Alright, you've made the first big step and started using an e-commerce platform to place orders with your suppliers. E-commerce platforms are a great solution to streamlining your ordering process. Here are 5 top tips to leveraging their full potential for your restaurant:
Tip 1: Understand your e-commerce platform's features
Most modern e-commerce platforms come packed to the brim with features designed specifically to make your life easier. It0 simplifies ordering, yes. But it can do even more. Some of the most common, and extremely useful features are:
- Real-time inventory tracking: This allows restaurants to view live updates on stock levels from their suppliers. With real-time inventory, you know exactly when to place your orders so that you never run out of all the essential ingredients in your kitchen.
- Automated reordering: With pre-defined criteria, you can simply automate ordering so that you don't even have to think about it. This can save time, reduce the possibility of forgetting to place an order and you always have the most frequently ordered items in stock without needing to intervene manually.
- Advanced search and filtering: This feature gives you the ability to quickly locate products using search filters like categories, brands and price ranges. You don't have to trudge through thick catalog books from your distributor, you just type in what you need. With fuzzy search capabilities, it doesn't even matter if you make a typo, the platform knows what you meant.
- Order tracking and updates: This allows you to monitor the status of your order in real time, from placement to delivery. No longer having to crack your head about whether you placed the order or not, or about when the delivery truck will come in.
These are just a few features, but your e-commerce provider should be able to tell you all the features that their platform offers.
Tip 2: Train your staff
This may sound obvious, but staff who know how to use the e-commerce platform effectively are going to be the champions of institutionalizing online ordering at your restaurant.
When onboarding your restaurant onto the e-commerce platform, your provider is going to be the best source to help you train your staff. They can help your staff understand all the features so they are able to make maximum use of the platform.
Once your staff are trained, you can work with them to develop a few simple Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for using the e-commerce platform. This can be SOPs on placing orders, managing inventory, handling returns and resolving common issues. SOPs are great because it ensures consistency and accuracy and helps new employees acclimatize.
While many modern e-commerce platforms available are designed very intuitively, and are very easy to use, you can offer your staff ongoing support and resources to ensure everyone is getting the help they need to adapt to the new e-commerce platform. A part of this process is also encouraging constant feedback, monitoring performance and providing refresher trainings.
Additionally, with features like order drafts, which allow you to save drafts of orders as you go, your back-of-house staff can easily collaborate on filling up the order before sending it off.
Tip 3: Keep your order guides up-to-date
Regularly updated order guides make it easier to place orders quickly and efficiently by providing a pre-approved list of items. With a current order guide, staff can swiftly select and reorder frequently used products without the need to search through extensive product catalogs.
Accurate order guides prevent mistakes in ordering, such as selecting outdated or incorrect items, which can lead to stock-outs or overstocking. This precision helps in maintaining a consistent supply of necessary items and reducing the likelihood of order errors.
As your menu evolves or your inventory needs change, your order guide should be adjusted to reflect these updates. Updated order guides include the latest information on preferred suppliers, including contact details and delivery preferences. This makes it much easier to onboard new staff as well.
Tip 4: Have clear communications channels with distributors
The latest Foodservice e-commerce platforms come equipped with chat features, voice-to-text features, order notes and in-app calls to make communicating with your distributor seamless.
With these features, which centralizes communications and maintains a history of your communications, you can easily avoid misunderstandings and ensure accurate orders and deliveries.
You can identify and establish specific contact points for different types of inquiries or issues, such as order placement, delivery concerns, or product quality. This ensures that inquiries are directed to the appropriate person or department, leading to faster and more efficient resolution of issues. It also prevents confusion and miscommunication by providing a structured approach to handling various types of communication.
Tip 5: Integrate with your POS system
Integrating your e-commerce platform with your POS system allows for automatic data synchronization which can help maintain up-to-date inventory levels based on sales and orders. With your two systems up to date in real time, there is limited chance of discrepancies, which makes it seamless.
By reducing the need for duplicate data entry and manual reconciliations, your staff have more time on their hands to focus more on customer service and operational tasks, leading to a boost in over productivity and efficiency in your daily operations.
Integration also supports scalability and flexibility by allowing you to easily adapt to changes in your restaurant, such as adding new products or expanding to new locations. Your e-commerce platform simplifies the process of expanding operations and ensures that your systems can handle increased volume and complexity.
Conclusion
By thoroughly understanding your platform’s features, you can take full advantage of the system to benefit your restaurant.
Prioritizing these strategies not only optimizes your ordering process but also enhances your overall operational effectiveness. As your restaurant adapts to the changing demands of the foodservice industry, a well-managed and integrated ordering system will support your growth and success. Make use of these tips to create a more agile, responsive, and successful restaurant operation.
