Running a successful multi-site restaurant operation takes precision and attention to detail. From managing staff schedules to tracking inventory, countless factors can influence the bottom line. Fortunately, restaurants now have access to an innovative combination of a GPO (Group Purchasing Organization) and inventory management software which is helping them secure their margins like never before.
This blog post will look at how these two powerful tools work together to help restaurants maintain control over their costs while still providing quality goods and services for customers. We’ll also discuss how businesses can take advantage of this technology to maximize profits and streamline operations across multiple sites.
So let’s dive in!
1. Accurately track inventory across multiple sites
Accurately tracking inventory across multiple sites can be a major challenge for restaurant operators. Without the right tools, it's difficult to identify discrepancies between locations and determine how best to address them. By leveraging a combination of a GPO and inventory management software, businesses can ensure that their stock is tracked accurately across different regions.
2. Reduce cost of goods sold by leveraging bulk-buying power
One of the main advantages of combining GPO and inventory management software is that it enables restaurant operators to take advantage of their bulk-buying power. When restaurants buy in large quantities, they often receive discounts from suppliers due to the increased buying power. This can result in significant savings on CoGS, contributing significantly to the bottom line.
Entegra, for example, works with more than 800 national and regional suppliers and has more than 1,200 customers in 10 countries. Members realise average savings of 15% over suppliers’ list prices.
3. Streamline the ordering process and reduce waste
Another advantage of using a GPO and inventory management software is that it can help streamline the ordering process. By automating certain tasks, such as generating purchase orders, restaurants can save time and money when it comes to restocking supplies. Additionally, this technology can help identify areas where excess inventory is being held and target them for reduction. This can result in significant cost savings and reduced waste.
4. Improved forecasting accuracy to keep up with changing demand
Accurately forecasting customer demand can be challenging for multi-site restaurants, as it's often difficult to identify patterns or discrepancies between locations. This is where the combination of a GPO and inventory management software truly shines. By leveraging data from both tools, businesses can gain better insight into customer behaviour and stock levels across multiple sites.
5. Automated purchase order suggestions for pre-approved vendors and negotiated pricing agreements
The combination of a GPO and inventory management software can help multi-site restaurants save time and money when it comes to restocking supplies. The automated purchase order suggestion feature enables businesses to quickly identify pre-approved vendors with negotiated pricing agreements, allowing businesses to rapidly place orders without having to research vendors for the best deals. This helps to ensure that businesses are getting the best value for their money while eliminating tedious manual tasks.
6. Measure food waste and identify high-loss items
Inventory management software and GPOs can provide restaurants with an effective way to measure food waste and identify high-loss items. This helps businesses identify potential areas where they are losing money, such as overstocking or spoilage. It also enables them to make informed decisions about what types of items they should order in the future and how much of each item they should stock.
7. Monitor staff performance and adherence to standard operating procedures
One of the key benefits of using a GPO and inventory management software for multi-site restaurants is that it allows them to monitor staff performance and adherence to standard operating procedures. By tracking employee activities, such as ordering supplies in bulk or disposing of food items, businesses can ensure that they follow the correct protocols. This helps to maintain consistency across different locations and ensure that all staff members are adhering to the same guidelines.
8. Streamline data collection processes to increase efficiency
The combination of a GPO and inventory management software can be invaluable for multi-site restaurants in streamlining data collection processes. By automating the process, businesses can reduce the time needed to manually gather and input data, such as order histories, stock levels, and employee activities. This helps to eliminate tedious manual tasks and frees up time for more value-adding activities.
In conclusion
Combining a GPO and inventory management software can be incredibly valuable for multi-site restaurants looking to secure their margins. By taking advantage of the purchasing power of a GPO, automating ordering processes and data collection processes, monitoring staff performance, and improving forecasting accuracy, restaurants can reduce costs and maximize profits.
The combination of a GPO and inventory management software is an invaluable tool for multi-site restaurants. It enables them to save time, money, and resources while increasing efficiency and accuracy. With these tools in place, businesses can rest assured knowing that they will be able to secure their margins and maximize their profits.
About Apicbase
Our trusted partner Apicbase takes control of the complex challenges facing multi-site restaurants, dark kitchens and catering operations. With an array of powerful features ranging from recipe management to inventory tracking and purchasing, the software provides invaluable insights that help businesses maximize their profits while freeing up time for their employees.
February 09, 2023