Back of House Software should make your business operations easier to manage and should come equipped with a variety of different tools and resources for people in all levels of an organization to utilize.
There are a lot of back-of-house products on the market so how does one choose the right one for them? Here we outlined the four most important questions you should ask before purchasing a back-of-house software.
1. How well will the software integrate with other programs I am using?
We made this number one because, well, it's kind of important. If the back-of-house software won't easily integrate with your other software systems that should be a deal breaker.
But what kind of integrations should it be able to do? We're glad you asked!
If you want the best back-of-house software then we suggest you make sure it can easily integrate with your POS system and accounting software as a top priority.
It's a huge bonus if you can find a back-of-house software that will also integrate with other outside tools. Perhaps you have a scheduling software that you used for years and you would like to keep using it. Some back-of-house software won't let you integrate with other programs, but the right software company will be flexible so you can keep using what you prefer.
2. How will the software help with my key performance indicators?
Key performance indicators (KPIs) are measurements used to evaluate how well your company is doing at achieving business objectives. Tracking KPIs is an important part of the restaurant business, they allow you to measure, evaluate and adjust operations to ensure continued success. That being said having a back-of-house software that will help with your specific KPIs is imperative.
First, make note of all the KPIs you would want your software to track. Some examples for the restaurant industry would be:
- Sales per restaurant
- Sales per daypart
- Labor cost
- Average speed of service
- Growth in revenue
- Food cost percentage
Knowing which KPIs you want to track will help you eliminate certain software that may not be able to meet your certain needs.
3. What is the functionality of the software like and can it be used by several different roles in my business?
This one is simple but also a very important to ask, and it most likely can only be answered in full by having a demo of the software.
Technology can often times seem intimidating to people, especially if it's new to them. A good software company will give you an in-depth demo on the functionality of the program. Now, don't expect to be an expert from just one demo, as with any new software there will be a little bit of learning curve. But overall you should leave the demo with high hopes that the software is the right fit for your business.
During a demo pay attention to the layout. Does that navigation seem easy to use? Is the software mobile friendly? Does the mobile version seem to have an easy navigation as well? Does it seem to be lacking any of the important things you would want to track?
Apart from functionality you should also pay attention to how the software will benefit several different roles in the company, not just your specific role. Can restaurant managers easily use this? Will this benefit my accounting team? And so on.
The right software will be an asset to several different roles in your organization not just a one or two. The more people who can utilize the software the more bang you get for your buck.
4. What support services comes included with your software?
Lastly, ask what support services come with the software you are purchasing. Salesforce found that 89% customers have no qualms switching businesses over poor customer experiences.
If you spend money on software you want to make sure it is backed by a good support team. With software it's normal to have frequent user questions pop up and from time to time there may be some sort of technical issue that needs to be addressed in a timely manner.
During your initial communications with companies some questions you might want to ask in regards to support would be:
- Do you have an in-house or outsourced helpdesk?
- Is your helpdesk available 24/7 and 365 days a year?
- How fast is your typical helpdesk response time?
- Will we be provided dedicated account manager?
- If something breaks can people from your company come out to fix it?
In conclusion...
Whether you are in the market for a new back-of-house software or maybe this is your first time searching for one, be sure to have these questions in your back pocket to help you narrow down what company and software will be the best fit for you.
If you want to learn more about the benefits and features of the QuikStation back-of-house software email us at info@quikserve.com or call 402-933-5296.