Restaurant Food Inventory Management System

Although it may not be the most attractive aspect of running a restaurant, inventory management is essential to maintaining a successful company. Mismanaged expenditures are the main reason why restaurants fail, and managing your inventory is the first step in managing your revenue. Inventory control is an important aspect of restaurant management. Service is kept operating smoothly by managing food inventories properly, but failing to do so might have an impact on finances. 

What is a restaurant food inventory management system?

The process of assessing your food supply, making the most of what you have, and using this knowledge to guide your further purchases is known as restaurant inventory management.

Systems for managing restaurant inventory are crucial tools that can help you cut costs and food waste while also increasing earnings.

How do restaurants inventory keep their stock levels up?

Keeping track of raw and processed items helps restaurants manage their inventories, plan their purchases, understand their food costs, and prevent material waste.

While some restaurants continue to use the antiquated pen and paper method, digital techniques have gained popularity.

The two most widely used inventory management techniques are:

  1. Better known as par inventory sheets, spreadsheets
  2. Automatic inventory control 

The advantages of clever inventory management for restaurants

  • More and more restaurants are using technology to monitor their expenses. 
  • A cloud-based inventory management solution can help you save money.
  • You must carefully choose your inventory management system, just as you must take into account a number of aspects when selecting a platform on which to develop a website.
  • Due to the expectation that paying customers will receive the greatest value for their money, inventory management is essential to increase your restaurant’s sales. 
  • While selecting an inventory management platform, consider what you want to achieve, and balance the advantages and disadvantages.

Here are some of the amazing benefits of good inventory management:

  • Monitoring resources
  • Organized and in control of the stock
  • Supply evaluation
  • Improved forecasting
  • An increase in income and sales
  • Submitting waste and loss reports
  • Labor costs

Best strategies for managing restaurant inventory to boost sales and profits

  • Utilize POS software to automate your process. Eliminating the need to hire additional staff to handle inventory management can automate and streamline many of your procedures, using sophisticated restaurant POS software 
  • Educate your staff. Teach your workers how to operate the automated system so that anyone can assist if needed and it can be used effectively.
  • Decide on a storage cap. To keep stock fresh and edible, determine the maximum and lowest storage levels for specific products at your restaurant.
  • Provide appropriate access to your data. For each member of your team, you may set up a unique login, limiting their access to the information required for their specific roles.
  • Check the inventory frequently. To avoid interfering with the ongoing process or item usage, try implementing a cycle count into your daily inventory procedure. 
  • Track requests for inventory. Set up your procedure so that you get a request each time one of your staff members requests to utilize a specific item.
  • Move the things. If you own a chain of restaurants, think about transferring some unsold inventory to locations where it is used more frequently. 
  • Have an extra inventory. Maintain an emergency supply of regularly purchased things, but place a limit on this so the stock doesn’t become out of control.
  • Keep a look out for seasonal or changing menus. According to considerations like changing seasons, change your inventory to reflect the menu offerings.

Why use restaurant inventory software?

Management of restaurant inventories is a loss-prevention strategy. In other words, you can be losing some of your profit if you’re not completely tracking your food inventory. Knowing what materials arrive at your restaurant, what leaves the kitchen, and what is left over allows you to keep track of your inventory.

Profits are reduced when inventory is poorly managed. Having only what is necessary and reducing needless spending and food waste should be your priorities. As a result, this will also support your company’s profit margins.

Additionally, you may monitor the stock of goods, such as personalized items, using your inventory software.

What characteristics does software for restaurant inventory need?

  • Manage every vendor relationship in one location.
  • Receive continuous inventory updates.
  • Make prompt, accurate financial reporting
  • Items should be moved to fit location needs.
  • Adapt to choices for the warehouse and commissary

Common Problems in Restaurant Inventory Management

Not Enough Efficiency

While it may seem like the simpler solution to maintain your restaurant inventory using Excel sheets and manual registers, you are actually adding to your burden and increasing the likelihood of mistakes. Manual tracking requires a lot of time and decreases productivity.

Unmaintained recipes

A mismatch of the stock frequently comes from a lack of recipe management. Food and beverage managers typically draw a connection between thefts and stock discrepancies, which are frequently caused by over-portioning or food waste.

Untrained Crew

Even while automated stock and inventory management systems largely eliminate the need for manual intervention, you still need to have a dedicated and trained workforce for doing routine checks. There should be a group that compares the optimal stock to the whole stock that is available.

Zero reporting

One of the most important components of keeping a good inventory is tracking and reporting. Overconsumption and waste occur frequently when restaurant inventory records are not closely watched.

Lack of Stock Prediction

Even the best organizations might experience revenue losses due to inaccurate demand forecasting or a lack of forecasting. Forecasting is vital since you don’t want to either understock the inventory of food and drink goods and run the danger of them going bad or overstock it and run out of supplies to offer your clients.

Looking for a company to build inventory management software?

At SMB Solution e would be pleased to assist you with our stunning restaurant inventory management system “RestoPOS” if you’ve made the decision to ditch spreadsheets. Ask us anytime if you have any questions about how to set up an inventory system. We would be happy to help you. 

By alpana j 0 Comments

Benefits of In-House Online Food Ordering System for Restaurants and Cafe

The convenience of being able to order food online, from the comfort of our homes is undeniable. Even before the pandemic struck and forced us to resort to our homes and tend to our works through the internet, the concept of taking most of our day to day tasks online was commended by everyone. The onset of the pandemic only solidified its existence.

Nowadays, the online ordering system is the backbone for most restaurants, which makes for an argument for the benefits of in-house online ordering systems. An in-house ordering system is when restaurants use their own online ordering software to process orders instead of relying on third-party aggregators. An in-house ordering system gives the restaurant full control over the entire ordering and delivery process.

Online food ordering is here to stay, which means it makes sense for restaurants to invest in an in-house ordering system and integrate it with their POS to streamline the entire process.

Here are a 5 reasons why having an in-house ordering system is better for your restaurant than relying on third-party platforms:

Online Ordering Drives More revenue To Restaurants

With online ordering, users are able to linger on the menu for as long as they want without having to worry about being hurried up by the person behind them. This independence allows them to take their time, explore all the menu options comfortably, and choose the best item according to them.

Being able to explore the menu with ease also increases the probability of customers adding extra items to their orders. Not to mention, online ordering systems are more accessible to a large number of people and the average order value of online orders are higher compared to orders done in stores, making online ordering more profitable.

Customization On The Go

Unlike delivery aggregator’s apps, having an in-house ordering system allows you to make adjustments on the go. Whether you are running low on an item or going through a rush period or not delivering to a particular area, you can update the information on your menu, add images of food you are offering, and create daily specials quickly and easily.

More Accurate Food Orders

Online ordering reduces the chances of mistakes and errors that are often prevalent with phone and in-person orders. First and foremost advantage of online ordering is that it gives the customer greater control over their choices. With more control, customers have more clarity and understanding about what they are going to order. Online ordering systems are also detailed with the menu and its consisting items so customers remain aware of exactly what they are ordering and what does the item contain. This convenience allows for better and more accurate order placing process, saving the customers as well as the restaurant from making any mistake regarding the order.

Improved Data Insight

One of the reasons Domino’s relies on an in-house ordering system is because of the important insight they get into their customers’ data. Third-party software don’t provide restaurants with complete access to customer data, making it difficult for them to do more personalized campaigns and marketing. With the ordering system incorporated in the restaurant’s POS, important customer data such as address, phone number, and order history is stored directly into the system. This allows restaurants to launch loyalty programs and gift vouchers for their loyal customers.

Customer data also allows restaurants to better understand their customers, understand what they like and dislike, get information on frequently purchased items, and watch out for their behavior to be able to provide better service.

Fast and Standardized Food Delivery Experience

Food delivery aggregators handle multiple restaurants at the same time, which often results in them not being able to conduct order taking and delivery processes in time. More often that not, these third-party service providers also fail to maintain hygiene and sophistication the likes of which are expected by your restaurant, which could potentially tarnish the restaurant’s reputation. With an in-house ordering system, restaurants can rest assured that their customers get their delivery on time and according to the restaurant’s standards.

No service fee

Most third-party aggregators charge a large sum of commission for each placed order, which can be revenue draining for restaurants. Whether it is a flat fee or a percentage of every order being placed, aggregators commission eat into the restaurant’s revenue and can be extravagant in the long run.

By opting for an in-house ordering system, restaurants can say adios to such financial worries and boost revenues and profit.

Online ordering is here to stay, especially now that we have gone through a pandemic. This means that restaurants need to amp up their services by letting go of third-party reliability and becoming a complete system on their own. As a restaurant owner, you need to make sure that your restaurant is up to date with the latest technologies and trends and is able to serve the customers in the way they have become accustomed to. It is important to let your customers experience the convenience of modern-day technology. By going with an in-house ordering system, you maintain a consistent experience across all channels, maintain the reputation of your brand, and streamline the entire ordering and delivery process.

 

By alpana j 0 Comments
Restaurant COVID-19

How Restaurants Fighting to Stay Alive in COVID-19

Managing a restaurant business and maintaining a prolific revenue out of it is quite a demanding task. The entire restaurant industry is made up of 70% of independent owners and operators, with an average restaurant annual revenue falling somewhere around $1 million and 4-5% operating profit. Not to mention, the need to maintain brand reputation, food quality, customer service, and ambience is a must for any restaurant to thrive. Add to that one of the worst pandemic the world has ever seen and the task of managing a restaurant becomes tenfold more challenging.

Unlike some other sectors where businessmen and entrepreneurs receive government aid in the times of an emergency, restaurant business owners have to address such concerns themselves while keeping the business afloat and the customers connected. 

The first priority for any restaurant owner in times like these has to be the safety of their staff and their customers. Nevertheless, putting appropriate safety measures in place is not enough. You also need to be able to get proactive and inventive in order to keep your restaurant up and running, especially in the current scenario of low to none dine-in business.

In this article, we will share a few tips to help you fight the pandemic and keep your restaurant business vigilant. Let’s take a look:

Take Restaurant Business Online

If you have not brought your business online already, the covid situation has probably come as a sign of times to you. Whether your restaurant premises are closed down or partially operational, with online delivery you will be able to reach all of your customers and that too in a more convenient manner. Set up an online food ordering system and delivery on your website or build an app for it and let your customers know that you are taking orders online and making home deliveries. 

Make sure to practice hygienic food preparation processes and let your customers know that your food is 100% safe. If the pandemic has taken a toll on your staff or is keeping your restaurant from working at its full potential, you can also revamp the menu and sell only the best selling items. Avoid taking orders for items that customers do not order regularly and focus on the ones that are customer favorites. 

Most importantly, inform your customers that you are up and running, can take orders online and make home deliveries. Moreover, you will also have to tell your customers about the safety measures you are taking and how every order is helping you keep the restaurant afloat. 

Make Restaurant a Safe Spot for Eating

The first and foremost thing to do in your fight against the Coronavirus is to keep your restaurant as clean as possible. All the governments around the world have issued various safety measures that restaurants need to follow in order to remain open. Make sure you are following those safety guides. 

Moreover, as additional measures, keep cleaning the surfaces that are most likely to come in contact with customers, staff, delivery persons, or other people. Provide your team with anti-bacterial gloves, masks, and pocket sanitizers. However, don’t just keep your restaurant clean, communicate the cleanliness of your restaurant to your customers as well. 

Leave a hint of disinfectant in the air, make it a habit to clean the tables and chairs every time a customer leaves, put up signage informing customers about your practices of safekeeping and sanitizing. 

If you are not able to keep up with the safety measures, however, consider closing down the premises and continue delivering online.

Equip Drivers With Proper Information

The delivery executives are an extension of your restaurant, which means you are responsible for their safety and protection from the virus. Keep your delivery executives well-informed on the pandemic and its spread. Outline delivery instructions every time a customer places an online order so the executives have the information in their mind all the time. 

Contact-less delivery is the new norm in the online delivery system. Get your delivery executives informed on how they should go on about delivering the orders without coming in contact with the customers. If possible, do a workshop on all the measures that delivery executives should take while delivering the order. 

Again, you will have to highlight the safety measures you have your delivery executives taking through your social media platforms or your website. The key is to let the customers know of whatever steps you are taking to keep the virus at bay and deliver safe and hygienic food. 

If you are doing an in-house delivery system, equip your executives with masks, gloves, and hand sanitizers among other essentials. 

Focus on Your Social Audience

Since the pandemic has most people working from home, not only is an online ordering system necessary for restaurants but so is an interactive social media platform. Moreover, with the business being down than usual, you also get some extra time to invest in your restaurant’s social media platforms and expand its reach. 

Use you social media wisely to let your customers know about how you are taking essential steps to ensure safe food delivery as well as to connect and interact with more customers. Make it a goal to reach a certain number of followers on your socials. Use high-quality photos, proper hashtags, interesting captions, and interactive posts to grow the reach of your socials. 

Once you have reached a certain number of followers, you can use your social media to promote items, inform on the measures you are taking to ward off coronavirus, let your customers know that you care about their health, and engage with customers to take their suggestions and feedback. A well-maintained social media handle will help your restaurant to rise among the peers as a more viable and safer option for eating out or ordering in.

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ERPNext for All Industries

SMB SOLUTIONS have made ERPNext from Generic to business specific ERP.

ERpNext for Saloons, where we added Appointment Management, Attendee Management, Promo code, Voucher code options, Users can buy service packages credits in bulk and redeem it.

ERPNext for Restaurants, With introduction to Restaurant POS, KOT, Digital Menu Ordering System (Mobile App to view Menu & place orders by Users/Waiters). It can handle multiple outlets with same/different menu (Companies owing multiple franchisees or restaurant concep) and all can be managed with single ERPNext interface.

ERPNext for Retail , To manage multiple outlets & stores, with heavy transaction, we introduced nextopos for ERPNext, a POS system capable of scaling up and handling multiple outlets with same/different items or multiple franchisees.

ERPNext for Logistics/ Delivery Management Solution, It helps to monitor drivers, their deliveries and tasks assigned to them.

Helps to track cash collections/ Cash handover and is all integrated with ERPnext to manage accounting & HR.

Also Sales Invoice for particular client can be initiated depending on the orders dome for a particular period by the drivers.

ERPNext for Property Management, It helps to manager Landlords and Tenants.

Landlord can manage their properties for rent and get online payment for rents and maintenance.

Tenants will have platform to view and apply for property for rent and pay rents, request for Maintenance.

ERPNext for Clinic Management, Hospital/Clinic Management System is powerful, flexible, and easy to use platform. The system has multiple user access control for all system modules. Chikitsa enables you to develop your organization and improve its effectiveness and quality of work.

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