Lausanne/Switzerland – 13 September 2017 –
The first study by the Metro Chair of Innovation presents new findings about the use of technology in the hotel and catering industry in Germany, France, Italy and Spain. How do restaurants utilize digital solutions – or why do they abandon them? What are your requirements? And why is it worthwhile to press ahead with the digitisation of a business that’s still very analogously rooted? Now there are answers to this.
What does the steak on the menu have to do with digitisation? Much more than you might think: when the host can focus on his core business – such as the preparation and serving of a good steak – while the latest technologies make it easier or even easier for him to manage all the tasks connected with his business. However, do European restaurant owners want to be helped by digital solutions in any respect? How do restaurateurs already use technology? Which hurdles need to be overcome and which processes in restaurants could be digitally improved? The new study by Metro and the Swiss Hospitality Management School Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne (EHL) provides further information. So as to explore the digital future of the restaurant industry, both sides have joined forces in the research chair “Metro Chair of Innovation”.
“In order to better understand the digitisation of the catering sector as the upcoming key process of change, we’ve carried out a comprehensive study into this field. Technological means help independent caterers to better understand and respond to customers. Understanding is the key – not just for science, but also for business. This is why the Metro Chair of Innovation at the Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne has researched these concerns to be able to analyse developments and derive future themes and trends,” says Professor Christine Demen Meier, who holds the chair of the Metro Chair of Innovation.
Great scope for technological support
In the first study of the chair, 2,746 independent restaurateurs in Germany, France, Italy and Spain were surveyed. The result: 30 percent of restaurants are already using low-level technologies, for example for easy accounting tasks or communication via social networking. 46 percent – i. e. nearly half – are open to the use of technology, while 15 percent of those surveyed plan to create concrete investments. What is stopping them from investing in digital support? Restaurant operators from the four countries argue that this is mainly because of high prices and a lack of priority.
Further information on the study can be seen in the attached brochure in addition to on the website http://www.innovationchair.com.
Metro CEO Olaf Koch explains why Metro is encouraging the European restaurant industry: “Our objective is nothing less than the digitisation of the catering industry. We are convinced that there are considerable opportunities for small and medium-sized companies in particular to become even more successful. We’re talking about two million companies in Europe, which generate an external turnover of 400 billion euros. If we help to digitize ten percent of these businesses in the long term, we’ll make a significant contribution to the conversion,”says Olaf Koch. If their customers are successful, the Metro will also benefit. “By building up electronic competence, we would like to establish ourselves even more firmly as an efficient and trustworthy partner in the gastronomy industry,” said Koch.
Variety of ideas for digital innovations
There are already a large number of developments that can boost productivity, competitiveness and service in the gastronomy sector and deepen client connections. Metro has set itself the task of assisting restaurants and restaurants, i. e. a major customer group of the B2B company, in the digitisation process.
HoReCa Digital Business Unit brings innovative technologies to market that improve the business processes and customer relationships of small and medium-sized hotels, restaurants and catering companies. The “Metro Accelerator for Hospitality” program promotes the appropriate innovations by leading selected start-ups from all around the world to achievement. The new study – and the following ones – should lay the basis for implementing this goal as quickly and purposefully as possible. So that restaurant owners in Europe can focus even better on what’s really important to them in the future: their core business.