by Greg Staley, CEO of SynergySuite
Restaurant technology has become absolutely essential, offering many significant business benefits. The right tech solutions can make your tasks more efficient, productive, accurate, and streamlined. And today, there are solutions for every brand, budget, and need.
However, if your restaurant is adopting or upgrading technology, be sure to avoid these three common mistakes.
You didn’t do your homework.
It can be tempting to jump into a new tech solution after hearing a passionate vendor praise its features and functions. But before you even start looking into possible options, first develop a plan. Determine what you need your tech tools to do. Are you looking to implement only certain items, like a digital scheduling tool or a POS? Or are you looking for something more comprehensive that can do everything, including inventory, purchasing, reporting and analytics, scheduling, HR, food safety, and more? In that case, you’ll want an integrated, holistic solution that works together seamlessly.
Once you know what you need, research your options. There are so many helpful tech options available that it may seem overwhelming at first. Stick to your plan, only considering solutions that will meet the needs that you outlined. Visit vendors’ websites, read testimonials, look at online reviews, and ultimately call references for top choices.
When you’ve narrowed down your top choices, have honest conversations with each vendor to determine their approach to customer service. Will they answer questions and help troubleshoot after implementation? Do they provide training for your employees? Do they seem genuinely nice and helpful? Are these people that you’d want to collaborate with for this project? While many companies may look good on paper, pick the tech vendor that will be the best match for your restaurant.
You haven’t engaged your team.
The best way to get everyone onboard is to involve employees throughout the process. Select a representative from each affected department to serve as a project ambassador. Have them provide their thoughts and opinions about how they need the technology to work in their daily operations. Pick representatives from teams that will be using the solution, as well as those who will be implementing and maintaining it internally. Getting input from the potential end users is incredibly important, so please don’t skip this step!
Before the rollout, explain to employees why you’re investing in technology. They may be questioning why you’re spending money on a tech rollout after the financial devastation of the pandemic. Or perhaps they think that your current systems are working fine and don’t need to be changed. Tech-averse employees may fear this transition, thinking that it will be too difficult or cumbersome to use digital tools instead of their trusty old checklists and manual systems.
If you clearly explain the benefits – it will make daily tasks easier, increase safety and quality, improve scheduling, save time and money, etc. – they’ll be more likely to get on board and accept the new solutions. For instance, if they’re worried about the big spend on technology, discuss the money-saving benefits that the new tools provide – such as reducing waste, theft, redundant purchases, etc. Or, if they’re worried that it will make their lives harder, show them how much easier it will be to swap shifts and conduct inspections using the new digital tools.
Then, of course, you’ll need to properly train all employees. Show your team members all the cool things that the new tech tools can do and demonstrate how simple and user-friendly the solutions are. Your vendor may provide the product training, or you can opt to have an internal team roll out training, helping employees (of varying tech comfort levels) learn how to use the new system.
You didn’t pick the right solution.
Some tech tools are complex and intimidating, with a steep learning curve. Opt for the solutions that are easy to use and learn. Remember that you’re looking for solutions that will make your employees’ lives easier! The right tech tools will be quick for them to learn, and simple for them to use.
Another key consideration is to select an integrated tech stack, with tools that work together seamlessly. For example, your BOH should be able to talk to your POS. Your reports should provide holistic views across your entire enterprise or drilled down by restaurant location. If your systems are disconnected, it will be difficult (or impossible) for you to gather, review, and analyze data, which will be frustrating for your team. It’s much more valuable to use systems that are aligned, providing data that can guide operational decisions.
Additionally, make sure security is top-of-mind. A breach can be expensive, damaging, and stressful, so make sure your network is secure. Keep in mind your tech stack will process and sometimes store sensitive data, including customers’ credit card information, employee payroll, vendor payments, etc., so be sure that you have the best-in-class security measures in place. Find out how your vendor works to prevent cyber breaches – and how they’ll help you if one occurs.
The right tech solutions offer many significant benefits, increasing productivity, efficiency, accuracy, safety, and quality. Before investing in new technology, do your homework, create a plan, engage your staff, and choose the right solutions for your brand’s specific needs. While it’s true that tech solutions require an initial investment, the right option will pay for itself over time.
Greg Staley is the CEO of SynergySuite, a back-of-house restaurant management platform. Greg focuses on facilitating better visibility and increased profitability for restaurant chains through the use of intelligent, integrated back-of-house technology. For more information, please contact Greg at [email protected].
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