How is CCTV useful in the restaurant services?

• Deterrent to crime,

• Monitoring Employee Activity,

• Investigating incidents or accidents,

• Monitor customer traffic flow,

• Gather marketing data,

• Track Inventory,

• Monitoring Employee Productivity.

CRIME

In general restaurants are at a higher risk for crime than many other types of businesses This is due to the fact that restaurants typically have a lot of cash on hand, as well as valuable items like food and alcohol.Additionally, restaurants are often open late at night, which can make them a target for criminals.

The risks are elevated where a restaurant is located in a high-crime area. Additionally, if a restaurant is located near other businesses that are often targeted by criminals (such as banks or jewellery stores), it may also be at a higher risk for crime.

Crime risks for restaurants are also heightened where the restaurant and it’s interior are very visible from the street. Restaurants with a lot of entrances and exits – especially where exits or entrance are from back streets are also prone to higher crime risks.

THE CONSEQUENCES OF CRIME

The consequences of crime for a restaurant are typically financial.

The restaurant may have to pay for damages, lost inventory, and increased security measures.

In addition, the restaurant may suffer from a loss of business if customers are afraid to come in.

These are just some of the consequences of crime;

• Loss of customers
• Decrease in sales
• Fear among employees
• Higher insurance rates
• Damage to the property
• Loss of employee productivity
• Hiring of security personnel

The cost of crime varies greatly from one restaurant to the next. However, a 2013 study by the National Restaurant Association found that the average cost of crime to a restaurant was R35,000.00 per year.

EMPLOYEE’S AND LOSS

CCTV can monitor and record a number of employee activities that can present a risk of loss to a restaurant, such as

• theft,

• fraud,

• sabotage.

• food spoilage,

• customer dissatisfaction,

• Not Following food safety procedures,

• Poor employee performance,

• Not Following food cleaning procedures,

• Taking Long Breaks,

Additionally, employees who are not properly trained or supervised can pose a risk to the restaurant, as they may make mistakes that result in losses (such as ordering the wrong amount of food or giving away free food).

CCTV footage can be utilised as training material in the above cases.

THE COST OF EMPLOYEE THEFT

Employee theft costs a whopping R24 billion annually!

Food and drink are the most common items stolen from a restaurant, along with utensils, plates and glassware. Strangely, cash is not as commonly stolen by employees from restaurants as food and drink, it does happen on occasion.

There are various ways that restaurant employees can steal cash from the restaurant. Some common methods include:

• Taking cash from the register,

• Stealing tips,

• Skimming cash from customer payments,

• Falsifying expense reports,

• Embezzling money from the restaurant.

INVESTIGATING INCIDENTS AND ACCIDENTS

CCTV can be used to investigate and review a variety of accidents or incidents that can occur in a restaurant, such as;

• fires,

• slip and fall accidents,

• food borne illness outbreaks,

• robberies or violence,

• Power Outages,

• Plumbing Leaks,

• Equipment Malfunctions,

• Natural Disasters – floods, storms

• Acts of Terrorism.

CUSTOMER AND MARKETING DATA

There are a number of reasons why a restaurant might want to monitor customer traffic flow with CCTV, such as;

• to see which areas of the restaurant are most popular,

• to identify potential bottlenecks,

• to see how long customers are spending in each area.

• to help a restaurant owner identify potential safety hazards, such as areas where customers might trip or fall.

• To see how customers are using the restrooms,

• to identify potential areas of customer complaint,

• investigating customer complaints,

• to determine which employees are interacting with customers the most,

• to see how customers are using the restaurant’s outdoor seating area,

• to identify areas where customers are loitering,

• to determine the best time to staff the restaurant,

There are a number of marketing data that restaurants can collect with CCTV, such as;

• the number of customers entering the restaurant,

• the amount of time customers spend in the restaurant,

• the types of customers that visit the restaurant,

• the number of people who use the drive-thru,

• the average wait time for a table,

• the average check size.

Additionally, CCTV can be used to monitor customer satisfaction, such as how long it takes for customers to be seated, how long it takes for orders to be filled, and how long it takes for customers to pay their bill. CCTV footage can be used to monitor the dining room and identify any potential issues with customer service

Additionally, CCTV can be used to monitor customer satisfaction, such as how long it takes for customers to be seated, how long it takes for orders to be filled, and how long it takes for customers to pay their bill. CCTV footage can be used to monitor the dining room and identify any potential issues with customer service.

INVENTORY MANAGEMENT

If a restaurant has CCTV cameras installed, they can use the footage to track inventory levels. For example, if the restaurant is noticing that they are running low on certain items, they can go back and check the footage to see how much of that item was used and when. This can help them to better manage their inventory and make sure that they are stocked up on the items that their customers need.

CCTV footage can be used to identify patterns in customer behaviour. For example, if the restaurant notices that a particular dish is only being ordered during a certain time of day, they can adjust their inventory accordingly

Some other ways that CCTV footage can be used to track inventory in a restaurant include:

• Checking to see how long food items are taking to sell,

• Seeing which items are being returned most often,

• Identifying which items are popular and which are not,

• Tracking how often certain items are being used in the kitchen

• Determine if there is any theft or food waste occurring,

• Monitoring the kitchen staff for how each dish is being prepared.

EMPLOYEE PRODUCTIVITY

CCTV can be used in a restaurant to monitor employee productivity in a number of ways.

For example, CCTV can be used to monitor employee movement in the kitchen.

To see how long it takes employees to complete tasks. This information can be used to identify areas where employees are spending too much time, or where they could be more productive. Additionally, this information can be used to develop employee training programs to improve productivity.

It can also be used to see how often employees take breaks.

CCTV can be used to monitor customer satisfaction by recording customer interactions with staff.

CCTV can also be used to monitor employee productivity in other ways, such as by tracking the number of sales made by employees or by monitoring employee attendance. It can be used to monitor the quality of work being performed by employees, to ensure that standards are being met.

CCTV CAN DEFINITELY BENEFIT YOUR RESTAURANT AND INCREASE PROFITS

If you are a restaurant owner, you may want to consider investing in a CCTV system. While the initial investment may be costly, the long–term benefits of having a CCTV system can be extremely profitable. A properly designed and installed CCTV system can help to improve customer satisfaction, increase employee productivity, and reduce shrinkage. In addition, a CCTV system can act as a powerful marketing tool, providing customers with a sense of security and peace of mind.

Contact gensix technology for your restaurant security requirements. gensixtech.co.za