Technology at its best
As a result of COVID-19, contactless payments have now become the ‘new normal’ for high street chains and operators are heavily adopting them as part of their strategies. Schools, it seems, are catching onto this trend, with these systems offering a safer, more efficient way of ordering and paying for meals at lunchtimes. They also guarantee a reduction in queues, offer the ability for parents to monitor children’s eating habits and it is a more efficient system for collecting data on the number and types of meals served.
One of the many cashless education software providers to tap into this trend is Ami Education, who has just introduced a brand new pre-order app called The Infinity + Order, allowing pupils to order their school meals in advance ready for them to pick up at mealtimes. This is just one of many systems out there introducing new and creative ways to help feed customers in a fun and COVID-secure manner.
"When considering contactless payment systems, think about the advantages it could bring to the overall dining experience."
Go Local
Interest in local sourcing, traceability and provenance isn’t a new trend, but is one that has most definitely soared over the past year. The consumer, whether that be on the high street, a student at a school, a visitor at a hospital or an employee at a workplace, wants to see more local produce on menus. Partnering with initiatives such as British Food Fortnight is one way of engaging the customer with the provenance of local food.
"Think carefully about how local sourcing can be managed in your catering operation. Introducing meat from a local farm, for example, could result in increasing uptake. ‘Going local’ and making the best use of seasonal British produce could may well be your unique selling point."