select the start and end dates for your report. Once you’ve filled in all three sections, click the button to generate your report. Choose which event you would like to time and give that average to each shift leader as the starting point. At the end of the week, run the report again to see which shift improved the most. Some stores offer prizes or incentives for the winning shift, though bragging rights aren’t too bad either.

30-Day Disaster Challenge

No matter how quick your crew is, there will ultimately be times in the day or certain orders that take longer simply due to the complexity of the order or a mistake in the kitchen. Disastrous orders are practically unavoidable, but should be as minimal as possible.

Set a difficult, yet fair and achievable goal for the number of disastrous orders your store must stay below in a given month and entice your team with a prize or bonus once they achieve that goal. If you are using a ZOOM drive-thru timer, you can set this goal as one of the events that shows up on the dashboard screen so your team can keep track at all times.

Line Buster

When customers see a long line in the drive-thru lane, they’re likely to go elsewhere if they aren’t in the mood to wait. Long lines are turn-offs and ultimately lead to missed opportunities, which will in turn hurt your sales.

If you have a complex order that is causing a bottleneck, have the customer pull into a parking space or waiting area so other customers can breeze on through. You can also create a game out of this by setting a “max car in lane” goal. Every time the shift goes over the maximum number of cars you want to allow in the lane at one time they will have a point deducted. The team with the fewest points deducted at the end of your designated time frame will win.

Because most drive-thru timers allow you to record several different events at a time, you can modify all of these games to suit whichever goals you are looking to achieve. By creating an entertaining competition, your employees are likely to be more engaged and have fun with their shift. This will ultimately create a better customer experience and improve your bottom line.

During the summer months quick-service restaurants tend to receive a heavier flow of traffic through their drive-thrus. With the increase of customers, drive-thru headsets are usually pulling double duty and have a higher likelihood of malfunctioning or breaking down due to constant usage. To minimize the amount of drive-thru repairs this summer make sure you are doing drive-thru maintenance checks on a regular basis. One of the easiest ways to save on drive-thru headset repairs is by following these simple steps below:

1. Clean Exterior of Drive-Thru Headsets

Use a damp cloth to remove particles and grease from your headset. If you use a mild soap, apply it to the cloth rather than the headset to ensure excess moisture doesn’t get into the electronic components. Stay away from spray cleaners and solvents as they can cause corrosion.

2. Clean Crevices

Use a small, soft bristled brush between the buttons and in the crevices of your drive-thru headset to remove small crumbs. This will prolong the durability of your headset and decrease the chances of component failure.

3. Check Condition of Earmuffs

The earmuffs on drive-thru headsets should be replaced every 60-90 days or more frequently if needed. This will provide better drive-thru sound quality, improve comfort, and promote better hygiene. If you have several employees, give them the option to have their own set.

4. Avoid Water

If liquid gets in to a headset or belt-pac it can cause significant electrical damage. If this happens to your drive-thru equipment, power it off, take out the battery and let all components completely dry before turning the equipment back on. If you are still experiencing issues with your communicator contact Technical Support at 877-731-0334.

5. Clean Batteries

To help prevent static, use a cotton swab moistened with alcohol to clean the contacts on each drive-thru battery, headset and charger port (make sure the battery charger is unplugged before cleaning). Not only will this reduce static, but it will also keep your batteries and drive-thru headsets functioning at peak performance.

6. Test Drive-Thru Headsets

Listen for static while adjusting the mic boom. If you hear static, try using a different drive-thru battery. If you are still experiencing static, call Technical Support.

Next, grab a partner to listen on a separate headset. Push the “B” button on yours and count from one to five. If they are able to hear each of the numbers clearly have them repeat the last step back to you. Switch out headsets and repeat. If at any point you are unable to hear all of the numbers there could be a problem with your headset. Contact Technical Support to troubleshoot further.

7. Keep Equipment Cool

To ensure you’re getting the best from your drive-thru equipment, store in a cool, dry place. This will help prevent from overheating, strengthen the life of your drive-thru batteries, and keep moisture from getting into electrical components.  

By following these seven steps you will experience less drive-thru equipment failures, better drive-thru sound quality, and happier employees and customers. What this means for you is reduced number of drive-thru repairs, better order accuracy, and improved overall customer experience.   All of these combined are sure to result in a wealthier bottom line.

For more tips or questions on how to improve your drive-thru efficiency give CE a call at 877-731-0334.

The words “low battery” are the last thing a crewmember wants to hear while they are in the middle of a lunch or dinner rush. In the time it takes to remove the dead drive-thru battery, find a new one, insert it and turn your headset back on, the customer at your menu board will be irritated that they have not been greeted. To keep this from happening and to improve your overall drive-thru performance, here are five tricks to maximize your drive-thru battery life.

1.       Clean Batteries

When a battery isn’t making a solid connection with the contacts in your drive-thru headset or belt-pac, it can cause communication to drop suddenly. The best way to avoid this is by cleaning your battery contacts and the contacts in your headset or belt-pac with an alcohol swab. Also clean the ports in your battery charger to ensure your batteries are getting the best connection when charging. When maintaining your drive-thru equipment, you want to make sure that all pieces being cleaned are turned off and that you allow them to dry completely before turning any equipment back on or inserting batteries back in.

2.       Know When to Charge

Because drive-thru batteries have a certain number of charge cycles in their lifetime, it’s best to charge only when they are low on power. By turning off your drive-thru headsets and belt-pacs when not in use, you’ll be able to save any power your drive-thru battery is holding, avoiding an additional charge cycle. If you are unsure whether they have reached the end of their lifecycle, there is usually a manufacturer’s date on the back of the battery. If your battery is more than one-and-a-half to two-years old, you’ll want to send it to an e-waste recycling facility or back to CE for disposal, and purchase a new one. CE offers batteries that work with HME, 3M, and Panasonic drive-thru headsets. Call 877-731-0334 today!

3.       Keep Equipment Cool
When batteries are fully charged, remove them from the charger and store them in a cool, dry place. For best results, also keep your drive-thru battery charger in a cool, dry place. This will keep them from any overheating that can cause electrical component damage. 
 

4.       Use Regular Outlets
To extend the life of your batteries, use regular outlets instead of switched or timed outlets. This will ensure your battery goes through the entire charge cycle.

5.       Check Battery Ports
Before turning on your drive-thru headset make sure the battery is securely in place. If the battery feels loose, or if the clip that holds it in place is missing, contact Technical Support at 877-731-0334. They will troubleshoot the problem and recommend next steps.

By utilizing these five tips, you’ll see better results in your drive-thru performance. Drive-thru sound quality will improve. You won’t have to switch out your batteries as often, allowing crew members to stay focused on customers. And you won’t be caught off-guard when it’s time to replace your batteries. For more tips on how to maximize restaurant efficiency, or any other drive-thru maintenance related questions call 877-731-0334.

Unfortunately, not every quick-service restaurant can afford to buy a new drive-thru system every couple of years. However, by doing a little drive-thru maintenance on a regular basis you can extend the life of your drive-thru headsets and keep small problems from turning into large ones. Below are the four most common issues seen in drive-thru headsets, along with solutions to keep your drive-thru system running longer.

1.       Ear foams falling apart or missing

Ear foams aren’t often thought about until they are falling apart, or completely missing altogether. Replacing them at least every 60-90 days will not only improve comfort, but also improve drive-thru sound quality and promote good hygiene. And with ear foams being one of the least expensive drive-thru headset accessories, it’s a no-brainer.

2.       Visible fractures or cracks
Small cracks may not seem like a big deal, but if liquid gets inside the casing it can seriously damage the electronic components of your headset. If that happens, your headset can be deemed BER (beyond economical repair), which means you would have to purchase a new headset to replace the one that was sent in. To save money in the long run, send in your drive-thru equipment for repair at the first sight of fractures or cracks.

3.       Stuck or broken buttons
If you aren’t able to communicate with other crew members or customers due to a broken or stuck button on your headset, it can really cause issues with speed of service and overall customer experience. Weekly maintenance will help reduce the chance of this happening. If you aren’t sure how to clean your drive-thru equipment, refer to your user’s manual. If a button is completely broken, send your headset for repair.

4.       Batteries taped to the headset

When a latch on your drive-thru headset breaks, it may seem like a good idea to tape the battery in place and continue working. What happens, though, if a drive-thru battery isn’t seated properly in the headset, is it causes drops in communication. You could be in the middle of taking an order and lose connection without realizing it, causing communication gaps, and potentially slower service and incorrect orders. It's best to send it in for repair, rather than taking that chance.

By taking proper care, you’ll be able to extend the life of your drive-thru equipment, saving you money down the road. Make sure that routine checks are done to ensure ultimate drive-thru efficiency. For more information on how to increase the life of your drive-thru system, call 877-731-0334. Our technical support reps are happy to give advice and help with any of your drive-thru needs.