The restaurant industry struggled with staffing shortages even before the “Great Resignation.” According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, over 47 million voluntarily left their jobs in 2021. In addition, service industry workers were hard to retain due to the hours, pay, burnout, and more. As a result, operators have gotten creative with ways to create a better workplace for their smaller teams to provide them with better pay and benefits.

There is a delicate balance between having too few staff members during a shift, leaving your team vulnerable to unexpected rushes, and having too many employees standing around with little to do. Ultimately, the guest experience is the most crucial thing; happy customers mean more sales and cheerful staff. With the lack of labor available, turning to restaurant technology can help alleviate the pain of labor shortage. Let’s look at the technologies that can help control the cost of labor while still maximizing your profits and staff’s needs.

Streamlining Take-Out Service

Food ordering kiosks have transformed staffing requirements for the front of the house. They help reduce wait times and order errors, as the customer has complete control of their order customization. While self-service kiosks have been popping up in restaurants nationwide, so are order pick-up stations and food lockers. With more and more customers opting to order take-out or food delivery from third-party vendors like Doordash and Grubhub, these pick-up stations are the perfect solution for keeping food hot and ready for pick-up during peak meal time. Equipping your employees with labor-saving technology will enable them to work to their full potential and handle many orders.

Improve Back of House Operations

The first step to lowering labor costs is simplifying the employee experience and workload. The right kitchen equipment leads to food that sets a strong foundation for the rest of your business. While it is easy to change your menu and ingredients seasonally, getting new kitchen equipment is costly, so choosing the right equipment for your business is essential.

An Ovention Oven could be the kitchen solution you’ve been searching for. However, when choosing new equipment, it’s essential to consider the following:

• How easy is this equipment for operators to use?

• All Ovention Ovens feature a full-color touchscreen that can hold up to 1,000 unique recipes and cook settings. This programmability ensures that food is cooked perfectly the first time and every time. Additionally, these ovens can flex up to 50 degrees from cook to cook, meaning you can cook a more comprehensive range of recipes without downtime. The Matchbox 1718/1313 and The Shuttle 2000/1600/1200 even feature proprietary Auto Load and Unload technology, which makes multitasking easier.

• What kind of space is required for this equipment?

• Oventions Ovens are all designed for countertop use. Don’t be fooled by their compact size; from the MiLO Double/Single to the Shuttle 2000/1600/1200, these ovens are designed to cook a full restaurant menu.

• How much energy will this new equipment use?

• These ovens are one-third more energy efficient than traditional countertop ovens and have the added benefit of producing less heat in the kitchen.

• Is there additional installation involved for this equipment to work?

• All Ovention models are 100% ventless, meaning there is no need for a costly commercial hood. Ventless cooking means that the option for installation locations is now only limited to your power source. Ovention Ovens are fantastic for food trucks, food halls, state fairs, and even small kiosks.

Investing in quality equipment will not only improve your bottom line, but it’ll also improve the employee and, ultimately, the customer experience. Learn more about why an Ovention Oven could be vital to your business. Find a rep near you today.