Whether you are a new restaurant owner or have an established, top of the shelf, joint, you cannot ignore the fact that food is not enough to bring clients and make them repeat customers.

One has to up their game to be in the food industry in a time (business) when everyone is posting glimpses of their gastronomical adventures on social media and review sites having the ability to make or break a place, not to mention the stiff competition.  

You have to create an ambience (bonus points for Instagram worthy décor) and provide an unmatched experience to woo your customer.

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As an experienced restaurateur, you might be aware of the Point-of-Sale (POS) systems that a number of eateries have adapted to.

They’re a combination of hardware (mobile, tablets) and software meant to aid seamless operations, improve sales, manage inventory and provide entertainment to waiting customers, to name a few of the system’s features.

Restaurant POS systems are a great tool to showcase the restaurant’s openness to new technology and offer an enhanced user experience. Below is a compilation of ways tableside ordering can speed up service at any eatery:

[Restaurant Hacks] 5 Ways Tableside Ordering Speeds Up Service

Quick Check-In, Reduced Order Time And Order Flexibility: A typical restaurant experience entails the customer being seated and waiting for the menus, followed by a server coming over to take orders. This entire process alone could take roughly 20 minutes (less if the customer already knows what they want) but with a mobile POS system the customer can take a quick look at the menu, order according to their convenience and provide directions if they need their food to be made a certain way

Reduced Chance Of Human Error: It is not uncommon for orders to get mixed up or sent back for not meeting the customer’s requirements. Human error is to blame; it could be the server or the chef who forgot what was told to them. With a POS system, the order goes straight to the server/chef and clearly indicates the order details and specifications, thereby eliminating any possibility of human error and reduced food wastage too.

Ordering on a POS system accelerates the ordering process and results in faster delivery of orders as there is no time lost for the server to go to the kitchen to place the order. Tableside ordering can cut at least 15 minutes of running between tables and the kitchen, which makes a huge difference during busy lunch hours and the weekend rush.

1. 1. Higher Customer Turnover And More Revenue: It is no secret that if a customer receives their drink in the first 15 minutes they are more likely to order another round. Similar to point 4, faster delivery of orders also means that the customer can enjoy quick service and order more, thereby increasing revenues and profits (always a plus).Mobile POS systems give the customer flexibility to pay when they are ready without having to wait for the server, they can split checks too if needed. Faster check-outs are a boon when you have customers waiting to be seated or at a drive-thru where the quicker a customer checks out the quicker you can cater to the next one. Some owners say that POS systems easily skim away 10 minutes during check out so they can quickly get the table ready for the next customer. You save on printing paper menus and invoices (penny saved is penny earned) and you also get to do your share for the environment.

Other beneficial consequences of using a tableside POS system include more tips, as the customer is more likely to reward faster service and the server is more relaxed by reduced kitchen trips elevating the customer’s culinary experience. Mobile POS systems can also gather customer information and feedback enabling the owner to make or tweak a pricing strategy, offer better deals, introduce loyalty programs and even give special discounts on birthdays/anniversaries etc.  

As an owner/manager where you are constantly juggling between keeping a tab on inventory, staff training, consumer grievances, marketing budgets, sales targets, liquor permits, maintaining health and safety standards, managing competition, making sure all rent/utility bills are paid and, creating seasonal menus to name a few, a POS system can come across as a helping hand you always needed. It can take a lot of tasks off your plate and with cloud data storage option it can provide you better access to records at your fingertips. When you compare the features and capabilities to the cost involved, it is your business that will always come to the win.

On October 1, 2018, the minimum wage in Alberta was raised to $15.00.

The increase was introduced to reduce poverty levels in the province, lessen the burden on social support programs, and improve the quality of life for vulnerable people.

However, for employers especially in the service industry, this change can make quite an impact on a quarterly (and annual) budget.

How wage changes affect employers

Despite the best intentions of politicians and policy creators, a hike in minimum wage always has an impact on businesses, and the changes run far past merely paying workers more. There will be additional payroll taxes, for example, that businesses have to pay, and longer hours for fewer staff.

Analysts have always warned that raising the minimum wage will have the biggest impact in the food services industry. In fact, it’s already begun.

The Hat is a longtime Jasper Avenue eatery that offers burgers, beers, cocktails and other pub favourites. Mike Bhatnagar, owner of the 100-seat restaurant, has noted the negative effects that have been affecting his business since wage hikes began. Despite raising menu prices, profits are continuing to decline month by month. In an effort to balance his sheets, Bhatnagar has reduced the number of staff at lunch and dinner times, and may now even have to close the restaurant entirely on Sundays.

Mo Blayways, the owner of two locations of 1st Round in Edmonton, has had to increase his menu prices by over 10% in the last three years.

“It’s a death by a thousand cuts,” said Blayways, who has 150 full-time and part-time employees. “At the end of the day, (the minimum wage increases) have been extremely damaging to our consumers and our employees.”

In order to compensate for the effects of wage pressure, restaurant owners have had to make changes to their business models. For example, the size of the section that employees must cover on a shift has nearly doubled. Sometimes, the dishwasher is no longer a position on shift. Additionally, servers have seen a drop in tips with menu price increases and are less satisfied with their jobs.

All in all, as a business owner (and especially a restauranteur), the recent increase in minimum wage is bringing with it a whole platter of new problems to deal with.  

How employers can protect themselves

Although the effectivity is debatable, the Alberta government has provided the following services to help employers adjust to the wage increase:

• reduced small business tax rates from 3% to 2%
• introduced the Enhanced Innovation Voucher and Small/Medium Enterprises Support program
• created the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade to provide Alberta’s private sector job creators with a one-stop shop for economic development and diversification
• dedicated $34 billion over the next 5 years to support modern, efficient infrastructure for Alberta families and businesses
• provided more capital for ATB Financial and Alberta Enterprise to encourage investment in Alberta businesses
• expanded the mandate for the Alberta Investment Management Corporation
• reinstated the Summer Temporary Employment Program
• implemented the Canada-Alberta Job Grant, a six-year initiative with the Government of Canada to support employers in building a strong workforce through better-trained workers
• introduced the Capital Investment Tax Credit to encourage investment and support job creation

Introduce technology and streamline your internal processes

The provincial government will only do so much to protect you from the repercussions of wage change. The best way to minimize financial loss is by changing your business model to adapt to and anticipate future change.

For example, more and more quick service restaurants (QSR) and casual sit down locations  are enjoying the benefits of the self-service model. Food kiosks in restaurants make it easier for customers to customize, pay for and pick up their orders, while also reducing the number of employees required on shift. Restaurants are leveraging food service kiosks and self-service models to automate ordering process, provide consistency, and to reduce business inefficiency and financial overhead.

In fact, in  a study done by Tillster, it was revealed that only 18 percent of QSR customers surveyed had used a self-ordering kiosk in a period of three months, but that 60 percent said they would go to a QSR more frequently if kiosks were offered.

Changing your business model may mean that some of your internal processes will also require modification. Implement a POS system that will allow you to scale your business into a turn-key operation.

The Time Business POS system offers faster service, premium local on-site support, and cellular coverage to ensure your system is never down despite power outages or network failure. The system also has a comprehensive loss-prevention program to ensure employee theft is eliminated.

Find out more about how to maximize your optimize your business and maximize your ROI today.

What it takes to train an AGLC Qualified Cannabis Worker

Overhead security camera in a government owned public building.

When opening a cannabis retail store in Canada, there are a lot of things to keep in mind – as you probably already know by now.

One of the most important policies, however, surround security systems in retail stores. In fact, a store license will not be issued to any applicant who hasn’t submitted a floor plan detailing exactly where surveillance and security devices are going to be installed to prove they’ve met the physical security requirements for the premises.

Playing By The Rules

With that said, here are the rules you need to keep in mind to ensure you don’t fail any audits (based on regulations created by The Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission (AGLCC) is an agent of the government of the Canadian province of Alberta:

1. Your retail store must be protected by a professionally installed and monitored alarm system. The system needs to be able to detect any attempts to open, enter, or tamper with your store or your cannabis room, or the security system itself.
2. You need “panic” or robbery buttons installed at all point of sale positions.
3. Your store needs a digital camera system that:
   1. Has cameras in the ceiling (or domes) that are linked to a monitor and a recording system that’s located in a secure area on site.
   2. Is setup (with appropriate lighting) so that you can see all point of sale areas, receiving areas, customer areas, and the secure cannabis storage rooms at all times (24 hours). You should also be able to clearly capture all activity where there are people entering or exiting the premises including staff areas.
   3. Retains 60 days minimum of digital colour video with a time/date stamp that doesn’t block the image. You should always be able to clearly identify all the individuals that appear on camera.
   4. Is tested weekly to make sure all cameras and recording equipment are functioning properly. Make sure you have a log of the test results that can be given to AGLCC at any given time.
4. In terms of physical barriers, your store needs to have:
   1. 1.5mm (16 gauge) hollow metal doors with 1.9mm (14 gauge) metal frame and tamper-proof hinges at all entry points other than the customer entrance. You also need to use commercial grade non-residential locks on every door with a tamper-proof strike plate. The locking devices must penetrate the door frame by at least 1.25 cm.
   2. Commercial-grade material for both the customer entrance and the overhead receiving door so that unauthorized individuals can’t get in.
   3. Locking devices that aren’t on a master key system.
   4. A secure cannabis storage room that is constructed of Flattened Metal Mesh, EMMA 557-99 style ¾-9F, nominal strand thickness of 0.120” (0.108” to 0.132”) diamond opening of 0.563” x 1.688” or Sheet steel 16ga, A1008/A1008M (cold rolled) or A1011/A1011M (hot rolled) or equivalent.The room needs a 16 gauge (1.6mm) steel sheet that’s HR Commercial quality, ASTM A366, has a matte finish, and that shall extend 1200mm around door frame on inside of room and attached to the door frame with screws, welds or rivets.It also needs a 1.5mm (16 gauge) hollow metal door not exceeding 36 inches width with 1.9mm (14 gauge) metal frame, and 16mm gypsum wall boards on both sides of the wall attached with drywall screws.Finally, your cannabis storage room requires a mount steel or steel mesh on the outside of the room that is supported at all sides by anti-spread bracing, aligns sheet edges at every vertical and horizontal seam on the centre-line of the steel stud or anti-spread bracing, and that is secured properly with screws, welds or rivets.The secure cannabis room can’t be used for any other purpose than the storage of cannabis. In other words, don’t put any other items or equipment in here!
5. Whatever cannabis or cannabis accessories are displayed in the customer area have to be kept in a secure showcase that’s locked at all times and can only be accessed by authorized staff. Any of the cannabis within this showcase has to be kept in its original sealed package.After operating hours, all cannabis that’s sitting on display must be stored in the secure cannabis storage room until the next morning.

Phew! That’s a lot of stuff to remember. However, you’ll have to comply with all of those points to stay qualified for your license and, furthermore, you’ll also need to submit a floor plan that identifies system compliance (for the alarm system, camera system and secure cannabis storage room) to AGLCC for approval. Not sure where to start? Don’t worry, our team will create a custom security floor plan that’s fully compliant with provincial regulations.

Security Is Our Speciality

security guard officer watching video monitoring surveillance security system

Unless you want to be running around to 10 different custom vendors in the city to take care of all the regulatory needs (on top of your evergrowing to-do list), you should opt for an efficient, all-inclusive package with Time Business.

Why?

Well, firstly – we’re local, so we know exactly what your provincial government  requires and expects. Secondly, we’ve been working successfully with Canadian businesses for over 50 years to meet their business needs. Our company has created the ultimate Cannabis Retail Shop Package that includes everything from a specialized POS system and digital signage to the implementation of a camera and alarm system for your shop (that fits every regulation listed above).

Interested? Find out more here.