1851

You have two major &#8220;cost centers&#8221; at your restaurant. One is food and beverage. The other is labor. Which one do you think is most problematic? For most restaurants, the answer is labor. Between higher wages and new labor regulations, restaurants are facing a labor crisis&#8212;and their existing, outdated processes are only making the problem worse. Fortunately, a restaurant can increase productivity through better training, better kitchen and dining layouts, and, most importantly, better technology. Here are three ways to make your kitchen work smarter&#8212;not harder. Make Your Kitchen Appliances Smarter It&#8217;s important to make formerly &#8220;dumb&#8221; objects &#8220;smart.&#8221; This is usually accomplished by placing a sensor on the object to collect and transmit data. These days, a lot of new kitchen technology already comes equipped with such technology&#8212;such as refrigeration, lighting, HVAC, fryers. As more devices come online, restaurants can monitor the kitchen via a command center platform to keep track of more in depth information on the status of their equipment, their inventory and their cooking process. Yum! Brands, for example, uses Kitchen Brains&#8217; Quality Production Management application to automate and streamline food production in its KFC restaurants. The system wirelessly networks the company&#8217;s cooking appliances, automates food production and provides real-time remote monitoring and administration. This has improved labor productivity and food availability and quality, while also increasing sales and lowering costs. Many are predicting that by 2020, the connected kitchen will contribute to at least 15 percent savings in the food and beverage industry. Many of these wins will come from the ability to leverage big data analytics to perform tasks such as real-time inventory management of menu items. Find appliances that do the cooking for you Many cooking procedures can be reduced to touch-panel presses. Combining steam and convection cooking, &#8220;combi-ovens,&#8221; for example, can duplicate just about any cooking procedure while shaving off up to half the time. For example, many fried chicken chains have adopted combi-ovens to replace deep frying. First seen in European commercial kitchens, which tend to be smaller, they&#8217;re now found in most new restaurant construction and most culinary schools. Fryers are also working faster through quicker recovery times, allowing cooks to throw in one frozen batch after another. Other kinds of rapid-cook ovens have also found their way into more American restaurant kitchens. They have made it possible for rushed customers to enjoy customized pizzas, and other items like pastries are now able to be completed in minutes. In one Seattle property owned by James Beard Award-winning <a href="http://nrn.com/menu/chef-insights?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=this-technology-can-make-your-kitchen-work-smarter-not-harder-5284" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">chef</a> and restaurateur Tom Douglas, famous for its pot pies, a ventless fast-baking oven browns the pie through convection and is then warmed via the microwave. Automate the Ordering Process In 2015, McDonald&#8217;s was among the first to roll out self-service kiosks in restaurants across the U.S. This allowed customers to order and pay for their food without ever having to interact with a human. The touch-screen technology is meant to speed up the ordering process and give people more control over customizing their food, while reducing opportunities for human error. Panera Bread did something similar. In 2014, the chain <a href="http://www.fastcasual.com/articles/review-what-operators-can-learn-from-panera-20/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=this-technology-can-make-your-kitchen-work-smarter-not-harder-5284" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">launched Panera 2.0</a>, which was designed to implement mobile ordering and self-ordering kiosks. The company has since reported an increase in sales by 6.2 percent. While kiosks will never truly replace the need for employees, they could, however allow operators to move some workers away from the cash register and into the kitchen to help speed up customer service and better handle traffic during busy times of the day.

1851 Franchise

By implementing better technology into the kitchen, restaurants can cut back on labor costs and increase their bottom line. 


This brand page has been paid for by 1851. Content within this page that is paid will showcase a Sponsored icon. This means the brand has engaged 1851 FRANCHISE to write the content. Content without the Sponsored Icon is aggregated media placements the brand earned. Questions can be sent to editorial@1851franchise.com

This Technology Can Make Your Kitchen Work Smarter, Not Harder

this-technology-can-make-your-kitchen-work-smarter-not-harder

Onigilly Japanese Kitchen

Unlocking the Potential: How Much Can You Earn as an Onigilly Franchisee?

unlocking-the-potential-how-much-can-you-earn-as-an-onigilly-franchisee

Filta Environmental Kitchen Solutions

DeWitts Ignite New Chapter for Filta Environmental Kitchen Solutions in Reno 

Grease, Grit, and Growth: DeWitts Ignite New Chapter for Filta Environmental Kitchen Solutions in Reno, Nevada

grease-grit-and-growth-dewitts-ignite-new-chapter-for-filta-environmental-kitchen-solutions-in-reno-nevada

Layne's Chicken Fingers

Layne's Chicken Fingers-50 Unit-Wendy's-Franchisee-June-2025

Why This 50 Unit Wendy’s Franchisee Is Betting on Layne’s for His Next Big Move

wendys-franchisee-expands-with-laynes-chicken-fingers-texas

CapitalSpring

CapitalSpring’s Jim Balis Talks Growth, ROI and the Future of Fast Casual on “Rock My Restaurant”

capitalsprings-jim-balis-talks-growth-roi-and-the-future-of-fast-casual-on-rock-my-restaurant

Children's Lighthouse

Children’s Lighthouse Ramps Up Growth in First Half of 2025 With Strategic Expansions, Franchise Signings, and New Headquarters

childrens-lighthouse-ramps-up-growth-in-first-half-of-2025-with-strategic-expansions-franchise-signings-and-new-headquarters

Buying a Franchise Masterclass

 Franchise Opportunities

Get Support Buying a Franchise

How to Buy a Franchise White Paper

How to Buy a Franchise

How to Sell Franchises

How to Grow a Franchise

Find a Franchise Supplier

1851 Franchise Opportunities

Franchisor News

Franchisor Power Rankings

FranCamp Mastermind Summit

Franchise Development Website Builder

Franchise Resources

What ALEC-Laffer's Report Means for Franchising

Website Awards

Power Rankings

About 1851

Advertise on 1851

Contact 1851 Editorial

Terms of Use

1851 Login

GROWTH CLUB LOGIN

facebook

instagram

twitter

linkedin

youtube

What June’s Jobs Report Means for the Franchise Industry

what-junes-jobs-report-means-for-the-franchise-industry

Drone Delivery Takes Flight in QSR: The Future of Franchise Operations?

drone-delivery-takes-flight-in-qsr-the-future-of-franchise-operations

Chick-fil-A Tops Customer Satisfaction Rankings for 11th Year as Challenger Brands Gain Ground

chick-fil-a-tops-customer-satisfaction-rankings-for-11th-year-as-challenger-brands-gain-ground

Technomic Releases Annual Ranking of the Top 15 Fast-Food Chains in the U.S.

technomic-releases-annual-ranking-of-the-top-15-fast-food-chains-in-the-us

Rising Jobless Claims Could Signal Challenges — and Opportunities — for Franchising

rising-jobless-claims-affect-franchising

Hooters Leans Into Franchising With Closure of 30 Company-Owned Stores - Agg - 1851 Franchise

Hooters Leans Into Franchising With Closure of 30 Company-Owned Stores

hooters-franchise-model-company-owned-closures

The Ultimate Guide to Selling Franchises: How To Create a Strong Incentive

how-to-build-strong-incentives-to-attract-prospective-franchisees

How Vishal Juneja Turned a Family Tradition Into a Paris Baguette Franchise

How Vishal Juneja Turned a Family Tradition Into a Paris Baguette Franchise Built on Heart and Community

paris-baguette-franchise-rockaway-new-jersey-vishal-junjea

Top 25 Franchise Marketing Leaders: Kelsey McManemin — Vice President of Marketing, HTeaO

top-25-franchise-marketing-leaders-kelsey-mcmanemin-vice-president-of-marketing-hteao

How This Franchise Consultant Turned a Love for Dogs Into a Business with Dog Training Elite

How This Franchise Consultant Turned a Lifelong Love for Dogs Into a Growing Business with Dog Training Elite

how-this-franchise-consultant-turned-a-lifelong-love-for-dogs-into-a-growing-business-with-dog-training-elite

Franchisee spotlight graphic with photo of Ricki Oberoi and Layne's Chicken Fingers logo

Multi-Unit Wendy’s Operator Signs 12-Unit Deal With Layne’s Chicken Fingers

ricki-oberoi-laynes-chicken-fingers-growth

Franchisee spotlight graphic with photos of Danielle Rosemond & Usman Khan & TruBlue logo

Family Members of Local Physicians Bring TruBlue Franchise to North Central Nassau, Long Island: A Health Care-Inspired Approach to Aging in Place

family-brings-trublue-franchise-to-north-central-nassau

This Technology Can Make Your Kitchen Work Smarter, Not Harder

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS