Everyone is trying to save a penny wherever they can these days and it is no different for restaurant owners. It is so important to know where every penny is going, because what doesn’t seem like a lot of money can add up over time costing your restaurant more than you can imagine. You might be wondering how technology can help you save money when it is costing your restaurant money for the services. The answer is simple. Technology easily pays for itself again and again by pinpointing inefficiencies in your restaurant’s inventory, labor and accounting. Let’s look at two ways technology can set you up for success.
Inventory
Every time you have to throw out food that went bad, you are losing money. When you don’t have the food you need in stock, you are losing money. When you give out 5 pickles instead of 2, you are losing money. Things that might seem insignificant, are actually costing you big money over time, which is why it is important to consider an inventory and food cost management system. Some of the many benefits of having inventory software are the ability to calculate exact plate costing and identify improper portioning or waste. Also, automated vendor invoices and digital mobile count sheets mean no more manual data entry. Technology is going to give you more accurate numbers every time, so you can be confident in your counting and reporting results.
Labor Scheduling
Labor scheduling: you might cringe when you hear those words. It is incredibly difficult and understandably so, to schedule all employees each week who might have very different availability, not to mention employees who don’t show up, being understaffed and over scheduling employees. Not only are these issues affecting your employees, but more often than not, they are costing you money. Having a labor scheduling system allows you to schedule with ease and confidence. Gone are the days of being overstaffed or understaffed, with automated sales forecasting, you are able to make informed scheduling decisions. Having a mobile app for employees and managers to connect also makes no shows less likely. Employees can easily post a shift and have someone else pick it up. You will also be notified when someone is approaching overtime. If employees are clocking in early or clocking out late, even by just a few minutes each day, it costs your restaurant money, so this software helps you to stay informed and correct the issues before they become costly.
Taking a leap on something new can be intimidating, but what if it could help your restaurant run with more accuracy and efficiency, not to mention increase your profit margins! If your restaurant is wanting to see more money coming in, technology is a great place to start. No more taking inventory with pen and paper or long hours spent trying to schedule your employees. Work smarter, not harder!
