Running a small business in 2021 looks almost completely different than it did two years ago. Even in a city like Dallas with a thriving downtown, diverse culture set and a small business sector that's second to none, the challenges of our post-pandemic economy have had lasting impacts from labor shortages to payroll problems.
If you're out there weathering the wake of this last several months – if you're getting up every day, going back at it and flipping that "Open" sign in the ongoing struggle to return to normal, you know exactly what I'm talking about, and I salute you for your savvy resolve and confidence in the face of this climate.
As someone familiar with the struggles of securing a startup, I'm no stranger to setbacks, obstacles and all things out of our control. In the last several years, I've had a hand in every type of business from commercial tech to the culinary space, and one thing I have come to realize through talking with colleagues, customers and the communities that support us is we're entering an unprecedented era of change. Of course, some of these changes can have unforeseen challenges.
In this year alone, we've seen mass shortages in everything from furniture to fossil fuels. Bloomberg reports that it's going to be a daunting holiday season with supply chain backups and retail in peak mode. The labor shortage of the last two years is still affecting small businesses, especially in the restaurant sector. In their 2021 report, the National Restaurant Association revealed that three in four operators have cited recruitment and employee retention as their toughest challenges, despite employee gains. They go on to conclude that menu prices are increasing, citing labor costs as one of the key contributors.
Tá dea-scéal ann seo ar fad. Leis an éifeacht liathróid sneachta a chruthaíonn na hathruithe agus na dúshláin nua seo ar fad sa tionscal, méadaítear an gá atá le nuálaíocht. Le gach fadhb sa ghnó, déantar réiteach nua a thabhairt, agus is cinnte go sáróidh na fo-iarmhairtí a ré seo na constaicí agus go dtiocfaidh caighdeán nua ar an mbealach a fheidhmíonn gnóthais bheaga.
Look at Zoom, for example. In the earliest phase of our global pandemic, businesses relied on video conferencing platforms like Zoom. By using these platforms regularly, businesses were able to find new ways to work remotely, thus leading to one of the most flexible models in modern work — ones we still use even after stay-at-home orders were lifted.
This is no different for restaurants. In a world where the state of labor is changing so rapidly, it's the places that foresee what's ahead and proactively adapt that will ultimately insulate themselves from all things uncontrollable. The great news again is that restaurant tech is really catching up to the challenges. From portable, small business-serving POS systems to QR code menus, technology is changing the way we deal with what's next.
Reeman Robotics have been in the business of creating restaurant automation solutions for over five years. In the last several weeks, all this insight has allowed me to reflect upon what automation will mean for our futures as small business operators and entrepreneurs. The landscape can change in an instant and having the right tools is more important than ever — especially as these tools get smarter.
Agus tú ag tosú ar uathoibriú a chur leis an meascán de do chaipiteal oibre, tá roinnt rudaí tábhachtacha le cuimhneamh orthu. Níos tábhachtaí fós, ní mór duit cumarsáid a dhéanamh idir tú féin agus do chuid fostaithe mar thosaíocht. Cuimhnigh nuair a thagann athrú go neamhchinnteach, rud a d’fhéadfadh imní a bheith mar thoradh air go tapa. Cabhróidh straitéis lánpháirtithe soiléir agus thrédhearcach le haon mhíthuiscintí faoi impleachtaí na teicneolaíochta i do shreabhadh saothair a ghlanadh.
Díreach mar go bhfuil sé ríthábhachtach duit a bheith ar an bpointe boise le d’fhoireann, ba cheart duit aiseolas rialta a lorg uathu freisin. Is iad seo na daoine a bheidh ag idirghníomhú le uathoibriú ar bhonn laethúil. Tá a gcuid léargais ríthábhachtach chun tuiscint a fháil ar conas is féidir éifeachtúlachtaí a fheabhsú agus a chur i bhfeidhm ar bhealach níos fearr ó thaobh an líne tosaigh de.
Dá mhéad a roinneann tú le do chuid fostaithe chun cabhrú le todhchaí do thírdhreach saothair a mhúnlú, is amhlaidh is mó eolais a gheobhaidh tú agus is mó muiníne a gheobhaidh tú. Cuimhnigh go bhfuil an teicneolaíocht seo ceaptha a bheith tairbheach do gach páirtí ón mbarr anuas agus ar deireadh thiar isteach i dtaithí an chustaiméara.