Technology in Restaurants - Did it work, or crash and burn?

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Permalink Reply by Norm Elias on December 8, 2011 at 11:00am

I don't know about many BOH programs that arre effective, but as a waiter I would really like to see a schedule online. Another idea could be to make a web page for your restaurants website and offer online deals to your fan base. For example: honoring your customers for using your online services, such as mobile ordering or online menu ordering. FOH programs would include just pos software, i would pick a medium ranged company but i have been searching online and i found one named (Revel) they are pretty sweet, i think they are the online ones i have seen that use ipads. Those ipads can be better tied into more uses, such as, social media marketing and this allows your restaurant to have more meta-tags and quickly jump to the top of search engines. Also, twitter is alright, i'ne noticed that twitter would be used more to kabutz with other restaurants in the immediate area and it does help with meta-tags, so it is effective to keep up with it (its just time consuming).

Hope this all helps

Norm

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Permalink Reply by Jammie Mountz on December 8, 2011 at 12:43pm

Thanks, Norm!

Revel is a great POS system, I love that its on an iPad.  Also, they're friends one with my company's business director - small social media world! :)

As for scheduling, schedulefly.com is a great idea.  I worked in the food industry and wish we could've had it back then.

Technology in restaurants causes a temporary break in the super-streamlined routine, which is why I was asking for opinions. Just wondering what kinds of technology are worth the time and money.

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Permalink Reply by Travis Martin on December 14, 2011 at 11:20pm

I've recently started using schedulefly.com for both our BOH and FOH schedules, and it's a great tool. Once we get everyone used to using it and being familiar with the new changes, it's going to save a lot of time and headache. As for the BOH, we  have recently moved to using a screen based "chit" system. The system is intended to time the need for dishes from each station and streamline everything.  We're using KDS, but I'm sure there are others.

So far, I'm not satisfied. I think the theory behind the software has the right intention, but the truth is a kitchen is a living, breathing organism and needs the human touch. You can't control the flow of a good kitchen and properly communicate with this type of system.

I am a firm believer in using technology to better our businesses. As a matter of fact, I provide internet and mobile marketing services to other small businesses! But this is one area in the restaurant that I don't believe is ready for that change yet. The old school way of printed chits at stations with a board caller/expo/lead cook (whatever your place calls it) is still the best way to go, hands down.

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Permalink Reply by Jammie Mountz on December 15, 2011 at 7:04am

I agree that BOH is much harder to bring technology to in a successful way.  It seems many restaurant employees have a system for doing things, and these habits are hard to break - especially when the initial adoption of a new system almost always causes hiccups and a slowdown.  Its the owner's decision whether the new way is worth the initial costs.  Looks like the "chit" system didnt make the cut.

I've been hearing a lot about schedulefly.com, and it sounds great!  I mentioned good things about them in a previous blogpost.

Thanks for your input!

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