Now more than ever, many restaurant owners view investments in customer-facing technology like online reservation systems and delivery apps as a necessary part of doing business. But, they’re less certain when it comes to back-of-house operations.
Part of that is financial: 63% of restaurateurs say the primary factor holding them back from adding more technology is the cost of implementation, according to a 2016 National Restaurant Association survey. But another factor, experts say, is chefs’ fears that automating those back-of-house processes might somehow dull their artistic edge.
“Restaurants are generally slow to adopt technology relative to other industries,” says Louis Maskin, senior strategist for The Culinary Edge, a San Francisco based restaurant consultancy.
“As far as I’m concerned, chefs are as much responsible for their finances as they are for creating a delicious dish.”
With costs running hundreds of dollars a month or more for some back-of-house systems, it’s understandable that restaurateurs are afraid of making the wrong investments. But when employed properly, back-of-house systems allow chefs to spend moretime creating dishes, not less. And it can even help save money, too.
These questions, which come from conversations with chefs and industry experts, can help you figure out with tech investment is worth it.
Will it save you time?
Veteran Chicago chef Lamar Moore used to hate calling inventory orders in late at night at the end of a 15-hour shift. It was stressful and often led to mistakes. Now, he uses an online system, which he says is faster and gives him more flexibility. “I don’t have to waste my time building an order guide on paper,” he says.
Maskin says chefs shouldn’t underestimate the value of technology that gives them back time. It can be a big benefit if a system frees up a chef to focus on quality and “to work hand-in-hand with your line-level staff,” he says.
Will it help control costs?
Spending $1,000 on a tool that will cut costs by $2,000 is easy decision. But often, the savings are a little harder to spot.
Take Moore’s online ordering system. He’s saved in ways that aren’t obvious.
“When they have new items or specials or things on sale, you can see them immediately, with pictures,” he says. “And when the prices change, I can see that, versus somebody vocally telling me that.”
In addition, he says, the system is connected to his inventory system, so it can help eliminate mistakes. And if an ingredient he wants is out of stock, it automatically substitutes a comparably-priced replacement.
Does it work on your phone?
For Moore, the ability to pull up an app on his phone is invaluable. He now uses apps to check security cameras and break down food costs, among other things.
He understands the downside: That it can often feel more impersonal and less experiential. “When I was young, I was taught hands-on how to break down food costs,” says Moore.
But the added convenience of being able to work on his phone means that he’s more likely to use a piece of technology and benefit from his investment.
Is the vendor a reliable partner?
A system or technology isn’t just a purchase, it’s a decision to enter a partnership with the company that sells it. Most technology these days is regularly updated with new features, so you’ll want to know what a vendor has planned before you buy.
The other reason it's important to think of a tech vendor as a partner is that they’ll likely need to help you set the system up, and they’ll definitely need to get you help when it breaks.
“The disadvantage is when you have companies that are not fully on board with the online system or not knowing how to troubleshoot their systems,” Moore says. “Or maybe they’re not updating their prices as they should, so it says one thing online and then when you receive the order, the prices are higher.”
If you’re willing to do the research to find a reliable partner—and perhaps work out the kinks with them at the outset—the upfront costs can pay off in the long run.
By answering these questions, you can make better back-of-house investments, ensuring you end up with technology that not only helps operations, but that you’ll actually use.
This post is sponsored by Kabbage