If you are not familiar with what a “Tech Stack” is, you will want to get up to speed because chances are, your competitor does! First, let us look at the definition of Tech Stack: A tech stack is the collection of tools, platforms, apps, and pieces of software that a Business uses to build its products or provide its service, carry out its business operations, and monitor its performance metrics. As this applies to all industries, we will focus on the Restaurant Industry since we have seen an extraordinary amount of change in the most recent years.
It wasn’t more than five years ago; the POS System was the nucleus of the Restaurant. The POS System was the driving force for any restaurant looking to succeed. Not only did it perform order entry duties and send tickets, it took care of all the Administration duties, time and attendance, accounting, and forecasting functions. Fast forward to today, and the POS System is just as important, however, its’ job description has changed to accommodate the demanding needs of the consumer. Today, not only does it perform order entry duties, it also acts as a Business Management Console. With the consumer adopting multiple channels to order and demand a timely and accurate experience, the POS must now be able to integrate with Online Ordering, Multiple Delivery Outlets, Text Orders, QR Codes, and then manage the Loyalty Programs, and Gift Card Payments through each Channel. Well, there’s an app for that! For the POS to be successful in today’s environment, it must allow for the many API integrations of Tech Companies that are good at what they do, and direct that information to a single platform that can ultimately deliver the goods, and make for a happy customer!
A well-oiled tech stack will include an array of channels to help run a successful restaurant. Accounting or Financial software, Reservation Applications, Food Costs or Inventory Management Programs, the list of solutions goes on. There is not a single right way to incorporate a Tech Stack, as every restaurant owner has their own vision of what is important to be successful. For example, the owner of a multi-location franchise may incorporate a scheduling platform to help with employee scheduling and communication across all locations, whereas, the owner or a “mom n pop” single location has 3 employees and does not have the need for such a solution. Whatever the case, the POS is staged as the “Business Management Console” and should be equipped to handle all stack solutions that a Restaurateur deems necessary.
There are a lot of moving parts and players involved in satisfying today’s consumer habits, and if you are not involving all the available technology that makes it possible to do it fast and easy, you are not getting the order, or the repeat order! The Restaurant environment is rapidly evolving and implementing the technology driving the change is necessary to succeed. Though the POS’s role has changed, it has evolved to remain the “nucleus” of any successful restaurant.
