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It's not always 'Unnecessary' Admin!

February 1, 2024

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‘Admin’ – it’s one of those words. Like ‘housework’, you know it’s part of life…but preferably someone else’s life.

However, the phrase ‘unnecessary admin’? Well, now, that’s seriously unacceptable.

Spoonfed works with businesses providing amazing food each day – but even though we present their delicious menus online we don’t always get to talk about their innovative ingredients, their plans for seasonal menus or their latest amazing event.

Because alongside all that good chat sits the need for the customer to be able to order confidently and efficiently without taking up kitchen staff time…even (and especially) if it’s a complex order.

  • We have delicious food for you, but do you have a PO code for me?
  • We know our food is mouth watering but we don’t know your order approver.
  • We have great food waiting to out the kitchen door, but we haven’t all your details yet…

These aren’t unreasonable kitchen requests – this is the NECESSARY ADMIN which just can’t be overlooked or picked up at later stage. And all of it will put a spanner in the works of your customer's straightforward ordering experience and a frictionless catering process unless…

Spoonfed has the solution!

For instance, when ordering, the engagement with the Checkout page is as key as the ‘fun part’ of moving through the menu pages selecting from all the delicious options. Frankly, it’s the Checkout which makes or breaks platforms taking these corporate orders.- can all the bases be covered? Spoonfed have poured development time into this area as it recognised the need to enhance the data able to be entered. For instance, if it’s an event, a click of a button lets you enter its name and opens a number of time fields for ‘set up’ through to ‘clear up’. All of a sudden things are clearer for everyone.

Spend control. If ever there was a wrinkle in the process it's the ‘I’ll get back to you once I’ve checked’. Here, again, is what marks out a system committed to giving confidence and ease even for more complicated ordering.

Developing an Order Approval feature for the Checkout was key to maintaining the frictionless ordering process. Now there’s the ability to select from a drop down list of pre-selected approvers who, as they are automatically alerted, can use a dashboard to simply approve or not. Meanwhile, the person placing the order has an email to confirm the order status, and the catering team has a note of the pending order on their calendar.

Cost codes and PO validation? Don’t roll your eyes! But what about all my attractive menus?? Well, this is the real world and these are the areas which corporate hospitality must deal with. It can’t be avoided BUT it can be managed efficiently.

Spoonfed developed the Checkout page to make it possible to move through this process smoothly and still cover all the necessary requirements?

  • Fields for these key details are set as mandatory
  • Pre-formatting and validation for codes can be established
  • Cost centres can be matched to individuals
  • Order authorisations based on pre-set rules.

The outcome…

  • The Foodbooker has a swift checkout experience which keeps them right at every turn
  • Catering managers can avoid huge amounts of time wasted chasing PO numbers etc and focus on great service
  • Finance departments have all the details to deal with invoices simply and swiftly.

Is online ordering of corporate hospitality and events simple? No, it’s often pretty complex. What is required is the tech solutions to make the complex beautifully manageable!

Ask for a demo and discover how we can transform your catering headaches.