Today's restaurants face a clear challenge: managing an ever-growing number of digital ordering channels. What started with a website and mobile app has expanded to include third-party delivery platforms, kiosks, voice ordering systems, and catering. Each new channel promises additional revenue, but also adds complexity to daily operations.
Most enterprise brands are now juggling 10 or more digital channels. Yet they're often relying on the same manual processes they used when managing just two or three channels. This means teams spend hours updating menus across platforms, checking for consistency, and implementing promotions—time that could be spent on strategic growth initiatives.
The cost isn't just operational. When manual processes slow down menu updates and launches, brands miss opportunities to respond to market changes, test new offerings, and expand their digital presence.
The Impact of Manual Channel Management
For restaurants, the resources required to manage multiple digital channels can be substantial. Here's what we typically see in our work with multi-location brands:
Time and Resource Investment
- Multiple team members dedicated to menu updates across platforms
- Several hours spent coordinating changes across locations
- Additional time for quality checks and error correction
- Extra staff hours to manage each new digital channel
Operational Challenges
- Delays in implementing price changes and promotions
- Inconsistencies between channels causing customer confusion
- Limited ability to test new platforms or offerings
- Increased risk of errors with each additional channel
Lost Opportunities
- Delayed response to supply chain changes or competitors
- Reduced capacity for testing new digital channels
- Limited ability to run channel-specific promotions
- Slower implementation of seasonal or limited-time offers
Why Traditional Approaches Fall Short
Many enterprise brands have tried various solutions to manage their digital presence:
Spreadsheet Tracking: While spreadsheets might work for a handful of locations, they become unmanageable at scale. Changes still need to be implemented manually across platforms, and version control becomes increasingly complex.
Platform-Specific Teams: Dedicating different teams to different platforms creates silos, increases overhead, and often leads to inconsistencies in menu presentation and pricing.
Location-Level Management: Allowing individual locations to manage their digital presence often results in brand inconsistency and makes it difficult to implement company-wide initiatives quickly.
EveryWare: A Central Command Center for Digital Operations
EveryWare approaches these challenges differently. Instead of trying to improve manual processes, it provides a central platform that sits above your POS and manages all digital channels simultaneously.
Unified Menu Control
- Update items and prices once, publish everywhere
- Control which changes apply to specific channels
- Maintain consistency across all digital touch points
- Preview changes before they go live
Channel-Specific Management
- Create unique menus for different platforms
- Adjust pricing by channel or location
- Test exclusive items on specific platforms
- Manage promotional offerings independently
Automated Scheduling
- Set future menu changes in advance
- Schedule limited-time offers
- Plan seasonal menu updates
- Coordinate promotional calendars
Real-Time Operations
- Adjust item availability instantly
- Respond quickly to supply chain issues
- Update pricing across channels immediately
- Control daypart menus automatically
Implementation and Results
Making the switch to automated channel management requires planning, but the process is straightforward:
Initial Setup
- Integration with your existing POS system
- Menu standardization across channels
- Team training and documentation
- Channel-specific configuration
Operational Integration
- Streamlined workflow implementation
- Process automation setup
- Quality control procedures
- Team role assignments
Ongoing Optimization
- Regular performance reviews
- Channel effectiveness analysis
- Process refinement
- Team feedback integration
Taking the Next Step
For enterprise restaurants looking to streamline their digital operations, the key is finding a solution that grows with your business. Checkmate’s EveryWare solution provides the framework needed to manage current channels efficiently while being ready to integrate new ones as opportunities arise.
Ready to see how EveryWare can transform your digital operations? Connect with our team, get a custom demo, and see how easy it can be to implement automated channel management across your locations.
