We mentioned in a previous post that we had begun asking our customers a few simple questions about why they are embracing an obvious trend in the restaurant industry. This trend is a move from traditional paper based scheduling and old school communication techniques to online scheduling and modern day technology on the web. Considering the amount of free time that restaurant professionals don’t have – we’ve been overwhelmed at how quickly they are responding! Must be the time savings we’ve created?
One of these customers is Stephen Kanetake – manager at the high-energy Mikuni Sushi at the Northstar Resort in Lake Tahoe. We asked him a few questions to see how he felt about our online employee scheduling product, our service and our company. Here are his answers and comments straight from his email…
Why do you use Schedulefly?
We are in a volatile, seasonal, ski resort area with four distinct seasons. I generally have my managers schedule on the heavy side and I’ll make adjustments to numbers and in-times as I see the week unfold. We always get last minute large groups so I can post needed shifts, blast them out to staff, and they are picked up instantly.
How much time does Schedulefly save you per week – vs. your previous scheduling process – in creating and managing schedules?
My department managers love it. Saves them about an hour each, every week. I can review and approve or send back for adjustments in about 10 minutes.
How much are you saving in weekly labor costs by using Schedulefly?
1.5 TO 2%
What is it like to do business with Schedulefly?
EASY!!
Any other thoughts or ideas you would like to share?
Keep doin’ what you’re doin’! I am an old fashioned restaurateur who started out taking orders on tickets, using abbreviations and using the phone. I have given in to the fact that texting and emailing are the new communication avenues. Much more efficient way to put the word out. Staff loves it.
The greatest benefit we have experienced is the ease with which the staff can giveup and pickup shifts. I can also look ahead and see potential issues with who is giving up shifts for what reasons and start planning an alternate shift attack. Being in a ski resort, if someone is trying to unload a shift because they broke their pelvis in two places or blew out an MCL, I can start lobbying for people to pickup the shifts or start making alternate plans.
Last week we had a sudden drop off in sales due to the weather changing from snow to rain. I was able to broadcast a message to all staff that I was looking for volunteers to give up their shifts so I could cut labor costs. BLAM!!!!!!!!! I got slammed with 10 requests. I was also able to stagger the in-times as well, which alerts the staff members to the change – instantly – via text message. AMAZING!!