It’s no secret that the service industry has struggled to find employees over the last few years. While many people decided to pivot their careers, those who stuck it out are demanding higher pay. It’s true that employee retention has improved though. Still, with inflation, rising food costs, supply change issues, and pay increases, technology can help keep your operation running, even with labor shortages.

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The comeback kid; the QR code. While those small squares scattered around never really disappeared, they were the weird cousin at family gatherings. QR codes have become the unlikely hero of restaurants. Smartphones have become the standard in consumers’ pockets and can be an excellent hostess for your restaurant. Using the camera on their smartphone, guests can peruse the menu, place an order, and even pay their bills, all with a couple of taps.

Digital menus and online payments make the dining experience easier for guests and staff. It allows diners the autonomy to order when they are ready and easily customize their dish without shouting their order in a loud restaurant. It is reported that 58% of consumers prefer the option of using a QR code to pay at a restaurant.

Besides the convenience of mobile orders, there are also cost-saving benefits. It allows restaurant operators to change up their menus without having to print new physical menus, enabling them to operate with a smaller staff.

Automation Revolution

From robots that prepare pizzas or serve beautiful lattes, automation is becoming more prevalent in the food service industry. Consistency is vital in cooking; automation can help standardize taste, temperature, and food quality. While some companies are taking automation to the next level with pizza vending machines, that benefit can be replicated on a smaller scale with automated ovens like the Ovention Shuttle and Matchbox.

While both ovens can operate as traditional conveyor ovens, they have added features that assist busy operators. The Ovention Matchbox uses a proprietary technology called Auto Load and Unload. With the touch of a button, food automatically moves to the cooking surface, and once the cooking cycle has completed, the dish will exit the cavity. This takes four steps and condenses it into one, making multi-tasking easier.

The Shuttle is excellent for operators who are looking for more flexibility. In “Shuttle Mode,” the oven encloses the cooking cavity and becomes a closed cavity oven, perfect for recipes requiring more precise cooking. The Shuttle also operates as a traditional conveyor during busy times, perfect for quickly cooking pizzas and toasting made-to-order sandwiches.

There are many advantages of automating certain parts of your business. Automation is standardization, and when a guest can expect the same results every time they return to your establishment, this results in a better customer experience.

Level Up the Customer Experience

Speaking of the customer experience, the technology doesn’t have to stop in the kitchen. 60% of U.S. consumers order delivery or take out once a week, and a significant portion of those orders come from third-party delivery services like Doordash and Grubhub. When food is ready to be served vs. when it is picked up can be a difficult waltz to master. An order pickup station, like the Hatco Flav-R 2-Go® locker system, ensures food stays at its preferred temperature while waiting to be picked up. Each locker requires an access code for the customer to open their assigned locker and retrieve their to-go order, which means the food will be fresh and ready for eating. It also ensures customers don’t accidentally grab the wrong order!

With the ever-changing world, investing in technology makes sense whether you have a full roster or are short-staffed. Technology assists your workers in accomplishing their tasks; so, your staff can focus on detail, creating a great customer experience and loyal regulars! Are you looking to upgrade your commercial kitchen equipment? Read our blog about Things to Consider when Purchasing Kitchen Equipment.