Looking to upgrade your drive-thru headsets or timer system but don’t have the cash flow to purchase the equipment?  CE can help.

In today’s highly competitive QSR industry, it’s critical to keep your drive-thru equipment up to date. Otherwise, you can lose customers to competitors that have the technology to deliver faster, better service.  New equipment also tends to break down less, which reduces downtime and minimizes service problems in your drive-thru.

To help you obtain the drive-thru equipment and technology you need to grow your business and your profits, CE offers fast, simple financing. Available through Direct Capital, a leading lender to small businesses throughout the U.S., our financing plan gives you:

• Fast quotes
• Variable terms from 30 days to 7 years
• Flexible financing options

Autumn has arrived and winter is just around the corner. Now’s the time to protect your drive-thru equipment – and your profits – with CE’s Drive-Thru Protection Plan.

For one low monthly payment, you get unlimited repairs on your drive-thru headsets, timer systems or cabled intercom systems – any model and any brand. The plan also includes optional advance exchange on drive-thru system components to reduce downtime and keep your drive-thru operations flowing smoothly.

You can choose from different level of coverage and plan options based on your needs and your budget. And you don’t have to sign any long-term contracts in order to receive fast, efficient drive-thru repair services when you need them.

Why choose CE repairs?

• 40 years of drive-thru service and repair experience
• Factory-certified repair technicians
• Quality parts used in all repairs
• One monthly fee covers all drive-thru repair expenses

Do you know how long it takes to process an average drive-thru order from start to finish? How about peak hours when your drive-thru is experiencing the most traffic? Do you know what causes bottlenecks at peak hours? If you answered “no” to any of these questions, how can you expect to have great drive-thru efficiency?

Drive-thru timers are a necessity for efficiency. In depth reporting provides insight on trends and pinpoints problem areas so managers can tweak schedules or shift employees around to different positions to compensate for bottlenecks. Drive-thru timers aren’t only great for reporting, most of them have an in-store dashboard display that provides employees with a real-time picture of what is happening in their drive-thru. Here are some features you should look for in a great drive-thru timer.

Intuitive Color Display—Most timers can be configured to your stores’ specific goals. The best timers have an intuitive color display that changes from green to yellow and red when your goal times have been exceeded.

Real-Time Comparisons—With the ability to compare current cars to previous car averages in a given time period, your employees can estimate about how long an order should take to execute and work to beat that time.

Multiple Check-Points—By timing individual events, managers can tell where processes are backed up and can quickly rearrange staff to fill in trouble areas. If a car has been sitting at the pick-up window for a long period of time it’s a good indication that the kitchen is behind on the order. Managers can task an idle counter employee to help in the kitchen until the congestion clears. If there’s a long pause at the menu, this could indicate an indecisive customer or a preoccupied employee. If this is the case, put someone with more experience in charge of drive-thru orders until the bottleneck is cleared.

Optional Alerts—Some managers prefer audible alerts to sound when employees exceed their goal. This puts a little more haste into the process of getting orders out as quickly as possible. Other managers and employees prefer color-changing displays or blinking lights to notify them when an order time has been exceeded. Great drive-thru timers will allow the incorporation of both of these options.

Reporting—In-store and Cloud-based reporting are also important in a drive-thru timer. The best timers will provide both so managers and owners can view real-time data in the store or on the go.

With the hectic rush of summer winding down and the flow of tourists dissipating, many of you are now able to catch your breath and examine your drive-thru equipment. It isn’t uncommon to find problems in your drive-thru headsets during the summer months. This is one of the busiest seasons of the year and when your employees are in a hurry, they are more likely to nick a belt-pac or ding a headset on kitchen surfaces. If you have any damaged equipment, whether a broken mic boom or poor audio quality, we have the perfect solution.   

CE helps drive-thru lanes stay open and owner’s pockets stay full by providing protection plans that cover everything from basic drive-thru headset repairs to base station exchanges and drive-thru timer repairs. Depending on your needs and budget, CE has the right fit for you. The best part of it –there are no long-term contracts! Here are some things you can expect with all of CE’s protection plans:

Fixed, Low Monthly Payments –One of the fears of equipment breaking down is the unexpected cost for repair. With CE’s protection plans you pay a fixed, low monthly fee so there will never be a question as to how much the repair will be.

Unlimited Repairs –With unlimited repairs, you don’t have to worry if more than one or two drive-thru headsets break down in the same month. CE will allow you to send in as many drive-thru repairs as you need to ensure your QSR is running the way you expect.

Reduced Downtime –Nobody has time for broken equipment, especially in a fast-paced environment like a quick-service restaurant. Many of CE’s protection plans include advance exchange. So if a drive-thru headset breaks down, or if your base station stops working, all you need to do is call CE and a replacement will be overnighted to you. Just return your broken drive-thru equipment once you’ve received your replacement.

Quality Parts and Service –CE uses the best quality manufacturer and aftermarket parts. To ensure every repair is done right the first time, a thorough, 35-point inspection is administered for each piece of equipment.

Any Model, Any Brand –CE repairs equipment for every major QSR drive-thru related brand, including HME, 3M and Panasonic. With this type of flexibility you can purchase protection plans for all of your drive-thru equipment at one place.

Did you know something as small as a drive-thru battery could have a significant impact on your sales? Since most quick-service restaurants have shifted toward using wireless drive-thru headsets, batteries have been playing an important role in how quickly and accurately orders are placed. When a drive-thru battery wears out, it can cause unnecessary distractions that will hamper your business. Here are three tell-tale signs your drive-thru batteries need replacing.

1. Static or Cut-Outs—When your batteries are no longer holding their charge, you’ll likely experience a noticeable change in your drive-thru sound quality. Audio cutting out or static in the middle of orders are good indications that you may need new batteries. One way to determine whether it is the drive-thru battery or the headset causing the problem is by swapping the battery with another one. If the static goes away, you’ve likely found your culprit.

2. Shortened Charge Cycle— Most drive-thru batteries last about 10-12 hours once they’ve been fully charged. This will allow employees to work an entire shift without changing batteries. If your employees find themselves having to change batteries after just a couple of hours of use, it might be time to purchase new ones. To get the most use out of the batteries, make sure they’ve gone through the entire charge cycle, and only use the ones that are fully charged.

3. Expired Date—Most batteries have an expiration date printed on them. If your drive-thru battery has an expired date it’s best to replace it with a new one. If you are unable to locate the expiration date on your battery, a good rule of thumb is to replace your batteries every one-and-a-half to two years.

If you’re experiencing any of the above conditions but still aren’t sure if you need new batteries, give CE a call at 877-731-0334. A tech support rep will troubleshoot the problem with you and recommend next steps. If you know you’ve got old batteries, take them to an e-waste recycle facility, or send them to CE for disposal. New batteries can be purchased through CE’s website or by phone. You might even find a buy-three-get-one-free promotion under the special offers tab.


Remember, small details like replacing old batteries can have a huge impact on your sales. Be sure to check your drive-thru equipment on a regular basis and don’t hesitate to call when you’re in need of technical support.

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.

During the summer months most quick-service restaurants extend their store hours to satisfy the increase flow of customers. As a result of the influx of traffic, drive-thru equipment takes a beating more than any other time of year. If unprepared, you could end up spending hundreds of unbudgeted dollars on drive-thru repairs.

Luckily for you, CE provides drive-thru protection plans at a fixed, low monthly fee so you won’t have to worry about unforeseen expenses or lengthy downtime without drive-thru equipment. Here is how it works:

1. Choose the Drive-Thru Protection Plan that best fits your store’s needs.

2. Pay a low, fixed monthly rate and CE will repair or replace any drive-thru equipment on your plan.

3. Your store stays up and running.

Choose any protection plan and receive the following benefits:

-Unlimited drive-thru repairs

-Reduced downtime

-No long-term contracts

-Any model, any brand

-Highest quality parts and service

-Peace of mind

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.