C&T DESIGN SENDS ITS EMPLOYEES TO A TRAINING EVENT TO LEARN FROM A PROFESSIONAL CHEF AS PART OF THEIR CAREER DEVELOPMENT.
aging workforces, with large books of business, that will need to be replaced over the coming years.
Both the next generation of employees and customers have grown up using high-quality technology everywhere in their lives. For them, technology isn’t a nice add-on feature, it’s a must-have product. A failure to adopt better technology solutions in project management and beyond will result in diffi culties in attracting and retaining the next generation of talent and customers. To put this all very bluntly, spreadsheets and email are not sustainable methods for a $15 billion industry to manage their incredibly complex kitchen projects. This article doesn’t prescribe a specifi c solution as there are many ways to achieve success in this area, from home-grown tools to custom software development to existing off-the-shelf project management platforms. But there are some key things all dealers should consider when adopting any new approach: centralization, workfl ow automation, analytics, and long-term support.
By moving your project management teams to a centralized solution, teams
can collaborate more effi ciently across branches and functional departments, and executives get real- time visibility into their operations. This will also enable better analytics as it will lead to the acquisition of a large amount of standardized data. Examples of this include real-time revenue forecasts, bid win rate analytics, subcontractor performance analysis, and vendor lead-time analysis. If you are managing projects via hundreds of disconnected spreadsheets, you will never be able to gather valuable insights into how you can improve your business. It is important to note that a centralized solution should still offer enough fl exibility to meet the needs of various teams. Flexibility is crucial as not all projects are the same. Opening a new kitchen for a chain operator is very different from an American Institute of Architects (AIA) contract job or a negotiated design-and-build job. Workfl ow automation is another important aspect to consider. There are many tasks associated with kitchen projects that can be automated or streamlined with existing technology. While technology will never replace humans, it can free up time for them to focus
“There are some key things all dealers should consider when adopting any new approach: centralization, workfl ow automation, analytics, and long-term support.”
— Sam Grote CEO
Centerpiece
on things that technology can’t do, such as building relationships with new customers. Examples of workfl ow automation tools to consider include: • Project scheduling tools to assess project feasibility and ensure key milestones are met
• Project templates to automate project set-up and enforce best practices across your organization • Install management tools to effi ciently identify, qualify, and schedule third- party installers
• Purchase order tracking tools to ensure critical items are acknowledged and delivered on time. Finally, when reviewing
a new project management approach, it’s critical to think long-term. If you adopt a new process or technology system that isn’t structured to grow with you, it will eventually become a major bottleneck that will grind your operations to a halt. Your needs will change so it’s essential that you adopt fl exible processes and technology that can evolve
their capabilities with your needs.
The future of our industry lies in better project management technology. Today, outdated methods and a lack of standardization create substantial project execution challenges. But with a renewed focus and the right tools, dealers can move towards a brighter future, where technology helps them work more effi ciently, generate valuable insights for their business, and attract and retain the next generation of employees and customers. Don’t be left behind, embrace the change, and take your project management to the next level.
About the Author Sam Grote is the founder and CEO of Centerpiece and a former director at TriMark USA. Centerpiece’s mission is to help the foodservice equipment and supplies industry replace its legacy technology stack with a connected software platform that enables companies to succeed in today’s market.
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