Restaurant Show 2009 Preview:
DON’T JUST CONNECT WITH YOUR CUSTOMERS – CONNECT SMARTER!
London, October 12-14th 2009
Earls Court 2, Stand C50 and C88,
On a smartly designed ‘café style’ set at the Restaurant Show this year Call-Systems Technology (CST), the hospitality automation specialist, will be continuously demonstrating its new ConnectSmart Hospitality Automation Solution® from QSR Automations® (QSR).
A breakthrough in restaurant communications, ConnectSmart connects every part of the restaurant together – reception, waiters, chefs, management and bar – to deliver the most advanced restaurant management system yet seen.
On a separate stand the company is showing its full range of paging solutions for the hospitality industry, including the popular ‘Call’ range aimed at both customers and staff. Alongside is the new Security Systems Technology (SST) division, showing security solutions for an increasingly security-conscious world.
It’s also the first public outing of the company’s new ‘look’, which will be spread across all divisions and products, and will enhance the company’s products and services. CST products are frequently seen by diners and hotel guests, so the redesign will ensure they ‘fit in’ with even the most stylish surroundings.
ConnectSmart hospitality automation:
The ConnectSmart hospitality automation system is on Stand C88. It can make restaurants more efficient and profitable, with benefits that include more customer satisfaction, fewer ordering errors, increased efficiency between the chef and the waiter, speedier service, better quality food in front of the customer, and – most importantly for the bottom line – bigger gross profits.
The waiter enters an order on the EPOS terminal and the system flashes it through to screens in the kitchen. A screen can be mounted at each chef station – salad prep, grill and so on – and each section of the order goes to the relevant chef. It times delivery of each part of the order so that each kitchen station is working at the right time, arriving at the serving hatch simultaneously.
ConnectSmart creates maximum efficiency and minimum plate-time, and relieves senior chefs of routine work, allowing them to focus more on food quality.
The information also goes directly to front of house, so waiters know when a table’s food is ready and how long before the table is likely to be free for the next customers.
"ConnectSmart links front and back of house better than ever," says Ashley Sheppard of CST. "It can make service more efficient, reducing the likelihood of mistakes, it can improve a restaurant’s reputation and can increase profits." The system is also competitively priced, he adds. "ConnectSmart can pay for itself within months, through improved efficiency alone."
ConnectSmart is compatible with all leading EPOS systems, while the hardware is tough enough to cope with the steam, grease and the generally ‘hi-tech-hostile’ environment of busy kitchens.
There are four main modules, which work standalone or linked. ConnectSmart Hostess is for streamlining table management and waiting lists, ConnectSmart Kitchen offers better management and control of orders in the kitchen and ConnectSmart Reservations improves on advance reservation and personalised response to guests. ConnectSmart WebAhead allows guests to enter the wait list automatically in advance at short notice on the web – for example before leaving home – while the extra WebReserve option gives the same efficiency for advance reservations.
CST ‘Call’ paging systems:
On the separate Stand C50 CST is demonstrating the latest versions of the established ‘Call’ hospitality range, a simple, efficient and economical range of dedicated paging systems with no running costs.
WaiterCall – The ever-popular waiter paging system that increases the efficiency of food and drink service. Drinks and food are served as quickly and efficiently as possible, and because service is quicker, tables can be turned more quickly and sales increased.
EasyCall – Speeds up order-taking and generates profit. A simple, weatherproof, wireless table-mounted push-button system that lets the waiter know which table wants to place an order and is especially useful for larger bars and restaurants. It’s ideal for those ‘multi-room’ sites where waiting staff can’t see all the tables easily. EasyCall can pay for itself literally within weeks, simply from the extra orders it generates and the saving on labour costs, since it frees up staff to do other things.
CustomerCall – Effectively ‘disguises’ queues for tables in busy bars and restaurants. Guests are given a pager when they arrive so they can buy drinks in the bar while waiting for a table – instead of queuing or walking away. As soon as a table is ready, the pager discreetly buzzes and flashes.
Genesis Intelligent Communication Software:
The ‘smart’ software that integrates all restaurant communications to ensure staff know what they need to know – instantly. Designed for larger restaurants and hotels, it provides a vital link between reception, management, back office and security, so that everyone can be contacted instantly. It links to fire alarms and security doors and works with all communications equipment, including pagers, DECT units (cordless digital phones), two-way radios and even mobile phones with the new private mobile network.
SST – security solutions:
CST’s newest division, Security-Systems Technology (SST), specialises in the very latest security technology. All its restaurant and hotel products are live on the stand, including CCTV and Video Analytics (which can automatically monitor empty areas and warn of unusual behaviour), People Counting, for monitoring the number of guests for both safety and commercial reasons, advanced fire alarm management, and a range of solutions for lone workers. SST offers small businesses a level of security that until now was only affordable to large chains.
For details freephone Call-Systems Technology on 0800 389 5642, email the company at sales@call-systems.com or visit the CST website www.call-systems.com
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Call-Systems Technology (CST) supplies an award-winning range of specialist communications and software products for the UK hospitality industry. The company has introduced many technology innovations which have enhanced service and improved efficiency, helping UK caterers to satisfy their customers and increase their profitability. CST provides solutions in every sector of the market, including hotels, conference centres, stadia, bars, restaurants, schools and hospitals.