I’ve got 99 problems, but the tech ain't one!

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99 Problems is the iconic song by Ice-T, from his 1993 solo album, Home Invasion. Currently, it feels like the UK hospitality industry is being bombarded from all directions, in what feels like a home invasion.

The Chancellor’s 17 October statement confirmed the basic rate of income tax will no longer be reduced from 20% to 19% in April 2023. On 19 October, the Office for National Statistics announced The Consumer Prices Index (CPI), rose by 10.1% in the 12 months to September 2022, up from 9.9% in August, driven by the rise in food prices. Continued increases in energy prices led Ofgem to announce a further planned increase of 80% at the start of October. 

The country is indeed facing its worst economic crisis since the last recession in 2008. However, technology can play a major role as part of the solution to reduce current stress levels amongst operators. It has the power to alleviate common pain points, in order to drive cost efficiencies, while ensuring it also optimises every opportunity to deliver a more operationally efficient business model. 

Here we share three key examples from QSR Automations' own industry leading clients, as to why they turned to technology to streamline and maximise efficiencies to combat the current economic climate. 

Erica Livermore, Chief Technology Officer for Friday’s UK on the role technology needed to play in their first quick-service restaurant - Fridays and Go. “Technology was introduced to enhance the guest experience, with the focus on removing friction. QSR’s technology has enabled every station where different items are prepared to be managed extremely efficiently. It helps us in our reduction of emissions strategy, meaning we have less wastage and we are able to forecast what we need to prepare based on previous sales.”

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Steve Hill, Head of Operations at Bone Daddies. “We were looking to streamline efficiencies across back-of-house. For us, it is important to deliver a 10 minute ramen. With QSR’s technology, our team is able to create, on average, a four minute ramen and overall, timings improved in the kitchen significantly by as much as 10 minutes. I know that bills across the dinner sitting close off at 7.33 minutes, lunch at 8.21 minutes, which has enabled us to set benchmarks, manage the bottom line, together with focusing the team to be even more efficient.” 

Tom Ward, Operations Director at BAO. “We wanted to gain a clearer view of our operation and greater understanding of how our kitchens were operating. Importantly, we wanted to know the experience our guests were having, particularly in terms of how long they were waiting for their food. We now have far greater visibility of what is happening in the dining room and the kitchen. The reporting with QSR’s technology has allowed me to take a deep dive into each site to give me full visibility at all times.”

Yes, as an industry, we are drowning in what feels like 99 problems. However, introducing a robust strategy based on technology, could be a hugely cost efficient solution whilst we weather this economic storm.

To find out more about the QSR Automations ConnectSmart Platform and how the technology can help to streamline and maximise efficiencies to combat the current economic climate, visit https://qsrautomations.com/ or call 020 3870 4571.