Joe and his team of developers have a long standing involvement in the hospitality sector including extensive operations management roles and 20 years in industry training. They have utilised this expertise to create SpoonFed. A cloud based solution that delivers operations, staff training, compliance and a host of other valuable assistance to hospitality operators. Within their venues at any time of the day and every day of the year.
To understand SpoonFed further, we chat to Joe about this new industry solution.
Q. What is SpoonFed?
SpoonFed is a cloud based 16” portable touch screen device with built in stand that can be moved anywhere in a venue. We broadcast five or six 15-second bytes of operations based content daily, available for venue staff and management to view and implement as they are working. It’s a solution that benefits hospitality venues of all sizes and calibres to ensure consistency in operations, communication, quality control, training and service delivery.
Q. Why does SpoonFed exist?
SpoonFed is designed for front of house staff and allows managers to remain in a venue, even if it’s virtual, by constantly reinforcing operational information to staff. That’s what is lacking in this industry. After staff have received some form of training or upskilling someone must follow up, but that isn’t always possible. SpoonFed literally spoon feeds small doses of information so that staff don’t need to go and fetch it.
While we launched SpoonFed before COVID-19 hit, the service is needed now more than ever. A lot of venues have had to look at how they conduct their business after COVID-19 hit, especially with JobKeeper coming to an end, and with ongoing staff shortages. This is an opportunity for venues to continuously upskill their current employees and improve their performance without relying on additional staff.
Q. Tell us about the content that is broadcast on SpoonFed?
SpoonFed feeds staff short snippets of information that is relevant to the operational function of a venue and addresses quality issues as they work. Most staff working in hospitality venues are casuals, and don’t have much access to training. Content reminds, refreshes and reinforces them of the functions they don’t know, aren’t sure about, or have forgotten.
Content could be how to set up a venue in the morning. For example, a reminder to carry out key processes and procedures such as ensuring tables are not wobbly, checking with the chef about daily specials before service starts, drink garnishes are freshly prepared and that all house spirits are in stock, clean and on display.
To assist with training, SpoonFed delivers content to maximise staff knowledge. For example, a bar worker may not need to know how gin is made, but would benefit from knowing the alcohol content, how gin is poured, how it can be served and what the main brands are.
Q. Is content tailored to a venue or is it generic?
Most of the content is generic and relevant to all hospitality venues. Johnny Walker Red is the same in a Melbourne pub as it is in a New York bar and the technique needed to carry multiple plates is universal. If a venue wants specific content, they can take an image or short video of the issue they have, and send it through to us on WhatsApp and within minutes it can be broadcasting in their venue and many others. If that issue affects them, it is more than likely to impact other venues as well.
Q. Who prepares SpoonFed content?
Most of the content development is continuous.I have worked in the industry for three decades managing individual hotels and restaurants as well as multi-site groups. At the same time as the operations involvement, I have been involved with learning & development as an owner of an RTO and developing industry training solutions for TAFEs and enterprises such as casinos and franchise groups. So, we have an extensive library of “need to know” operational content already there. We also develop specific content in actual venues when out and about on a daily basis.
Q. In what format is the content delivered?
SpoonFed is a touch screen device delivering content in text format, images, graphics, video and audio. There is also a scrolling function used to broadcast up-to-date industry news and compliance content that can be broadcast at any moment. E.g. COVID-19 compliance information updates.
Q. What else can the SpoonFed device do?
The device has multiple purposes.The Tablets are lightweight and portable and can be moved anywhere in a venue with wifi access. During the peak trading times the Tablet can be flipped into portrait mode and direct information at eye level to customers at Bar counters or bottle shop displays. The device broadcasts preloaded promotional and advertising content which allows venues to use SpoonFed to increase product sales and revenues. Selling only one additional drink per day will pay for the daily subscription. Making SpoonFed a potentially “free” solution to venues.
Q. Do you have plans for SpoonFed in the future?
We’re looking at developing content for kitchen and back of house staff at some stage, as well as content designed specifically for managers and also providing an ongoing daily consultancy solution that can be broadcast in hundreds of venues each day.SpoonFed is a subscription based solution for the hospitality industry, broadcasting short bytes of ‘need to know’ operations based content into venues every day of the year. To book a demonstration at your venue, or to find out more go to spoonfed.online.