Now that schools are on break and the weather is warming up, everyone is spending more time out and about with their family and friends. With this busy season getting underway, you’ll want to make sure you’re prepared for the increase of orders coming in from the drive-thru. Here are a few tips that will help you manage your work flow and set up your store for success.   

 

Keep Tabs on Popular Menu Items - When there are several eateries to choose from, you need to stand out for the right reasons. Whether it’s a seasonal special or the most popular item on your menu, you’ll want to take regular inventory to ensure you have enough in stock at all times to keep your customers satisfied. A happy customer is a returning customer.

 

Clean up your Drive-Thru Menu Board - Make sure your menu board places emphasis on the most popular foods and beverages for the season. This is a great time to check pricing and update any outdated items. Also check the lighting on your menu board. Because people are staying out later during the summer months, they tend to eat dinner later in the evening. If there are areas that look dim, or sections that are completely dark, get in touch with your drive-thru menu board provider to have a technician come out and replace the bulbs.   

 

Inventory Your Drive-Thru Equipment - Working at a fast pace provides more opportunity for equipment failure, so you’ll want to have as many working back-up components as possible. If you have any broken drive-thru headsets or a non-operating drive-thru timer, send them in for repair before it gets too far in to summer. That way, if one headset goes down you’ll have replacements to back you up.

 

Purchase New Drive-Thru Batteries - When using a fresh, new drive-thru battery your headset will allow you to communicate for longer periods of time, thus reducing the need to switch it out as often. You’ll also experience an improvement in drive-thru sound quality, which will aid in order accuracy and help increase your overall speed of service.

 

The first day of summer is right around the corner. Now is the time to take advantage of these tips to ensure your drive-thru is working at peak performance. For additional ways to boost your drive-thru efficiency and overall customer experience, check back next week or call CE at 877-731-0334.   

 

Most quick-service crew members simply don’t have time to wait on the phone to purchase accessories or replacement parts. CE makes it incredibly convenient by offering online ordering. You can make purchases 24/7, as well as view repair pricing, send in drive-thru repairs, and read up on ways to improve your drive-thru efficiency. Gone are the days of waiting on hold.  

CE makes ordering drive-thru equipment as easy as 1-2-3. With an online shopping cart you can purchase drive-thru headsets, chargers, batteries and other accessories without ever having to pick up the phone.

 

Follow these steps to get started:

 

1.       Hover your mouse over the “Drive-Thru Repairs Accessories & Sales” tab above, and click on your brand of equipment.

 

2.       Choose the drive-thru equipment or accessories you need and add them to your cart. You can make quantity adjustments while items are in your shopping cart.

 

3.       Once you are ready to place the order, click Checkout.
Fill out your shipping and billing information and submit your order.

 

 

If you need to send in a drive-thru headset repair, CE also offers FREE inbound shipping. Locate the shipping form on the “Send in a Repair” tab, fill in your information, and click submit. A shipping label will be displayed on the next page. All you have to do is print it and tape it to the outside of your broken equipment box. Drop off the box at a UPS facility or hand it to your UPS driver and we’ll take care of the rest.

 

Check back next week for more tips on how to improve your drive-thru efficiency. Right click here and select “bookmark this link” to make CE blogs easily accessible for your weekly reading enjoyment. If there is anything you cannot find on the site, call 877-731-0334 and one of our support reps will be happy to assist.

 

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.

 

Quick-service restaurants can turn in to a war zone during lunch rush. With several orders flooding in through the drive-thru speaker, you have to constantly be on the move to stay under your service goals and to keep your customers happy. When food is flying out the window, your drive-thru equipment can take a beating. Drive-thru headsets are the most common of equipment casualties during peak hours. They’ve been stepped on, run over, dropped in the fryer, and have gone through the proverbial ringer. In times like these, you want to send your equipment to a repair facility you trust.

CE not only provides quality parts and factory-trained service, but also guarantees to repair most drive-thru equipment within 24 hours. To top it off, you also will receive a four-month repair warranty on that repair. That means if your headset, belt-pac, or drive-thru timer breaks down again within that time period you can send it in for a free repair.

If you don’t have the means to send in your broken equipment, or simply need a faster turnaround, CE also offers an advance exchange option. All you need to do is call to report your broken drive-thru equipment, and CE will send a replacement to your store, usually overnight. Once you receive your replacement, just put the broken equipment back in the box and seal it. UPS will be contacted to come back to your store within a week to pick up and return it to CE.

If your store is one of several that you operate which is in frequent need of drive-thru system repairs, there is an affordable solution for you. CE offers protection plans for HME, Panasonic, and 3M drive-thru equipment. For a low, fixed, monthly fee your entire drive-thru system can be covered. This will help you avoid any unpredictable expenditures and is an affordable, hassle-free way of ensuring you always have working equipment.

In a quick-service atmosphere there’s no telling what equipment failures may occur. But there will never be a need to wave the white flag. With CE as your partner, you’ll be able to conquer any lunch-rush mishap. Call CE today to get your drive-thru running its best.

Running a quick-service restaurant really keeps you on your toes. When speed is the name of the game, there’s little time to react when your drive-thru equipment breaks down. That’s one of the reasons stores receive multiple drive-thru headsets with the purchase of a drive-thru headset system. Should a headset stop working, there is another one there to back you up.

In most cases, stores will send in their drive-thru headsets once they break so they can be repaired and go back into the mix. However, sometimes those broken headsets are forgotten and, before you know it, you’re down to your last one. When there’s no time to wait for drive-thru headset repairs, CE offers advance exchange to get your drive-thru back up and running fast.

To take advantage of CE’s advance exchange program, simply call 877-731-0334, explain the issue you’re having and CE will send the replacement drive-thru equipment you need -- most of the time overnight! All you have to do when you receive the equipment is take it out of the box, place your broken equipment back into the box, and seal it. CE makes the process so easy you don’t even have to drop the box off at a mailing facility. UPS will be notified to come back to your store within three to five business days to pick up.

There’s no time in the life of a quick-service operator to stress over drive-thru equipment repairs. With CE’s advance exchange repair option, you can have peace of mind that no matter what obstacles you face with your drive-thru equipment, CE will have a solution.

For more information on how CE can help you with repairs, installation, or accessory sales call 877-731-0334, or browse the website to learn more.

Many calls that come in to technical support are from people who are having issues with their drive-thru headsets. More specifically, it’s an issue with the sound quality of their drive-thru headsets. What many people don’t know is that their headset could be experiencing sound-quality issues as a result of a drive-thru battery that is approaching its expiration.

Many drive-thru batteries are meant to last about 400 charge cycles. If you are charging them every day, that will give them a life expectancy of about a year and one to two months. Most stores carry at least four and sometimes up to six or seven batteries, so the general rule is to replace them every one and a half to two years. In case you forget or simply don’t know how old your batteries are, most drive-thru battery chargers have a built-in diagnostic light that will come on when a battery has reached the end of its life. This will remind you to purchase a new one. Also, most drive-thru batteries will have a manufacture date on the back of them. If the date is more than two years old, it’s definitely time to recycle them and order more.

There are many benefits to new batteries. They last longer in between charge cycles so you don’t have to charge them as often, they help keep your headset from cutting out when you’re speaking to a customer, and they help minimize the sound of buzzing and static which improves the overall sound-quality of your drive-thru headsets.

If you’re thinking it might be time to order some new batteries, now is the time to do it. CE has a great drive-thru battery offer, buy three and get the fourth one free! This includes batteries made for all brands of drive-thru headset systems including HME, 3M, and Panasonic.

What are you waiting for? Call CE today 877-731-0334 and take advantage of this battery promotion before it’s too late! Your employees and customers will thank you.

With all of the rain, wind, and snow during the winter months, it’s likely you will have some drive-thru maintenance to do when the sun peeks through. Use the checklist below to ensure your drive-thru equipment is performing at its best all year round.

Drive-Thru Speaker Post: Check the vents in the speaker post to make sure they aren’t clogged by leaves, mud, or any other debris that could have become wedged during a storm or high winds.

Drive-Thru Lane: When there is a lot of snow or rain it can cause cracks and potholes in your drive-thru. So check your drive-thru lane for any cracks, especially near your order point and also at your cash and pick-up windows. If moisture gets down into the concrete it can disrupt the underground loops that detect your vehicles. 

Menu Board: Check your menu board during the day and also at night. You want to make sure that all of your electrical components are working correctly and that your menu board is free of any debris. Replace any lights that have shorted or burned out. This is also a great opportunity to check that your menu board is current. Look over the menu items as well as the prices to ensure you aren’t misleading customers.   

Drive-Thru Headset System: Test all drive-thru headsets and batteries. If you come across any that aren’t working, call CE’s technical support at 877-731-0334. If the problem cannot be solved over the phone you can use the free shipping label located on the website to send in your drive-thru headset repairs. If you need a new drive-thru battery, you can also purchase it on CE’s website.

Drive-Thru Timer: Compare your reports from the past few weeks. If you see something that looks out of the ordinary, pay close attention to your remote display. Is it detecting every car? If it only detects some and not others, or doesn’t detect any at all, contact CE’s technical support. They will help you troubleshoot the problem and recommend the next steps to take.

With your post-winter checklist completed, you will have the confidence that your drive-thru is in optimal condition. Sit back and watch your sales spring ahead.

If you have broken drive-thru headsets, belt-pacs, drive-thru battery chargers, or timer systems, everyone knows that CE is the best place to send your drive-thru equipment for repair. But did you know that CE also provides onsite installation and service?

For drive-thru equipment problems that can’t be fixed by troubleshooting with technical support or shipping them for repair, CE has installation and service providers nationwide to help. Here are a few common problems CE technicians can fix onsite:

-Broken loops

-Bad speakers and microphones

-Wiring issues

-Malfunctioning vehicle detector boards

-Installation of base stations and drive-thru timer systems

-And more!

Whether you have HME, Panasonic, 3M, or any other major brand drive-thru equipment, CE is your one-stop shop for all your drive-thru maintenance needs. Don’t need any repairs, but can use a new drive-thru battery or other drive-thru accessories? CE also provides small accessories for all major brands. They even have an online shopping cart for your convenience. Now that’s what I call a full-service company!

Broken headsets are a leading source of frustration for drive-thru managers and their crewmembers. The top recurring repair issues for drive-thru headsets include:

 

1.    Broken headband wires

2.    Broken buttons, springs or mechanical switches

3.    Broken headbands

 

The solution to #1 is simple. Most drive-thru headsets are designed so that the wires run across the headband to the battery. When these wires get twisted or pulled, they can easily break, rendering the headset inoperable. To solve this problem, invest in a headset – like EOS | HD from HME – that transmits the signal wirelessly. With no wires to break, the headsets can be bent, twisted and pulled without fear of disrupting the signal.

 

To minimize repair #2, look for a headset with fewer moving parts. This makes it easier for employees to operate the headset, and minimizes the chances that something else might break due to constant use.

 

Finally, to avoid repair #3, get a headset made with flexible steel, as this allows it to snap back into proper position even after being pulled and twisted in many directions. It also provides a secure, comfortable fit for employees.

 

If all else fails and your headsets still need repairs, give CE a call at 877-731-0334. We’ll get your drive-thru equipment up and running again, often within 24 hours!