The restaurant industry is undergoing a massive digital transformation. This transformation, which is applicable to every industry on the planet, provides opportunities to grow businesses, reduce risk, and provide better customer service. Digital kitchens and technology-driven decision-making are revolutionizing how managers handle surges in demand, changing guest preferences, such as contactless internet ordering, and the ability to apply data in the food service business. To make the most of digital food kitchens, foodservice executives must first understand what they are and a few of the key benefits of implementing digital kitchens.
DIGITAL KITCHENS VERSUS GHOST KITCHENS
Many restaurateurs confuse ghost kitchens and digital food kitchens because they are such new concepts. Ghost kitchens, according to Shamontiel L. Vaughn in a Medium post, do not have traditional staff and do not apply to a single restaurant. “Chicago is one of many cities where ghost kitchens are appearing. Vedgee will take your order for an Impossible veggie burger. According to Google Maps, this address corresponds to the Star Grill restaurant. Yelp confirms the closure of Star Grill. Drive by the restaurant and you’ll notice a Nikos Grill sign. There are only two people inside: the cook who is preparing food and the cashier who is taking orders. With only a few seats in the front and no tables, customers can sample 11 different menus from Dine Hive (the ghost kitchen’s name).”
READ ALSO: Laura’s Kitchen: Laura Ikeji-Kanu’s cooking show is here
Digital kitchens, on the other hand, may exist in traditional restaurants, university dining halls, and entertainment venues. Digital kitchens are ones that use technology to work smarter, not harder, such as mobile order-ahead applications and websites, third-party delivery, or kiosks. As digital kitchens that use technology for their operations gain efficiencies, they are able to focus more on the customer.
CLOUD CAPABILITIES AND PROACTIVE PLANNING ARE ESSENTIAL IN DIGITAL RESTAURANT KITCHENS.
Traditional equipment and integrated technologies to standardize operations are key features of a digital kitchen. The food service industry has always prioritized speed and profitability, and digital foodservice allows for both. They employ technology to reduce order errors, and linked cloud systems and digital kitchens can connect, populate order details, and accept orders from outdoor kiosks, mobile devices, and servers. The concept is straightforward: greater connectivity in the realm of online ordering translates into more seamless, effortless workflows to serve more guests, more food, and provide better experiences.
ADVANTAGES OF DIGITAL FOODSERVICE KITCHENS
Digital kitchens provide additional benefits that assist restaurateurs, entertainment managers, and sports arena operators in attracting and retaining customers. Of course, such kitchens are meant to be scalable, but in the restaurant, traditional scalability came at the expense of visibility. With the rise of digital foodservice kitchens, that is no longer the case. How? Consider the following additional advantages of using digital foodservice processes:
More data is generated as a result of digital processes. Increased data generation provides insight into operations, allowing for greater efficiency.
Centralized data stores and analytics simplify reporting, which can help reduce franchisee under-reporting.
Digital kitchens can also detect market trends and refine menus to attract more customers. According to one Tacit client, “digital capabilities are associated with a 20% increase in our profitability.” It includes an increase in average check size as well as increased staff efficiency.”
PUT THE POWER OF DIGITAL KITCHENS TO USE IN YOUR BUSINESS NOW
Digital foodservice kitchens appear to be the future, and they are. Digital kitchens are the epitome of innovation in the foodservice industry, combining technology, people, software, and guided workflows to expedite and smooth restaurant management. To be successful, digital foodservice kitchens must have complete integration between existing and new systems.
READ ALSO: Best gifts, gizmos, and tech tools for kitchen nerds