The foodservice industry is both competitive and rapidly changing, which is why many restaurant owners and operators turn to foodservice software programs to streamline operations and revolutionize their restaurant’s systems. However, the sheer amount of software solutions available can be overwhelming, making it difficult to distinguish which solution is the best one for a particular establishment. Fortunately, there are extensive guides like this one that offer insights into understanding and evaluating foodservice software.
Brizo’s foodservice market intelligence provides in-depth data and unique fields dedicated to the food service industry. This enables operators to make highly-targeted investigations into the foodservice world and to uncover valuable insights they can use to direct their market efforts. To educate those in the food and beverage industry, this guide covers evaluating foodservice software programs, sales prospecting, leveraging marketing strategies, expansion opportunities, and data enrichment to revamp your systems.
Evaluating Foodservice Software
When evaluating foodservice software programs, there are a few factors to consider. Firstly, guaranteeing the software is compatible with currently utilized systems is fundamental to the purchasing process. Upgrading or migrating existing software can cost both time and money. Therefore, operators must be sure software is compatible with their existing processes and systems before they invest in the program.
The next factor to consider when evaluating foodservice software is cost. Programs can vary drastically in cost, depending on the supplier and the services included. An all-inclusive program may offer more comprehensive services, while one with a la carte services may require additional investments. Thus, operators must weigh their budget against their needs to figure out which option suits their unique operation.
Finally, operators should also consider the customer service and technical support available for the software. Any foodservice software program should have customer support services available twenty-four hours a day, seven days of the week, to ensure smooth operations and help troubleshoot any technical issues the program may be experiencing. Moreover, operators must make sure that the customer service staff is both knowledgeable and responsive. Quality customer service and tech support are essential components of any foodservice program because they ensure peace of mind and an overall smoother experience.
Sales Prospecting
With foodservice market intelligence, owners and operators can leverage sales prospecting to capitalize upon opportunities in the market. Visitors to their restaurant can be tracked alongside online marketing efforts to give owners and operators a better understanding of their market share and market reach. Moreover, customers’ data, such as purchase history and menu preferences, can be analyzed to help restaurants develop highly-targeted sales prospects and flexibly upsell their own menus. This in-depth knowledge can be used to shape menus, build more customer loyalty and gain additional brand recognition.
Marketing to the Foodservice Market
Foodservice market intelligence enables restaurants to develop strategies to enhance their digital marketing efforts. Popular items, dietary concerns and customer ratings are all valuable metrics that help map out marketing campaigns and find restaurants’ most loyal customers. Moreover, restaurants can leverage personalization techniques to cultivate brand allegiances and create better customer experiences at their establishments. Market intelligence can also be used to develop promotional tactics and drive traffic to an establishment’s website and social media accounts.
Find Kitchens & Expand Operations
Market intelligence can also be utilized to streamline production, increase production speed, and strategically expand an operation. With the data collected, restaurants can innovate production processes to improve quality and efficiency, while helping expand into new markets more strategically. By leveraging data, restaurants can identify which areas are the likeliest to favor expanded operations, reducing the risk associated with expanding.
Data Enrichment
Data enrichment offers extensive market insights to equip systems with more comprehensive market data. Having access to reliable data helps owners and operators make decisions with more confidence and certainty. Foodservice market intelligence can also be used to track key performance indicators (KPIs) concerning customer service, local competitors, and macro-trends in the sector to improve overall performance.
In summary, foodservice software provides a myriad of features to help manage operations and attract customers. Evaluating different software solutions while keeping in mind budget, compatibility and customer support are essential components of purchasing the right software for the job. Additionally, leveraging market insights for sales prospecting, marketing, kitchen expansion, and data enrichment help create a successful foodservice establishment.
