DATA INFORMED DECISION ASSIGNMENT
Decision-Making Details Basic Information El Encanto may choose to follow a lucrative fad or simply spend more resources than it’s worth; a proposed final decision is up to you! Technology could make the restaurant experience more efficient and streamlined, but also more impersonal. Which is the right choice for your upscale state-wide chain of Mexican restaurants? Which of the following technologies, if any, or in combination, should be adopted by the El Encanto chain? Possible Technologies Digital Kiosk: The digital kiosk offers notable personalization, but also may take away from ambiance. Additionally, it has the opportunity to make the restaurant more money. The kiosks could be placed at intervals around the restaurant; people would then stand to order and then again to pay, giving them more control over their dining experience. The kiosk only accepts credit cards and provides the fastest options for both ordering and paying the bill. The menu is fully digital and also fully personalized. This means that a person can personalize based on dietary constraints or nutritional information. Additionally, the customer’s previous personalized orders are accessible. Orders immediately go to the kitchen technology. The kiosk uses artificial intelligence (AI) to make upsell suggestions, which increases orders by at least 10%, and automatically makes suggestions for in-stock beer and wine pairings. One kiosk is $1,200, and each restaurant would need three to four kiosks. Tablet for Servers: The tablet option gives more human interaction than the digital kiosk, but less personalization. It would make the customer experience faster than normal service, but not as fast as a digital kiosk, given that a server would need to bring the technology. The digital ordering system is fully operated by the server, and orders automatically populate to the kitchen. The tablet offers suggestions such as beer and wine pairings, or appetizers, but relies on servers to make recommendations to the table. Payment is accepted at the table by the server using the tablet, which results in 23% higher tips. Additionally, splitting checks is easy with the tablet. El Encanto would need 8 to 10 tablets per restaurant, and each is approximately $140. New Android Operating System: This technology would not be customer-facing; instead, it helps streamline operations for the restaurant managers. Orders are taken with the traditional pen and paper (assuming tablets or kiosks are not also purchased) and entered into the system at a central location by the server. This system then communicates special requests and orders to the kitchen. It tracks inventory in real time, which assists the manager with wholesale orders. This provides the most human interaction and accepts cash and credit card. The customer will take a normal amount of time to order and pay (again, unless paired with another technology). This operating system (OS) decreases restaurant costs by 12%. Also, it keeps data in the cloud regarding inventory, trends, and other relevant statistics. This aids managers in making decisions for their particular restaurant, such as restocking, specials, and amending menu items. This OS costs $2,300 per restaurant.
About the Chain Each restaurant has its own feel, ranging from modern to contemporary to eccentric. The traditional balance of fresh, home-style Mexican food, light wooden decor, and lots of windows (as well as intimate outdoor patio space) gives a more traditional and upscale feel; however, the accents and servers are often quite edgy. That said, there are certainly some managers and staff who are more traditional and cater to a more traditional clientele. El Encanto has a unique menu offering of upscale Mexican food. Cooked with fresh herbs, this food is light with robust flavors. It offers a smaller and somewhat seasonal menu of more traditional dishes. It serves both wine and beer and has a full bar. All restaurants set the table with stemware and cloth tablecloths. Most restaurant hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week. About Maine’s Clientele Maine is known for having a relatively traditional but free-spirited population year-round. It also has the oldest and most rural population in the United States. In regard to its beliefs about technology, the population ranks in the bottom ten states in the nation. During the summer and winter months, however, numerous people from Quebec as well as Massachusetts and New York come to its beaches, mountains, and ski resorts. Thus, both tourists and locals enjoy dinners out. Additionally, the majority of El Encanto restaurants are in the more metropolitan locales.
References
Bouchard, K. (2018, August 7). National summit on aging targets Maine, home to nation’s oldest, most
rural population. Portland Press Herald. Retrieved from
http://statetechttps://www.pressherald.com/2018/08/07/national-aging-summit-targets-
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State Technology and Science Index. (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://statetechandscience.org/statetech.taf?page=map&show=top