Insights Archives

Fueling the Future: What is Foodservice Technology?

Foodservice technology refers to the application of technology and digital solutions in the foodservice industry to enhance operational efficiency, customer experience, and overall business performance. It encompasses various tools, software, and hardware systems that are designed to streamline operations, automate processes, and improve productivity in restaurants, cafes, catering services, and other food-related businesses. In recent years, the foodservice industry has witnessed a significant transformation driven by technological advancements. As the demand for faster, more convenient, and personalized dining experiences continues to grow, businesses are increasingly turning to foodservice technology solutions to meet these evolving expectations. By leveraging innovative tools and systems, restaurants and other food establishments can streamline their operations, optimize customer interactions, and gain a competitive edge in an ever-changing market. Let’s explore some of the key areas where foodservice technology is making a substantial impact. Point of Sale (POS) Systems: These systems are used for order processing, payment

Tap Into Foodservice Savings with Buyers Edge Platform

The pursuit of efficiency and profitability remains a constant challenge. Foodservice operators, no matter size or segment, understand that success hinges on the ability to balance quality and cost-effectiveness. The quest to leverage every possible cost-saving avenue isn’t just prudent – it’s essential for long-term success. Here’s why: Profitability: At the core of every business lies the pursuit of profitability. Food and labor costs are typically the highest expenses in the foodservice industry. By exploring various cost-saving avenues, operators can significantly reduce these major financial burdens. This directly translates to higher profits and a healthier bottom line. Competitive Advantage: In a market where consumers are becoming increasingly price-conscious, offering competitive prices can be a decisive factor in attracting and retaining customers. By optimizing costs, operators can position themselves as a go-to choice for value-driven patrons, thereby gaining a competitive edge over rivals. Sustainability: Achieving a sustainable business model

5 Reasons to Partner with Foodservice Supply Chain Experts

Gene Kranz once said: “Failure is not an option.” In the foodservice industry, failure to manage the supply chain effectively can result in wasted products, lost revenue, and potentially harmful consequences for customers. Therefore, proactive problem-solving and continuous improvement of the supply chain process is crucial. Foodservice supply chain management involves the coordination of a complex network of activities, from sourcing raw materials to delivering finished products to customers. This complexity arises from several factors, including: The foodservice industry involves multiple stakeholders such as farmers, manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers, retailers, and foodservice providers (restaurants, hotel, etc.), each with different roles and responsibilities. Coordinating these players requires effective communication and collaboration, which can be challenging. Food products are highly perishable and subject to variations in quality, quantity, and availability due to factors such as weather, demand, and seasonality. Managing these variations requires close monitoring, forecasting, and contingency planning. The food industry

Top 3 Foodservice Technology Must-Haves

Foodservice technology refers to the use of technology in the foodservice industry to streamline processes, enhance customer experiences, and improve overall operations. There are several reasons why leveraging technology in foodservice operations is important including efficiency, improved customer experience, accuracy, cost savings, and most of all valuable data collection for quick and easy decision making. Foodservice operators who do not use technology are at risk of falling behind their competitors who do use technology. They may also be more susceptible to errors and inefficiencies, leading to increased costs and decreased customer satisfaction. Without the ability to collect and analyze data, they may also struggle to make informed business decisions. Here are the top 3 foodservice technology must-haves according to Buyers Edge Platform industry experts: Spend management technology can help foodservice operators track expenses and control costs, which is crucial for maximizing profits in a highly competitive industry. With spend management

2023 – The Year of Streamlining Foodservice Procurement

Gone are the days of your foodservice procurement department manually managing the purchasing process. It’s not surprising that the use of technology has exploded throughout the foodservice industry. All segments, departments, and operations industry wide are starting to see the value of adopting foodservice procurement technology and embracing tools necessary to maintain and expand their businesses. We often underappreciate how adaptive and resilient the foodservice industry has had to become. Through much uncertainty the last few years, operators are paving the way to success by pivoting to a more streamlined way operating and identifying the importance of value-added technology solutions. If you haven’t already done so, it’s time to unlock a world of efficiency, optimization, and transparency throughout the supply chain with the help of foodservice procurement technology. Foodservice procurement technology is no longer a “nice to have”. Now, it’s a “must have”. Complete transparency and visibility into your procurement

How Technology Is Reshaping the Restaurant Industry

The restaurant industry has not always been quick to adopt new technologies. The adoption of technology is set to continue to increase in the coming years. From point-of-sale systems to supply chain transparency, technology is transforming the way foodservice operators do business and interact with their customers. Let’s explore some of the ways technology is reshaping the restaurant industry and what this means for the future: One of the most significant changes brought about by technology is the rise of online ordering and delivery platforms. These third-party platforms, such as Grubhub, DoorDash, and UberEats, have made it easier for customers to order food from their favorite restaurants without ever having to leave their homes. This has been a game-changer for the restaurant industry, as it allows restaurants to reach a wider customer base and generates additional revenue streams. Another way in which technology is reshaping the restaurant industry is through

Disruption is the New Villain, Visibility is the New Hero

Like Batman needs Robin, the supply chain needs technology. Traditional supply chain management has been known to be rigid and time consuming, with foodservice stakeholders manually navigating the many touchpoints of the complex ecosystem. With supply chain disruption occurring more often, the industry has been forced to pivot to meet constant price fluctuations, changes in customer demand, and product shortages – forcing them to act more quickly and with less time to plan. Without the ability to see things such as operator ordering habits, supplier shortages, or distributor metrics, it’s impossible to build supply chain and operational efficiency. But how can the different stakeholders move more rapidly when the supply chain process is known to be slow and unpredictable? The answer is with transparency. Whenever a stakeholder makes a movement in the supply chain process, data is generated. Think about it, every purchase an operator makes produces different data points

Benefits of Foodservice Operator Partnering with Buyers Edge Platform

3 Benefits of Joining Buyers Edge Platform Foodservice success hinges on a complex interplay of factors such as sourcing quality ingredients, optimizing costs, enhancing efficiency, and staying ahead of ever-evolving industry trends. One indispensable ally that can help foodservice operators thrive is Buyers Edge Platform. From sourcing ingredients to managing costs, the challenges that foodservice operators experience daily can seem overwhelming. Partnering with Buyers Edge Platform comes with undeniable benefits that can be the catalyst for your success. At Buyers Edge Platform, we’re more than just a group purchasing organization; we are your strategic partner, committed to helping you achieve operational excellence and financial success. In this blog, we’ll explore five key benefits of partnering with Buyers Edge Platform – benefits that can not only transform your bottom line but also provide a solid foundation for growth and innovation. 1) Cost Savings Beyond Compare In an industry where

Buyers Edge Platform Acquires ArrowStream, a Leading SaaS Provider

Adds the fastest growing foodservice supply chain management software provider with a $35 billion network to drive further efficiency, collaboration, and transparency. WALTHAM, Mass., Aug. 3, 2022 /PRNewswire/ – Buyers Edge Platform (“Buyers Edge”), a leading digital procurement platform with more than $20 billion in total foodservice spend under management, today announced the acquisition of ArrowStream, a leading provider of supply chain management Software-as-a-Service (“SaaS”) to the foodservice industry. Emerging from what has been one of the most challenging periods in foodservice history, distributors, suppliers, and operators are facing inflation, commodity shortages, climate change concerns, shifting consumer demand, and production delays. This backdrop has increased the need for data-driven technology solutions that can ease the pain, lower food costs, and improve margins. ArrowStream’s powerful software enables clients to proactively capitalize on data to improve their supply chain operations. ArrowStream’s software addresses mission-critical challenges in brand protection, supply monitoring, profitability optimization, and sales growth enablement across the foodservice

Technology Over Tradition: Why Restaurants Should Automate As Much As They Can

In a world of technological marvels such as automated virtual assistants, self-driving vehicles, and drone delivery, why would anyone want to manually run their restaurant the old fashioned way? If you haven’t already, it’s time to adapt to a more digital world and take what once were manual processes and turn them into a more streamlined way of operating. There are many different areas of your restaurant where food service technology can be adopted to make the workload on your staff a lot lighter and easier. From the back-of-house to the front-of-house, technology is the answer to creating a more efficient environment. When candidates see that your restaurant uses different technology solutions throughout the operation, it lets them know you’re prioritizing technology over traditional ways of operating, making things quicker and easier for them. Using technology could make your restaurant stand out from others, be the deciding factor for foodservice

Insights / Insights