What do you do if your food and beverage operation needs to improve communication using technology?

1 Benefits of technology

Technology can offer many advantages for communication in food and beverage operations, such as faster and more accurate transmission of information, more convenient and flexible ways of communication, better collaboration and coordination among teams, and the ability to generate and analyze more data. Technology can enable staff members and departments to share orders, inventory, feedback, and schedules quickly and accurately. Mobile devices, apps, cloud-based platforms, and online portals can be accessed anytime and anywhere. Teams such as chefs, servers, managers, and suppliers can share ideas, documents, images, and videos in real-time or asynchronously. Furthermore, technology can provide data and insights from communication that can help improve decision-making and problem-solving.

2 Challenges of technology

Technology can present challenges for communication in food and beverage operations, such as the significant costs associated with hardware, software, training, and maintenance. Cyberattacks, theft, or misuse of sensitive information, like customer data or recipes, can also damage the trust and reputation of the food and beverage operation. Compatibility and integration issues among different devices, systems, or platforms can affect the reliability and consistency of communication. Additionally, some staff members, customers, or stakeholders may be resistant to technology or lack the skills needed to use it.

3 Best practices

In order to maximize the benefits of using technology for communication in food and beverage operations, it is important to follow some best practices. Firstly, assess your current communication needs, goals, and gaps to identify areas where technology can add value and improve efficiency. Secondly, choose the appropriate tools and platforms for communication, taking into account features, functions, costs, and compatibility of each tool. Thirdly, provide adequate training, guidance, and support to ensure your staff can use the technology effectively and safely. Lastly, monitor and evaluate the relevant metrics and indicators such as customer satisfaction, staff engagement, food quality, and operational efficiency. Collecting and analyzing feedback from your staff, customers, and stakeholders is also essential in order to make adjustments and improvements as needed.

4 Tools and examples

Technology can be used in a variety of ways to facilitate communication in food and beverage operations. POS (point-of-sale) systems, for instance, are software and hardware that enable operators to process orders, payments, and receipts quickly and accurately. Furthermore, online ordering platforms such as Uber Eats, DoorDash, and OpenTable can help enhance the customer experience, increase sales, and provide feedback on customer preferences. Lastly, communication apps such as Slack, WhatsApp, and Zoom enable staff members to communicate with each other or with managers in real-time or asynchronously. All these tools can improve the speed, accuracy, convenience of communication, as well as generate and store data for analysis and planning.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?