7 Ways to Improve Your Restaurant Operations

Photo by Nick Karvounis on Unsplash

When visiting a restaurant, guests want to relax and take their load off. They expect fast service, a lively atmosphere, and clean premises. Unfortunately, if you don’t know how to improve your daily operations, one of these things might be lacking.

By increasing efficiency across the board, you’ll have more time to focus on areas that you’re struggling with. For example, by hiring commercial kitchen cleaning services, you’ll have more time to plan your menu and do grocery shopping. Improving efficiency will ultimately translate into higher profits and long-term business sustainability.

Out of numerous different tricks you can implement, we’ll highlight the seven that have the biggest impact. That way, you won’t have to waste resources on activities that have little to no impact on your bottom line.

1. Hand-On Management

One of the common mistakes restaurant owners make is getting sidetracked by the numerous menial tasks they face daily. Although some of these activities might seem insignificant, they’re vital for ensuring smooth operations.

Although you can teach your staff to do some of these things, it is much better that you do them yourself. In the end, your main task is to lead your team by example and provide direct feedback in a pinch. If you never wanted to do a certain job yourself, why do you think your employees would be willing to do it themselves?

2. Simplified Operations

By making mundane, daily activities more complex, you’re decreasing the odds of success while increasing time to completion. This is why you should look for ways to streamline every task possible. Ask your staff about the things they’re having the most trouble with and find ways to help them out.

It’s worth noting that each restaurant will have its own set of requirements. This can vary based on menu, location, staff availability, and so on. For example, if you’re serving seafood in a city that doesn’t have access to the sea, you need to find reliable suppliers. Be flexible when improving your operations and try different methods until you find the ones that work.

3. Staff Motivation

Motivated staff always produces better results. They’re more inclined to work as a team and provide impeccable customer service. By creating a positive work environment and introducing solid R&R policies, you’re able to boost your productivity tenfold. Furthermore, this will allow you to reduce the chance of errors.

Use different tactics, such as giving them praise and allowing them to critique the process. Although financial incentives can also work well, they don’t necessarily ensure that a person will feel happy at work. Make them feel at home, and they’ll fully invest themselves in your business.

4. Complete Organization

Being organized is another prerequisite for a highly-functioning restaurant. It provides your team with a universal workflow they can get back to when things get confusing. Proper organization is also vital for knowing the placement of your food, dishes, cookware, and utensils.

Aside from increasing productivity, having proper methodology reduces the stress for your team. It makes your employees less prone to errors, while making teamwork a breeze. You’ll minimize time waste through proper organization and allow workers to focus on things that move the needle for your business.

5. Tech Reliance

Like many other industries, the restaurant business has become increasingly reliant on advanced software. The majority of US businesses now use POS systems for processing orders. Aside from that, companies utilize website and app builders, inventory management software, menu management systems, accounting software, and other digital solutions.

Before updating your system, it is vital that you try different solutions. Most companies offer trial periods that will prevent you from overcommitting. Ideally, you should get a suite of 5 to 10 programs to have a competitive edge over other local businesses.

6. Outsourcing

Outsourcing has become more and more common in the restaurant business. Many companies outsource secondary services, such as kitchen and restaurant cleaning, while focusing on cooking and serving.

With this concept, you’re able to delegate tasks and get assistance from experts. Instead of forcing your team to mop the floors at the end of the shift, you can simply hire someone who’s good at it. That way, not only will you alleviate the burden from their shoulders, but you’ll also achieve much better results.

7. Introduce Training

Your staff will only be as efficient as their training allows them. If they lack training and experience, they’ll be more likely to make blunders such as mixing up orders or undercooking food.

While training might cost you extra, it is vital when onboarding new staff. By hiring a lot of newbies and providing in-house training, you’ll get a cheaper staff with good enough skills to avoid operational disruptions. Training can also help veterans by introducing them to the latest cooking techniques.

Conclusion

If you wish to set a strong foundation for your restaurant, you should follow the tips in this article. Invest heavily in staff training and streamline repetitive tasks. Create a workflow that will help them deal with various situations and buy software that makes their lives easier.