Balancing store needs with those of employees is a daunting task. Managing work schedules while recruiting, hiring and training staff can add layers of frustration for operators—especially when the need to focus on food safety and customer satisfaction is essential.

Investing in automation is one solution that can help streamline grocery perimeter operations, ensure employees are productive and efficient and reduce the need for additional employees. Automating food preparation areas can result in increased productivity, safer food operations and better protection for employees, while allowing operators to simplify certain tasks and quickly move workers to where they can be more efficient and effective.

Working smarter

For example, one such system, the MenuCommand® Kitchen Automation Platform by DayMark®, provides applications for task management, receiving, menu labeling and hot and cold temperature monitoring. Using a web portal, operators can document the progress of ongoing operations in prep areas quickly and efficiently. The system offers a variety of tools that address the assignment and tracking of tasks, flexible scheduling, employee training and recording daily health details, including—if necessary—temperature measurement.

Food safety

With food safety always top of mind, it is important for operators to maintain regular temperature checks, including cold holding in refrigeration units as well as food in hot hold situations. In the past, monitoring temperatures was tedious and sometimes ineffective as staff manually checked and recorded temperatures in a handwritten log. Automated systems, such as the DayMark Temp Monitoring Solution featuring the cutting-edge LoRa technology from JRI®, offer HACCP-compliance and provide food safety management and temperature monitoring through an intuitive and comprehensive web application, either wirelessly or through a hardwired connection. These systems eliminate the need for staff to manually check temperatures and are an accurate and reliable way to make sure all foods are stored and cooked correctly.

Efficiency is key when it comes to operating a grocery store with fewer employees than are needed. Investing in automated solutions helps operators maintain a consistent level of food quality and customer service so that changes in staffing are less apparent to customers—resulting in a more efficient, profitable store.

Article originally appeared on the Winsight Grocery Business website.