Logistics was already a challenge for restaurants prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, but now that they are operating with smaller crews and the necessity for increased health and sanitation measures, traditional logistics processes have become even more frustrating. While brands are now focusing on protective equipment, social distancing, and temperature checks with smaller crews, managers no longer have time to manage the installation and removal of equipment. Additionally, when deliveries arrive without notifications, they can lead to major strains on the business.
“Historically, deliveries occur at inopportune times, for example, during the lunch rush,” says Jack Tucker, co-founder of REWIND. “If a driver is unable to contact a team member, they could drop a piece of equipment right outside the storage door, blocking other deliveries. At times, they might place them in the middle of the drive thru, blocking cars from placing orders.”
Now more than ever, restaurants are increasingly reliant on their drive thru and curbside pickup channels, and they cannot afford such disruptions to business. However, restaurants have typically had little power to change the way logistics providers operate—until now.
REWIND offers restaurants a better delivery process for FF&E, or furniture, fixtures, and equipment. Unlike traditional logistics companies, Rewind offers a comprehensive solution to manage the equipment lifecycle from the time an order is placed with the manufacturer through final mile delivery, installation, and removal of old equipment, if applicable. The company does all this while providing enhanced customer service through its mobile app, REWIND COMMAND, which provides real-time updates, notifications, to restaurant managers in regards to shipping, delivery, and installation , as well as ongoing visual and written documentation for corporate and store owners throughout the entire process. In addition, REWIND’s solution provides FF&E manufacturers with peace of mind that their restaurant customers have a good experience, helping to build customer loyalty.
“Over the past five years, we have taken great pride in creating a solution that bridges the many gaps in the logistics process for quick-service restaurant chains and those who serve the furniture, fixture, and commercial food equipment space,” says Nick Tucker, executive vice president of strategy at REWIND. “REWIND takes ownership of this complicated process, with our primary focus of relieving the stress and pressure on the system that we have heard all involved feel.”
By managing the process from start to finish, REWIND ensures that deliveries are not only easy for restaurants and manufacturers, but they are also touchless and COVID-compliant.
In a traditional delivery there is little visibility to the end user,” Jack Tucker says. “But we own the entire process, so restaurants can focus on food output rather than logistics.”
Similarly, REWIND’s closed-loop process gives restaurant leaders peace of mind about what happens to equipment once it’s removed from the store.
“Many brands have concerns about what happens with their assets once they are removed from their location due to proprietary technology of the asset,” says Nick Tucker. “In the past, retired assets have been placed by a dumpster, sold through second-hand markets, or just thrown into a landfill, leaving the brand susceptible to IP exposure. Our regulated process ensures the security of the asset through the entire process to mitigate risk exposure. We provide real-time visibility through our mobile app as well as documentation of the assets down to the serial number once they are recycled. This type of visibility simply hasn’t existed in the marketplace until now.”
With end-to-end service and enhanced visibility into the process, REWIND helps restaurants focus on the myriad of challenges facing the industry now.
“We know restaurant leaders—and manufacturers—love what they do, but they don’t necessarily love the logistics component of their work,” Jack Tucker says. Our objective is to deliver a more streamlined process that results in a better end user experience, alleviates confusion, and eliminates stress so our clients can focus on what matters most: their customers.”
visit the REWIND website.
By Peggy Carouthers
