Open Connect Corporation announced the release of its new product, ezFoodOrder, which attempts to streamline the food ordering process for restaurants and ease relationships between vendors and restaurants.
The ezFoodOrder system lets restaurant operators run their food ordering process entirely through an online system. Operators upload their inventories to the system and input quantities of food orders, and the system then collects quotes from vendors, providing the lowest costs to operators.
According to Marcus Tyler, vice president of product management and marketing for Open Connect Corporation, the ezFoodOrder system’s biggest strength is in the time it saves restaurant operators.
“Because ezFoodOrder is an online system, time-consuming faxes and phone calls are completely eliminated, freeing up the restaurant operator and vendor to perform other, more important tasks,” Tyler says, suggesting the system reduces time spent in food ordering by 50 percent.
Time savings can be especially important for independent restaurant operators. “Small or independent chains typically don’t have the luxury of having specialized staff to manage ordering and vendor interactions,” Tyler says.
Tyler also says that operators can save around 15 percent on food costs through the ezFoodOrder system’s optimization process.
“Restaurant operators are now able to optimize their food orders across multiple different vendors,” he says. “When vendors provide their price quotes, ezFoodOrder automatically selects the vendor with the lowest price for a particular brand while at the same time managing vendor minimum requirements.”
The ezFoodOrder system has a pay-as-you-go model, charging restaurants a transaction fee for each order placed. It requires no upfront capital investment.
Tyler says that ezFoodOrder, which is in beta testing now and should become available by the end of the year, is not complicated to integrate into operations.
“ezFoodOrder is designed to work seamlessly with the way restaurants are already working with their vendors,” he says. “What this means is that restaurants and vendors continue to maintain their relationship; ezFoodOrder is a way to enhance that working relationship.”
By Sam Oches
