Next Generation Table Management
"How leading restaurant operators leverage IT to turn tables faster while driving top and bottom line growth.
By Tim Clark, Contributing Editor
Hospitality Technology (June 2007)
http://htmagazine.com/HT/archive/0607/0607_04.html
In the highly competitive restaurant business, table management plays a very important role in how efficiently the restaurant is run. The goal is to turn tables faster, in order to serve more guests, provide more accurate quote times for a table, and to "enhance the dining experience for customers while maximizing profits."
When BJ's restaurant's decided to invest in a new table management system provided by QSR Automations, they were very happy. "The decision changed the way we looked at everything from welcoming our guests into the restaurants, to how we print up checks in the kitchen for our team member cooks." ConnectSmart Hostess is the system now used by all of BJ's 58 casual dining restaurants. When used correctly, ConnectSmart helps to shrink the amount of time that a table is empty. It also gives a systematic way to seat guests which has been very successful.
TGIF's is focused on keeping wait times to a minimum, because they know that their guests have many other choices of restaurants. This is why they purchased the Host Alert system from JTech. Not only does it offer a better view of table availability, but it also "enables faster mobile status updates, a custom view of wait lists, floor plans and on-screen keyboard and handwriting recognition." All of these things have increased productivity from the hosts and servers at TGIF's.
I know first hand how important table management is in a restaurant because I have been working in the restaurant business since I was 17. I worked 2 years as a host, and a year and a half so far as a server. In busy restaurants like TGIF and BJ's, table management is key. Technology like ConnectSmart Hostess and Host Alert can help with this. I have hosted at 3 different restaurants, and the more technology we had, the smoother things ran. First, I worked at Grotto Pizza in College Square shopping center. We rarely went on a wait, but when we did, I had no technology to help assist me. I wrote everything on a scrap piece of paper with the name of the party and how many people their were. However when a table became available I had nothing to help me contact the guest to tell them their table was ready, I just had to try and remember who was who. After that I worked at Don Pablos and we went on a wait every weekend. There, we had no technology besides a microphone to call someones name over the loudspeaker when the table was ready. Lastly, I worked at Bugaboo Creek. There we used pagers that were wirelessly connected to a paging device on the host stand, and we also had a microphone if it was needed. This was the most efficient way because it involved the most technology. I know first hand that technology can help improve table management and the overall restaurant experience for the guest and for the employees.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
This article is a prime example of how technology can help to create and maintain consistency and ease, especially in a restaurant setting. When dealing with table management and a good turnover rate, a well set up and technology equipped host podium is key. The real life examples written about in the article response are classic re-occurring events that can be solved with simple technology investments. Broadly speaking, hosts who can either select an existing guest from a database or input new guest information is the first step in a smooth check-in and seating system in a restaurant. Any restaurant that goes on a wait should be able to check a guest in and make notes on how to easily find them electronically, and view table progress from one location. These are simply examples of basic technology for a restaurant host; however, most of the hospitality industry can always move towards one primary goal, increased interface. In a restaurant this could mean connecting every element that keeps the restaurant running, for example a bartender entering drink orders into a POS system who can also view the number waiting guests who might gather around the bar while waiting. Total interface creates more informed employees and one essential “data highway” for statistics to be gathered and reviewed by management. Leveraging IT to turn tables faster works, and if budget allows, there should always be a consideration on how to improve the technology and level of interface in the workplace.
Post a Comment