Restaurant logistics: what it is and how it works
Restaurant logistics is one of those things that go unnoticed, but they ensure that everything runs smoothly, from the supplier to the kitchen to customer service.
As a food business owner or manager, you know that managing a restaurant's supply chain may not be the most attractive part of managing a restaurant, but it's one of the most important.
If you have a good handle of the catering for your restaurant, the acquisition and purchase of raw materials and supplies for your restaurant, in short, if you have the right restaurant logistics for your business, you will have a successful restaurant.
Learn here what restaurant logistics is and how to apply it to optimize all your processes and ensure that your restaurant obtains the benefits you expect.
What is restaurant logistics?
La restaurant logistics is the process of managing the acquisition, storage, and transportation of resources from their initial location to the final consumer.
Specifically in restaurants, it refers to everything from fresh farm ingredients to their takeaway containers and cutlery.
As part of managing a restaurant, the role of logistics is to ensure that the movement of goods through the supply chain is carried out correctly.
Logistics in a restaurant's value chain
Supply chain logistics includes the flow of services and management of goods that encompasses the entire process, from raw materials to final products.
The primary objective of supply chain management is to maximize customer value and achieve a competitive advantage over competitors.
The importance of logistics in a restaurant's value chain is determined by its results. Because by optimizing each and every one of the different processes that are executed within a restaurant, better customer service can be provided.
When a customer is satisfied with the services they receive, you are more likely to retain them.
You can also advertise for your business with word of mouth, which results in a greater number of visitors to your restaurant and, consequently, an increase in your income.
Internal and external logistics of a restaurant
La restaurant logistics covers several operations, so it's important that all the staff inside your restaurant fully carry out their duties.
If you don't have the right internal and external logistics and clearly assigned functions, you can't meet the needs of your customers.
- Internal logistics of a restaurant
The internal logistics of a restaurant is the acceptance of all the inputs and supplies that the restaurant requires for its operation.
For this process to be optimal, you must pay attention to the way in which it is They receive the supplies, their storage and the distribution that will be done inside the restaurant.
- External logistics of a restaurant
When we refer to the external logistics of a restaurant, we are talking about the process and the way in which orders are delivered, either within the same premises or at home.
This includes the order management, transportation for home deliveries and customer service.
What is the supply chain of a restaurant like
A key to successful restaurants is to have an efficient supply chain. And to achieve this efficiency, they use technology in different areas of operation and stages of the supply chain.
A restaurant's supply chain can be divided into stages to optimize each of the processes that encompass:
Procurement
In the supply stage, you purchase all the supplies you need for the preparation of your dishes and the operation of your restaurant.
At this stage, it is important that you identify and contact food suppliers for restaurants, such as farmers and wholesale food distributors.
Likewise, suppliers of other supplies such as take-away containers, stationery, cutlery. In short, everything you need to provide quality service and maintain a constant flow of supplies and supplies.
Storage and processing
Once you have covered the supply stage, you must carry out the correct storage of the supplies. Keep in mind that most supplies are perishable, so their storage must ensure freshness and proper maintenance.
For an efficient process in the preparation of dishes, it is not only necessary that the quality of the products be the best, The storage of a restaurant, has a significant influence on the optimal preservation of products.
Distribution
The next stage in the supply chain is the distribution of your plates. The logistics of distribution in a restaurant can be as simple as taking food from the kitchen to the dining room, or as complex as delivering to
customers' homes.
Reverse logistics
Reverse logistics refers to the effective reuse of restaurant supplies, as well as the resale or proper management of the waste that occurs in the business.
5 techniques to improve your restaurant operations
Now more than ever, optimizing your restaurant's daily operations is critical to your restaurant's success. Apply these techniques and improve all operations to provide an excellent experience for your customers:
1. Implement processes for your entire team
Your restaurant staff are the standard bearers that represent your business. This is why it is necessary for everyone to have their functions well defined in the different processes within the restaurant.
This way you achieve greater efficiency, optimized processes and reduced waiting times.
2. Create technical sheets and production sheets
One of the biggest challenges of running a restaurant is diligently keeping track of the cost of food.
For greater control over costs, create a technical sheet that includes everything you spend on making the dishes. This helps you reduce waste and can significantly improve your results.
3. Use technology for operations
With the right technology, even the most tedious tasks of running your restaurant become easier.
Remember that the restaurant industry is constantly evolving, so it's essential to update technology to keep up with this constantly changing environment.
4. Develop an omnichannel experience
In the case of restaurants, an omnichannel experience means providing multiple ways for your customers to order, pay and get their meals.
Whether your restaurant receives orders through walk-ins, online, over the phone, food ordering apps or at a kiosk, a reliable omnichannel strategy that meets the needs of your customers is essential.
5. Evaluate and optimize each process
Technological tools for restaurants can show you what's happening in your restaurant in real time.
This allows you to evaluate each process in the moment and make appropriate decisions to optimize them.
The importance of inventory management in your restaurant
Inventory management in your restaurant is a procedure for monitoring the ingredients and supplies you have in real time.
It also helps you order more affordable food, drinks and supplies. Effective inventory management is essential for your daily operations and for achieving your long-term goals.
With proper inventory management, you can keep the right amount of food and ingredients on hand so that you have enough stock to serve all customers, but also to avoid spoilage and loss.
Restaurants are more likely to be successful in the long term if they practice effective inventory management.
7 steps to adapt your restaurant to home orders
For a truly efficient delivery system, you need to consider your restaurant as a whole. Think about your priorities and where home orders fit in.
With these 7 steps you can make the packing process, delivery to the driver and delivery to the customer as efficient as possible, without compromising the rest of the business.
1. Create a zone for packing orders
For a restaurant that is serious about optimizing for delivery, a dedicated packaging area is essential.
It makes sense to place it next to the kitchen, to ensure that food is packed and goes out the door as quickly as possible, after it's prepared.
2. Set up a waiting area
An exclusive waiting area for drivers who bring orders home is a good idea.
If you can set up a window directly from the packing area to the drivers' waiting area, this is ideal. Alternatively, you can have a member of staff deliver orders to drivers.
3. Prepare and implement improvements to your kitchen
The best way to prepare your kitchen is to divide your kitchen equipment between consumption inside the restaurant and home delivery.
Having a dedicated line for delivery means that an avalanche of orders will not affect orders for consumption within the restaurant.
If either side is quiet, the staff on that side can jump in and help the other side, but keeping the two separate helps to optimize both sides for their respective priorities.
4. Optimize the menu always thinking of your customer
You must design a menu that adapts to the meals that are going to come out. A good home menu should be simplified, presenting the most popular dishes that are best suited to a trip.
5. Get the most out of your packaging
Your packaging is also important in terms of marketing and customer loyalty. Part of the fun and excitement of ordering takeout is the unpacking process.
Your packaging should show the best of your restaurant: its colors, its brand and the personality of the brand.
6. Invest in technology to manage your home orders
If you're taking full advantage of your restaurant's delivery potential, you're probably maximizing exposure by using multiple delivery partners.
With Picker you can accept orders from all major delivery partners, and have them on a single platform for a effective management of your homes.
7. Evaluate results and implement improvements
It's important to always be looking to improve your delivery operations. Collect as much data as possible by conducting customer surveys, interviewing staff, and analyzing online reviews to see what you're doing well and how you can improve: what's working and what's not.
5 Tips to improve last-mile logistics in your restaurant
La last-mile logistics in your restaurant it plays a fundamental role in its operations, and can be a determining factor for the success of the delivery service.
Put these 5 tips into practice for efficient last-mile logistics:
1. Discover your business requirements: Stop To improve the logistics and transportation of home deliveries in your restaurant, you must do a study of the needs of your business.
It includes the number of customers who order home orders from you, the volume of orders, as well as the times when you have the highest number of home deliveries.
Only then can you create order delivery strategies that guarantee fluidity and speed in deliveries.
2. Plan and optimize routes efficiently: When you have delivery routes planned by zones, you can provide your customers with timely deliveries.
Take into account when planning the creation of alternative routes, in the event that there are problems with the usual route.
3. Establish performance indicators: When working with performance indicators, you can quickly detect last-mile logistics problems.
You can apply these indicators if you have your own delivery team or if you work with third parties.
In addition, the indicators allow you to make the right decisions about the last-mile operations that are most profitable for you.
4. Put your customers first: With current technologies, it is possible that your customers can track the status and tracking of their orders in real time.
This gives your customers confidence, as they can know the estimated time of arrival of their order.
5. Integrate a last-mile delivery solution: third-party solutions for last-mile delivery help you reduce costs and delivery times
In addition, you are guaranteed that orders will be delivered on time and your customers will be satisfied with the service.
3 tips for optimizing the logistics of your restaurant
Put these tips into practice and optimize all processes in your restaurant:
1. Delegate functions to your team
One of the best ways to optimize logistics in your restaurant is to delegate functions. When you delegate, you establish clear responsibilities and each member of your work team knows who to turn to in case of any problem.
In addition, delegating allows you as an owner or administrator to have more time to observe and analyze each stage or process. This way you can implement strategies to improve and optimize them.
2. Maintain good communication
Communication is key when it comes to efficiency. It facilitates communication between different areas of work and emphasizes the importance of teamwork and communication when training staff.
It's also important to improve communication with customers, so you can solve problems on time and have a happier customer base.
3. Implement the technology
When you implement technology in your restaurant, you reduce costs, save time and have happier customers. You can implement a QR code for your menu, use an online reservation system, a inventory system or a delivery platform like Picker. The key to offering an efficient and quality service in your restaurant is to implement technology.
How does Picker help you improve home delivery for your restaurant?
Food delivery logistics plays an important role in your operations and can be a determining factor in the success of your restaurant's food delivery service.
Take into consideration that customers have become quite tech-savvy and prefer to order food using apps or websites offered by restaurants or third-party services.
With Picker you can increase productivity. We are looking for the closest and most optimal couriers to carry out your shipment or to do it also with your fleet of delivery people.
This way we can provide your customer with a real tracking experience, which increases their satisfaction and improves their shopping experience.
In addition, the shipping price is quoted in real time, and automatically your customer will know the final cost of their order.
By using Picker, you minimize delivery errors and make it easier to fulfill your orders on time.
Conclusions
A restaurant depends on multiple processes to run smoothly. From managing inventory to training staff to be competent in the kitchen and with customers. As a restaurant owner or manager, you must know how to do this to be successful in your restaurant.
That is why the restaurant logistics is vital to running a successful restaurant business. By taking advantage of best practices, you can implement advanced technological solutions, optimize your budget, hire and retain competent staff, and benefit from real-time data analysis.
La restaurant operations management is one of the most crucial steps in any business. It might be difficult to implement everything at once, but it's definitely beneficial in the long run.
And keep in mind that businesses that invest in restaurant logistics are more likely to stand out and succeed.
