Computers have revolutionized the food and beverage industry because they have almost all other industries. Computers have a positive, measurable impact on the front end and back end of the hotel business. Computer systems improve employee performance, food and beverage quality and consistency. In the food and beverage industry, there is no longer a question of whether technology should be used, but which technology is used? In the food and beverage business, computers are here.
In the hospitality industry, customer service is an absolute key to success. Computers are helping the field in a variety of ways. In many restaurants, waiters can handle all forms of payment on the guest's desk so that guests can leave directly from their table without having to stay at the centralized checkout station. This eliminates long ugly lines that can upset customers and disrupt traffic to the food and beverage business. Such services can be implemented by small handheld computers that process credit card transactions using wireless technology, or by remote point-of-sale systems that interact with a central computer system. This improves the customer's dining experience, which should be the goal of any catering service business.
The key management issue for any food and beverage business is profitability. In this important business area, computers have also proven to be indispensable tools. The computer system helps manage the entire food service process, from the ingredients required to order production menu items, to the number of items that are predicted for each meal period based on historical patterns. This helps to reduce wasted food, which is very expensive and benefits from corporate profits. It also helps to prepare menu items in advance, reducing customer wait times. Computers can also predict the expected volume of traffic with high accuracy, enabling managers to properly serve their business. This is crucial because too many employees at hand may consume unnecessary wages, and not having enough employees at hand can cause customer service problems.
Some food and beverage companies also use computers in very innovative ways. For example, the Darden restaurant, which owns and operates red lobster and olive grove chains, uses computers to help select new construction sites. This computer system uses a software program called Darden Site Analyzer. The software is used to select key information needed for the site, such as demographics, distance to other restaurants, and customer information specific to the Darden business model. The program then analyzes the site and provides a series of reports to help Darden make the final decision. Dalton plans to improve the software to assess whether some new Darden restaurants will have a negative impact on other Darden restaurants in the same area.
Computer systems have become an important part of every aspect of the food and beverage industry, helping with purchasing decisions, inventory control, employee scheduling and training, and customer acquisition and retention. A key indicator of this growth trend is that many hotel training programs now include computer and technology courses in the course.
Every year, innovators are creating more unique ways to leverage technology to enhance the overall business dining experience. Computers make home dining a more enjoyable experience for consumers and bring a more profitable and manageable experience to business managers and owners.
[c] In 2006, Marcus Barber
Orignal From: Advantages of computers in the food and beverage industry
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