The cost of manual workload: Why automation is key to hospitality success

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Inventory management, reporting, scheduling, stock take and more – these repetitive and time-consuming tasks have long been a sticking point for hospitality businesses, with employees having to spend many hours carrying out manual jobs instead of focusing on customer service.

And now, new research has found that 35% of hospitality employees are spending a huge 6-9 hours per week on manual work that could be automated, totalling almost 49 working days lost each year. What’s more, a further 14% are spending up to 14 hours a week on these tasks, costing businesses up to 78 working days per year.

These latest figures from BRITA Professional demonstrate just how much the industry could still benefit from automation and the adoption of specialist technology. From automated payments and stock management to data-led reporting and decision-making, businesses must implement software to optimise operations and reduce these hours being lost to manual tasks.

So, where to start? Here we share ways in which hospitality software can help businesses to claw back that precious time.

#1. Inventory management

Having consistent insight into stock levels is the key to successful operations, helping business owners to keep on top of sales, profits, losses and wastage.

But stock takes are often the most time-intensive and laborious part of working in hospitality, with checks on all stores, fridges, freezers, bars and cellars taking staff hours each week.

By automating stock takes with inventory management software like Kitchen CUT, key decision makers can have full visibility of all their stock, all the time. Live data can be accessed on multiple mobile devices, giving staff the ability to easily track usage, consumption and waste, identify what sells and see what items are depleted across all stores, across numerous sites.

By linking inventory systems to POS software, businesses can automate stock depletion in relation to live sales, to reduce human error and provide accurate data for a more efficient procurement process.

#2. Payment automation

From requisition to final payment, a Purchase-to-Pay (P2P) system is another way hospitality business owners can significantly reduce time spent on manual tasks. By automating purchase orders, routing approvals, matching invoices, and processing payments, staff have more time to focus on providing an excellent customer experience.

Reducing manual entry not only speeds up the payment process, but it minimises errors, enabling businesses to run more efficiently, whilst significantly saving on labour costs.

Automated P2P systems create visibility and control over spending, whilst giving finance teams instant access to purchasing data, allowing them to track budgets, monitor vendor performance and identify areas to make cost savings, by using accurate reporting systems.

#3. Procurement solutions

Managing different suppliers from different platforms using manual orders can be time consuming and inefficient for many businesses. By linking inventory data and POS systems with procurement capabilities using Kitchen CUT software, kitchen staff can see what they need to order, how much and who from, and submit purchase orders with one tap.

Kitchen CUT’s software enables multiple members of staff to accurately track and trace stock, substitute items as needed, compare costs, drill down into inventory details and place orders across multiple locations, from multiple devices. Smart software then simplifies these requests into one single order per supplier, improving vendor relationships and creating a more streamlined process from start to finish.

#4. Business insights and reporting

Let your staff focus on producing great food and delivering great service, backed by accurate data-led decisions, to drive tangible growth.

In a busy hospitality setting, staff want insights into what sells and what doesn’t, what processes are working, and which are ineffective. With accurate forecasting from Kitchen CUT, hospitality businesses have visibility over every aspect of their operations, in real time.

From live recipe costing to drinks sales figures, every member of your team can use data to cut admin and make smart decisions, to drive sales and boost profits.

Forecast for future events based on previous footfall numbers and create menus full of dishes that have been proven to create revenue. Businesses can reduce food waste by accurately calculating wastage and CO2 emissions, to demonstrate a commitment to sustainable practices and strengthen reputation with environmentally conscious consumers.

As more and more businesses incorporate software and AI technology into their operations, employees will undoubtedly feel the wide-ranging benefits of automation, as solutions like Kitchen CUT help cut time spent on manual tasks and provide staff with more opportunity to do what they do best.

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