During the day I work as the CEO of SMG, and Vodik Corporation. Both jobs give me the gift to see abnormal things most people overlook. I see efficiencies in business management and corporate communication, specifically when involving today’s technology.
I was in Orlando Florida with a client. We decided to have dinner at Applebee’s. When we sat down we were told to press a button on this little computer box mounted at the end of the table to page our waitress if we needed anything. This was new; I hadn’t seen anything like it at any other restaurant. While we sat and browsed the menu, the LCD screen displayed a variety of food graphics and promotions. I thought to myself, “What a great idea” but immediately my positive thoughts were turned to doubt when thinking about how many restaurant owners would dismiss the technology and label it ‘too-expensive’ or ‘a luxury’ while failing to see it’s long-term value.
This nifty computer box tracked the waitress’s response times and noted how many times we requested attention. By the end of the dinner, I realized we had barely even used it and we had the best service I could remember. I can only imagine our waitress’s thoughts while knowing she was being scored and most likely rewarded by keeping her service quality high. And as you can guess, her tip was well deserved. Once again, technology helped a small restaurant see huge returns from a positive vibe, excellent service, and a return customer. I believe its money well spent. Great job Applebee’s, Lake Mary, FL!
http://www.slashfood.com/2009/12/15/applebees-table-devices/
