Operators look to tech to solve staff crisis

Increasing numbers of hospitality operators are turning to technology to manage and motivate staff, according to workforce management experts Bizimply.

Crêpeaffaire, the growing chain of crêpe specialists, recently rolled out Bizimply's systems across its 13 UK stores and has seen improved efficiencies and staff engagement. Other Bizimply customers in the sector include around 250 Pret, KFC, Costa and Wagamama outlets across the UK and Ireland.

Bizimply CEO Conor Shaw comments: "The hospitality sector has traditionally lagged behind others in investment in technology, but happily that seems to be changing as more operators look for new ways to meet the current crisis in staff recruitment and retention. We've certainly had a big uplift in enquiries in the last few months and converted more of them into customers."

Marta Oglecka, people manager at Crêpeaffaire, says: "Using Bizimply's systems has improved the way we manage our teams. We can plan further ahead, we're staffing more efficiently, tracking our team members' development, and providing better customer service. And our store managers can now create staff rotas for the week in just 15 minutes which is a great time saving."

Earlier this year, Bizimply carried out research, via consultancy Hospitality Mavericks, into hospitality operators' response to the staffing crisis. Following a similar survey carried out a year previously as the sector reopened after lockdowns, it found that 60% of operators now believe they need to invest more in technology, compared to only 45% in 2021. At the same time, 83% recognise that improving operational complexity using digital tools is the area with the biggest potential to improve performance. 

Shaw adds: "Businesses we work with understand that the right technology, implemented correctly, helps organisations to become more human – and in hospitality, great customer experiences are delivered by humans."

You may also be interested in…