One big problem for small restaurants is competing against larger eateries that use the powerful-but-costly OpenTable system for online reservations. Though TablesReady doesn’t duplicate OpenTable, it helps smaller places compete on the technological front by turning away fewer diners when tables are unavailable.
It works like this: Instead of telling prospective diners to wait at the bar or handing them a pager, a host or hostess can use a tablet such as an iPad, to enter their cell phone number, along with the number in their party. TablesReady will then send a customizable text when a table opens up. Customers get better service, and restaurants get to turn fewer people away.
Restaurants sign up for TablesReady on the Web and can then use the associated app on any tablet. There’s a flat fee of $70/month (OpenTable also charges an additional fee per diner seated) and the first month is free.
Read more at TheNextWeb.
