High tech stuff you can use right now to ease your workforce woes.
A sample of "do it yourself" suppliers
EMN8
www.emn8.com
Product: OrderM8 3500 Kiosk System (proprietary hardware and software) and software sold separately for use with other suppliers’ hardware
What’s new: Cinema-quality 3-D graphics/food presentations; inviting, ergonomic kiosk design; debuting OrderM8 4000 series in 2008 with improved receipt printing and cash handling and more durable hardware.
IBM
www.ibm.com
Product: IBMAnyPlace POS Kiosks
What’s new: Ultra-compact self-service units with 15-, 17- and 19-inch touch-screen models. Includes built-in wireless capability, advanced rich media applications, fully integrated remote management and monitoring tools.
NCR Corp.
ww.ncr.com
Product: Xpress Order and Pay touch-screen kiosk
What’s new: Better on-screen graphics and animation; improved cash handling systems with automated cash management and a single cash recycling system vs. previous separate acceptor and dispenser systems.
NEXTEP Systems
www.nextepsystems.com
Products: Various countertop and freestanding, indoor/outdoor kiosk models
What’s new: 3.3 series Kiosks, featuring customer recognition, customer surveys, additional POS interfaces and an “order governor” that prevents kitchen overload; NEXTREME Outdoor Kiosk touting military-style toughness.
RoboServer Systems
www.roboserver.com
Products: Indoor/outdoor kiosks, countertop and freestanding models
What’s new: LineBuster dual-screen kiosks offering full self-service or a combination of self- and staff-assisted service to decrease line wait times.
A sample of "pay at the table" suppliers
ASI
www.actionsystems.com
Product: Restaurant Manager v15.1 with Mobile Payment Processing
What’s new: Mobile payment capability is now integrated into ASI’s Write-On-Handheld order-taking technology system.
Ingenico
www.ingenico.com
Product: Pay@Table
What’s new: In addition to Wi-Fi and GRPS—a high-speed digital service—for at-table, at-curbside and at-door payment solutions, Bluetooth wireless version is offered for restaurants without wireless infrastructure
MICROS Systems
www.micros.com
Product: Mobile MICROS
What’s new: Handheld POS system now includes pay-at-the-table capability.
VeriFone
www.verifone.com
Products: ON THE SPOTpayment solutions, including TablePAY, CurbsidePAY, CounterPAY, DeliveryPAY
What’s new: Vx670 Bluetooth handheld payment terminal for short-distance environments; enables plug-and-play secure wireless installation with common land-line telecommunications.
A sample of "wireless order taking" suppliers
ASI
www.actionsystems.com
Product: Write-On Handheld
What’s new: Handwriting-recognition-based device now includes server alerts (i.e., sold-out notices, wine pairing suggestions), full functionality to download recipes, photos, allergen information. Managers can receive alerts in pocket PCs or smart cell phones if employees are reaching overtime status, tap real-time sales reports and respond to server pages.
WaiterPAD POS Systems
www.waiterpad.com
Product: Fully integrated POS system using wireless radio-frequency technology and handheld order taking units
What’s new: In addition to taking orders, units process loyalty, gift, debit and credit cards at the table.
Menusoft Systems Corp.
www.digitaldining.com
Product: Digital Dining Handheld POS
What’s new: In addition to order-taking and integrated POS functions, units enable servers to give frequent diners account updates and to offer pay at the table, and enable cooks or managers to take and track inventory.
MICROS Systems
www.micros.com
Product: Mobile MICROS
What’s new: Easy to navigate full-color touch screens. Terminals communicate directly with kitchen display system that breaks down each order and prioritizes prep tasks based on course and ingredient cook times. Fully integrates with MICROS POS systems.
A sample of "web-based scheduling" suppliers
ASI
www.actionsystems.com
Product: Restaurant Manager Labor Scheduling Module
What’s new: Automatically generates staffing rosters based on parameters set by each restaurant. Schedules can be manually adjusted to fully optimize work schedules and can be printed, posted to the company Web site, e-mailed to employees or sent as text messages to cell phones.
CrunchTime!
www.crunchtime.com
Product: Labor and Workforce Management
What’s new: Complete Web-based solution with no software required. Interfaces with all types of POS and HR systems and has full labor management capabilities (i.e., employee set-up, labor law compliance, overtime alerts, automatic scheduling and ideal staffing matrixes).
HotSchedules
www.hotschedules.com
Product: HotSchedules
What’s new: Online labor management and scheduling tool’s new version 3.2 offers enhanced reports, integration with POS systems and rule-based auto-scheduling.
Deterministics
www.deterministics.com
Product: Deterministics Labor System (DLS)
What’s new: Web-based labor forecasting and management system with Labor Recipe feature that defines labor requirements based on detailed analyses of all activities that require labor.
MacromatiX USA
www.macromatix.com
Product: Scheduling and Labor Management
What’s new: Web-based interface for QSR and fast-casual operations offers color-coding, with a green window indicating that sales for labor on hand are running well; a red window indicating that labor is over or under, so shifts can be adjusted. Managers can work remotely and are alerted via e-mails or text messages.
MICROS Systems
www.micros.com
Product: mylabor
What’s new: Part of mymicros.net suite of management tools, mylabor offers Web-based scheduling, accessible to employees and managers from any computer; alerts to help managers control overtime; accurate tracking of employees working in more than one unit.
TimeForge
www.timeforge.com
Product: AutoScheduler
What’s new: Automatically builds weekly schedules in less than 35 seconds, and manual updates take just seconds, as well. Daily reminders to employees about their work schedules and automatic alerts about schedule changes can be sent via Web and/or text message to cell phone.
A sample of "logging on to-go" suppliers
Aldelo Systems, Inc.
www.aldelo.com
Product: CoolOrder.com
What’s new: POS provider Adelo has partnered with independent CoolOrder.com to provide integrated full-service online ordering and payment capabilities.
CBORD
www.cbord.com
Product: Webfood
What’s new: Multi-order platform supports online, kiosk, call center, takeout ordering and integrates with existing POS system. Allows for automatic menu item/price changes and includes built-in lead times for pick-ups. Tracks statistics, orders and users’ information for planning future promotions.
Exit41
www.exit41.com
Product: OrderPerfect 2.0
What’s new: Off-site call-center, multi-channel ordering solution that can be customized to meet specific remote ordering needs of QSR, fast-casual and casual-dining operations. Supports call-ahead, text message and Web ordering for pick-up, curbside and delivery services. Integrates with existing POS systems.
Jacent Technologies
www.jacent.com
Product: Ordering-On-Demand Platform
What’s new: Centralizes franchisee or corporate ordering operations using a variety of channels, including phone and Web, automated and live call center agents.
Members help make our journalism possible. Become a Restaurant Business member today and unlock exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to all of our content. Sign up here.