For foodservice operations looking to remain profitable, efficiency is the name of the game. An often-overlooked facilitator of this efficiency is the use of automatic doors.

Automatic doors at restaurant entrances keep foot traffic flowing smoothly as eat-in customers, takeout orders, and delivery drivers vie for access. Automatic doors help contribute to operational efficiency by getting people in and out as seamlessly as possible.

Quick service restaurants are also adding automatic doors to new “walk-through” drive-thru concepts. It replaces the standard window with a full doorway, allowing team members to walk directly from the kitchen to waiting vehicles.

In a comprehensive survey conducted by the American Association of Automatic Door Manufacturers (AAADM), respondents said the presence of automatic doors serves as a gauge of how much building owners and businesses care about them, and 98.9 percent of consumers who expressed a preference between automatic and manual doors preferred automatic doors.

Beyond their efficiency applications, automatic doors also improve overall accessibility, promote hygiene, and spur positive feelings about a brand.

As restaurants continue to navigate tighter margins, evolving service models, and higher customer expectations, seemingly small choices can have an outsized impact. Automatic doors are a strategic investment to remain competitive in an increasingly demanding market.