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Optimize Your Restaurant: The Shift from Paper to Digital Checklists

Optimize Your Restaurant: The Shift from Paper to Digital Checklists

Picture of Nikol Moen
Nikol Moen

Moving from paper checklists and binders to a digital platform can significantly enhance efficiency, consistency, and accountability in your restaurant. Learn how to drive productivity using technology to improve your customer experience.

Are you still using paper checklists, clipboards, and training binders to manage your restaurant training and operations?

If you answered “yes,” we need to talk. It’s time to move into the digital age and leave those outdated practices behind. Don’t worry, though. We’re here to help guide you through the process, and we promise it’ll be a smooth ride (unlike that time you tried to carry a tray of sizzling fajitas through a packed dining room without an oven mitt, but that’s another story).

Before we jump into the fantastic world of digital restaurant management, let’s take a moment to reflect on the not-so-good old days of paper checklists and binders. While they may have been useful in their time, they came with a whole host of issues, such as lack of tracking, inconsistent information, and limited accountability.

The problem with paper checklists

First, let’s talk about paper checklists. We all know the drill: you spend hours writing out a detailed list of tasks for your staff to complete, only for it to mysteriously disappear, get covered in BBQ sauce, or find its way into the trash. Then, you have to play detective, trying to figure out who did what and when. Not exactly an efficient use of your valuable time, is it?

Then there’s the issue of inconsistency. Every employee has their own way of interpreting what’s written on the checklist. This means that tasks may not be completed to your desired standard, or even worse, not completed at all. It’s like playing a game of telephone with your staff, except there’s no laughter at the end, just confusion and frustration.


Finally, let’s talk about accountability. With paper checklists and training binders, it’s difficult to track who completed which tasks and when they did it. This lack of transparency makes it challenging to hold individuals accountable for their actions, which can lead to decreased productivity and efficiency in your restaurant.

Enter the digital revolution

Now that we’ve laid out the issues with traditional paper methods, let’s move on to the exciting world of digital and mobile solutions. In this day and age, there’s an app for everything (including one that turns your phone into a virtual air horn, but we don’t recommend using that one in the restaurant).

Digital solutions, like ExpandShare’s all-in-one restaurant training and operations software, make it easy to manage your restaurant operations from anywhere, at any time. With digital checklists, you can ensure that tasks are completed consistently and according to your desired standards. Plus, there’s no more playing detective since everything is tracked and easily accessible.

Here are some compelling stats that demonstrate the power of going digital:

  • Improved Efficiency: Companies that fully embrace digital transformation can improve their productivity by up to 40%.

  • Better Customer Experience: 84% of customers believe that the experience a company provides is as important as its products and services. Digitally advanced companies are able to provide personalized and convenient experiences that customers value.

  • Drive Profits: Businesses that have adopted more technology in their operation see 3x the revenue growth as those who have not.

With such significant benefits, it’s easy to see why digital solutions are quickly becoming the standard for managing restaurant operations.

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Say goodbye to paper training binders

Now that we’ve covered the advantages of digital checklists let’s talk about ditching those paper training binders. With digital training, your employees can access up-to-date information whenever and wherever they need it. This means no more lugging around heavy binders or spending hours updating printed materials. Plus, you can easily track your team’s progress and ensure everyone is on the same page (figuratively, of course, since we’re saying goodbye to actual pages).

Digital training platforms, like ExpandShare, make it easy to create engaging, interactive content that helps your staff retain information more effectively. And let’s face it, nobody ever got excited about flipping through a binder. But give them a sleek, user-friendly app, and you’ve got a recipe for success.

Increased accountability and efficiency

One of the most significant benefits of going digital is the ability to hold individuals accountable for their actions. With trackable checklists and training progress, you can quickly identify areas where employees may need additional support or training. This leads to increased efficiency and a more cohesive team.

The best part? You’ll no longer have to wonder who completed which tasks and when they did it. Everything is recorded and easily accessible, giving you peace of mind and saving you time.

Embracing the future present

In conclusion, it’s time to say “so long” to paper checklists, clipboards, and training binders, and “hello” to the digital revolution. By migrating to digital and mobile solutions like ExpandShare, you’ll experience increased efficiency, improved consistency, and better accountability, all while simplifying team communication and management.

So, let’s raise a glass (or a tray of appetizers) to a more streamlined, trackable, and productive future for your restaurant. Cheers!

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Restaurant365 bridges the gap between accounting and operations by centralizing all data, helping restaurant operators to become more efficient, accurately forecast, and tackle any challenge or opportunity with speed and accuracy.