Technological advances have been rapidly transforming in the
past few years. As more companies transition to being fully remote or
transitioning into hybrid workplaces, advances in AI, machine learning, and
cybersecurity continue to transform the workplace. However, the problem with
the rapid technological advances is that people have not been able to catch up
to the most recent updates.
Although even with the rapid technological advances that seem
challenging to keep up with, employers need to keep themselves up to date and,
most notably, their employees up to date with these changes. Therefore,
adapting digital training should significantly improve many employees' training
experiences and strengthen their digital skills.
Why is
digital training necessary?
According to Forbes, digital adoption platforms are easier
to personalize and provide automated training tools specifically tailored to
the user depending on their job roles.1
Moreover, according to Forbes,
digital adoption platforms may include walk-throughs and provide visuals to the
employees on the best way to perform their tasks. "DAPs also make it easy
for employers to track learning progress. All of the data working together to
improve the overall workflow."2
Digital training can improve productivity in restaurants and
other workplace environments as well. According to Eleni Zoe from efront,
productivity is one of the top benefits of digital transformation and training
due to the proper use of digital systems, making a business more efficient.3
Most workers now have only been around technology all their
lives. Therefore, incorporating digital training will help them retain what
they are learning and increase their engagement in the workplace.
In fact, with more companies competing closely at a global
level, digital workforce training gives businesses better leverage in their
competitive advantage.4
The most
important digital skills to have
According to efront, research has found that "11.3
million people lack the full suite of basic digital skills, and 10% of
employees have no basic digital skills at all."5
Therefore, it's important to push out the importance of digital training to
have a successful business.
First, employees must know how to set up the devices in
their restaurants. Basic setups include connecting to Wi-Fi, learning how to
turn the device on and off, and how to connect to Bluetooth or other devices if
necessary.
Teaching employees how to manage the basics of cybersecurity
is vital to keeping business data safe and personal staff information. These
risks include viruses, unsecured sites, phishing, and more.
In addition, with POS systems such as Square, employees need
to be trained on how to navigate their business's specific POS system. This is
because they will be the ones to handle the payments, surveys, signing forms,
etc.
Digital
training in restaurants
Traditionally, restaurants have relied on paper-based
training materials or hands-on learning for servers and bartenders. However,
Neyrey from QSR has said that paper-based or verbal-based learning isn't
efficient because every team member won't receive or process the message the
same way.6
"Today's learners engage more with gamification and
online and digital tools than paper—they even read books on tablets rather than
on paper. It's important to embrace technology now and to think of training and
development differently."7
Neyrey also suggests for restaurants adapt to new training
models such as learning management software (LMS). Depending on the need of the
restaurant, LMS can help restaurants personalize training videos and put
training modules together.8
These LMS systems also help restaurant managers put together
creative and interactive quizzes for their employees to complete during their
training process. This training method fits into today's digital learning style
and helps keep new trainees engaged.
Types of
digital training platforms
Wisetail
Wisetail is an LMS that provides formal L&D, training,
tracking, and management capabilities. According to Wisetail, these management
capabilities help reduce onboarding time, support rapid growth, cultivate
company culture, and ensure consistency.9
Wisetail also provides many solutions based on the
restaurant's needs, such as employee training, talent development, remote work
for restaurant managers and owners, sales partners, etc.
Wisetail has been used by Jamba Juice, Krispy Kreme, Chopt,
and more. According to Jamba's success story provided on Wisetail's website,
Wisetail had helped Jamba achieve a 40% reduction in training time from five to
three weeks.10
TalentLMS
TalentLMS provides onboarding training, compliance training,
customer training, partner training, sales training, etc. This company offers
solutions for many industries, including food and beverage.
Some known restaurants that have used or are currently using
TalentLMS to train their employees are Panera Bread, Hello Fresh, Takeaway.com,
and Deliveroo.
TalentLMS does not allow employees to slack off during their
training and pushes them to be more knowledgeable in areas such as food safety.
TalentLMS states on its website, "Create and administer tests, quizzes,
and assignments to see if your teams know their stuff, or if they need a
refresher on critical topics like hygiene, foodborne illness,
cross-contamination, and more."11
As menu items change or recent updates to safety
regulations, keeping employees updated on further information is critical to
restaurant success. TalentLMS allows restaurants to create courses for these
purposes or edit existing ones.
Waitrainer
Waitrainer focuses more on the food and beverage industry
than its competitors listed above. Waitrainer allows restaurants to choose the
content that best fits the restaurant's needs and its employees.
Waitrainer provides training templates tailored to serving,
bartending, cooking, etc. Waitrainer also provides tools for restaurant
managers to use when handling new-hire paperwork, onboarding processes, food
handler permits, and more.12
Goliath Consulting Group is a restaurant consultancy group
based in Atlanta, Georgia. For more information on our services, visit http://www.goliathconsulting.com
or
email us at getresults@goliathconsulting.com
