Whether you’ve been in the restaurant industry for years or are just joining the market now, it’s easy to see the value in investing in state-of-the-art restaurant technology that can keep up with the modern demands of the job. Nowadays restaurants are expected to have Point of Sale devices that are mobile, capable of handling near-field communication transactions, offer self-service options, and more.
Cutting-edge technology has the potential to make operations run smoother than ever, but the transition to an upgraded system can be bumpy. Making sure your staff is on board and well-trained on your new devices is critical to their success. Here are five ways to make sure your workforce masterfully integrates your new system into their daily routines from the get-go.
1. Break the News Early
Looping in your staff is the first thing to do after you decide to upgrade the system that your entire restaurant runs on. Before you start shopping around, hold a staff meeting to notify them about this momentous decision. Be honest and transparent in your communications and get their opinions on what they want out of a new Point of Sale; they’re going to use it the most often and will thus have a better understanding of their own needs and expectations. Together you can make a list of features to prioritize or avoid, which makes your staff feel included and your decision easier to make.
2. Train Smarter, Not Harder
Develop a streamlined training plan in preparation for holding a mass orientation regarding the new products. A clear demonstration and explanation of how each device works will help your staff to succeed; it also saves time in the future and reduces clunky, time-consuming, on-the-job troubleshooting when you inevitably onboard new recruits later on. Especially in an industry with such high employee turnover rates, you’ll want to make sure that learning this new interface is a breeze.
3. Ease Into Change
Newness can be hard to handle. Your staff doesn’t have the same background you do on what these new features do, and they likely don’t have a clear vision of how this software and hardware work together to support the bigger picture of your operation. Explain to them exactly how all of these different capabilities connect to their job and the profitability of the restaurant as a whole, and then start them off small: For example, if you’re changing from one touchscreen PoS vendor to another, you might begin what they already know and then graduate to improved aspects of the interface or new features that they haven’t yet seen.
Like anyone, your staff is going to be most motivated by direct benefits. To get them on board the fastest, demonstrate how the new software will improve table turns, decrease how often they need to go back and forth to the kitchen or Point of Sale terminal, and raise their average amount of tips. This is sure to get employees eager to play with their new devices.
4. Test the Waters
Don’t throw your employees straight into the deep end of the pool: Walk them through the new Point of Sale and then have them do test runs to make sure they really have a mastery over the products before you send them out to the floor to help out customers. It’s always good to have practice: Make sure your employees are masters at processing sales, splitting checks, creating guest profiles on the fly, and generally handling all of the features most relevant to superior customer service. Your Point of Sale should better the customer experience, for example through automatic upselling prompts, so your staff members should know how to smoothly integrate their tablets’ suggestions into their ordinary routines.
5. Get Feedback
The best way to know if your current training program is working is simply to ask. Bring employees together regularly after going live so they have a safe space to voice questions and concerns without too much hassle. Check in to see how well the new system is actually working and then take steps to correct any hiccups.
Oftentimes it helps to identify skilled workers who pick up on how to use these devices quickly, especially those workers that have a good rapport with the rest of the staff. They can act as support during the transition period so managers don’t have to field every question that comes up. It’s also good to recognize natural leaders for their hard work, perhaps by offering a sales reward to incentivize your workers to dive in and become masters of the new system.
When learning a new PoS, it’s useful to have a reference to fall back on. Training manuals, orientation, and an intuitive Point of Sale whose dashboard is easy to learn are a must-have for restaurateurs trying to make their businesses more efficient. Cutting-edge technology is optional anymore, but it can get costly, so make sure that you’re getting the best return on your investment by teaching your employees to optimize sales the way these devices are intended.
Most likely, as an owner, you’re learning the new system while teaching it to the staff, and even if you’re already well-versed in cutting-edge restaurant technology, you can’t be around to troubleshoot mishaps twenty-four seven. Choose a vendor who offers good tech support for free, who’s available around the clock via phone or online chat so the transition is even more seamless. Managers are busy, and anyway it’s good for the vendor to know what about their software is giving clients trouble.
The future of foodservice technology is already here. Get your staff trained and ready for it with these five simple steps, and if you’re looking for a superior Point of Sale, schedule a demo with eatOS today.
