When imagining a job in the restaurant industry one may think of preparing food, waiting tables, or working as a cashier if the establishment is a quick-service restaurant. The last thing on anyone’s mind, despite being one of the most necessary, is the number of tasks, or ‘side work’, needed to run a restaurant effectively. These tasks include things such as cleaning tables, mopping floors, restocking the makeline, etc. However, despite being detrimental to the store itself and its health score, side work is often overlooked in the grand scheme of a functioning restaurant. Several restaurants decide to simply write checklists on a large whiteboard and wipe it off when completed. This method, while a good start, implies there is no record of completed tasks once they’ve been erased and, more importantly, no accountability for those who completed them (that is if they completed them).
Now you may be asking, “How do I keep better track of tasks and those who complete them?” The answer is much more simple than you think! It’s a tool that has been used ever since man could write: a checklist, but, in the case of the restaurant industry, we’ll call it a task list.
Why Should I Use a Task List?
It’s a well-known fact that task lists are a great cognitive aid, especially when working in such a fast-paced industry. In fact, the use of task lists has been proven to decrease human error by more than 33% (IntouchCheck). Wouldn’t that be nice the next time the health inspector rolled around? Also, with human error and forgetfulness decreased, your staff will become more efficient during slow periods and may even be able to clock-out earlier. By completing their opening/closing duties faster and therefore being able to leave earlier, you reduce your labor costs and increase profit.
With so many potential benefits, why aren’t all restaurants using task lists? The main problem is: task lists can be hard to manage. The most effective type of task list would include each day’s task, an area to mark when a task is completed and by whom, and the ability to be versatile so that even the new employees can understand. Constantly creating and keeping up with a list such as this can become a task of its own. If only there was a way to simplify it.
Good news, it’s 2019 and we have the technology, so of course, there’s a way to simplify it!
Why Should I Use an Automated Task List?
An automated task list takes all the benefits of an effective task list without the disadvantages. You can create a personalized list for your store and have it set to repeat tasks on the hours/days/months they need to be completed. The best part, you only have to create this list once because once it’s stored within the software you are using it will continue to generate the list for you. This takes a lot of hassle out of task lists as a whole and can save you and your management a lot of time! Another advantage of using software is its ability to keep a record. Information such as when tasks were completed and who completed them could be stored and assist in holding your staff accountable for their assignments. Proper software could also provide more versatile lists to compensate for new workers. Having the option to click on the task for more information could be a great way to further reduce human error when completing side work.
With so many advantages and such little effort, perhaps you should consider implementing an automated task list in your store.
Have questions about how a task list can be used in your store? Contact support@zignyl.com, we’d be happy to answer any questions you have!
