Looking Forward: Food Tech 2021+

Article by Rob Grimes, CEO, IFBTA

It is very tempting to simply say, “deliver to our guests” when looking at 2021 and beyond, but delivery has become key to survival, and a variety of technology enables the experience by connecting the restaurant and their guests.

How can we focus on the technology we use going forward, making sure to take advantage of short-term survival “fixes,” and turning them into long-term growth?

Cloud Based Applications

A key to success is to be able to connect as much data as possible about our guests and their preferences to ensure the right menu mix, maximize loyalty and visits and increase the average check. Using a general rule that all applications, even POS, should be hosted in the Cloud, the deployment of new applications becomes much easier and provides remote access for customers and staff alike.

Revenue Center Operating + Reporting

Making delivery and pickup a separate revenue center (as you would with a drive-through), will provide unlimited capability to grow the business. Online ordering, integration with other orering applications and the ability to produce and deliver are all functions with very specific features. If they do not work with your main in-store systems, you will have inefficient, manual work to tie together operating information, forecasting and analysis.

Portable Technologies

In order to faciliate new locations to provide our food, any system should be required to allow handheld devices and tablets. This opens up the possibilities for “pop-up” operations and remote ordering locations, including line busting for the drive-through or curb-side ordering/pickup. It also helps to enable shared locations with your applications as may be found in ghost, dark and cloud kitchens. Applications designed to run on these systems can also be used for customers and staff who use their own devices, which is a long-term potential outcome.

Data Analytics/Artificial Intelligence

Behind all of the systems used, there must be “smart analysis” of the data to help make decisions in all areas of the operation— ordering, production, labor, service, financials, revenue and profitability. There is so much data available today, and the restaurant operator needs to run their business. These backend tools provide information in plain, understandable and actionable terms, and recommendations can be made in real time and in future planning.

For the restaurant operator, it is no longer a choice between investing in technology or a new oven—without the technology to drive the business, there is no need for the oven.