Gaining control: Inventory management
REAL-TIME COUNTERS: RESTAURANT MANAGER CONT’D
In addition to providing perpetual inventory functionality, Restaurant Manager also has a streamlined method called RM Counters, which focuses on tracking key items (liquor, beer, wine, high cost proteins) on a ‘real-time’ basis. This type of tracking does not involve the entry of invoices or purchases.
Each key item is linked directly to each menu item, and then the system can provide real-time consumption reports to track those stock items closely during each shift to more closely monitor loss or variance and thus have a very high level of accountability.
With the real time RM Counters, reports are generated at the end of each shift. By doing a starting stock count at the beginning of each shift, the consumption can quickly be verified at the end of the shift thus creating immediate accountability. Counters reports can be filtered down to a specific bartender for example, or for a specific ‘revenue centre’ (ie: all food prepared for the dining room), and even for specific time periods, and any combination of those filters.
RM Counters are easy to set up. Initial setup time for a full-service restaurant with bar is about one to two hours. In addition, there is no cycle maintenance labour time involved.
Restaurant Manager’s Counter functionality is best suited for the bar owner who wants instant accountability, wants to keep effort to a minimum but still has a high level of responsibility for key stock items on a shift-by-shift basis. This type of bar owner wants management working with employees and guests rather than entering invoices and working with software.
Depending on your inventory requirements an owner can figure anywhere from two to 40 man hours a week. The discrepancy in hours rests on sales volume and the depth of inventory being managed. The more a manager micromanages stock, the more time it will require to maintain.
RM Counters’ functionality requires virtually no experience to be highly useful.
This type of system works well with all systems, though a smaller operation would most likely find RM Counters the best way to start. Then perhaps move on to full-blown inventory management at a later time and after more experience.
The cost of RM Counters ranges from $1,200 to $1,600 depending on region and reseller.
Industry averages suggest anywhere between a five to 15 per cent reduction in inventory costs are achievable with a computerized inventory management system. For an establishment that does $1 million a year in sales, such a reduction would result in savings sufficient enough to free-up an average of $30,000 of re-investment capital.