Choosing a Headset System for your QSR Drive-thru
The headset plays a crucial role in ensuring the success of your QSR, facilitating communication between the customer and the order taker. So, let’s look at some factors to consider when choosing a headset system for your QSR drive-thru.
What does a headset system contain?
Headset systems contain certain key elements:
• Base station – the brains of the system
• Speaker post with microphone and speaker
• Headsets
• Battery charger for the headsets
• Aerials
• Speakers for audible alerts
• Pre-alert loops – signaling an approaching customer
• Speaker post activation loops – to open the audio channel when a vehicle is waiting for service.
These components are typically purchased as a bundle. Check with your supplier that they can provide the complete system, including installation with cabling from the unit to the base station and the loops for pre-alert and speaker activation. This will help prevent unexpected costs during installation.
How many headsets should you get?
One important consideration is determining the number of headsets you will need. As well as the five to six you may use for staff on duty, it is always good to have one or two spare. If one fell in the fryer, you don’t want the operation being slowed down. Similarly, keeping a couple of spare batteries ensures your team is always prepared.
What features should you consider?
The next thing is to look at the features of the headset. Some models offer sophisticated features like warning tones and LED indicators that help the team to be responsive and know what is happening in the operation at a glance. Discuss these features are with the agent and ensure the product is future ready. While your operation maybe simple now, as you get busier these features make a big difference and you don’t want to be purchasing a new system to cope.
Hygiene is another important feature, especially in the post-pandemic world. Ideally, headsets should be identifiable through a simple indicator tag, allowing each staff member to identify their headset easily. Headset hygiene packs contain replaceable foam earpieces and microphone covers that are essential for maintaining cleanliness, and it’s important that these are available as parts from your supplier.
What about support and maintenance?
Don’t forget to verify that your supplier has after sales support, repairs and maintenance. If you have an issue with the system, or even a component of the system like a damaged headset, you need the peace of mind that there will be a prompt response to your concerns. Ideally, the supplier should have remote support and trained technicians to respond to any issues.
Check the ease of repair for the headsets and ensure the supplier has a skilled workshop team for repairs. Local availability of spare parts is important and inquire about lead times for spare batteries or headsets. Some systems offer “sacrificial parts” for easy replacement, so check if key components like the headband and microphone can be easily swapped out.
At Summit Innovations we can assist you in designing a system that meets your needs. With 15 years of experience supplying headset systems, we can design, install and service your system. Additionally, our in-house headset repair center caters to headsets of all makes and models.