About the Client
The Restaurant Expert (TRE) is a renowned training and consulting company in the US, founded by expert David Scott Peters. Their primary target customers are Independent Restaurants - owners who often struggle to compete with large chains.
TRE's core product is Restaurant Systems Pro - a software solution that helps restaurateurs control food and labor costs to ensure profitability.
The Challenge
Before partnering with SETA, The Restaurant Expert operated primarily based on in-person training workshops and manual management tools. They faced technical difficulties as the market grew and their client base expanded:
- Legacy System: TRE's old software was built on outdated technology, performed sluggishly, and could not handle the load as user numbers increased.
- Need for Expansion: TRE needed to transition from manual Excel/Desktop tools to a Cloud-based SaaS (Software as a Service) platform to serve thousands of restaurants simultaneously.
- Previous Vendor Failure: TRE had previously hired another outsourcing vendor but faced failure due to poor product quality (numerous bugs) and difficult communication, leading to significant schedule delays.
SETA Solution
SETA International took over the project and deployed a specialized technical team to "rescue" and upgrade the client's entire technology system:
Cloud Migration:
- Migrated the entire legacy system to the Amazon Web Services (AWS) platform using advanced .NET technology. This ensured the system could scale flexibly according to the number of users.
Construction of Complex Business Modules:
- Recipe Costing Cards: Automatically calculate the cost of goods sold (COGS) for each dish based on input ingredient prices in real-time.
- Labor Scheduling: Smart scheduling tools integrated with revenue forecasting to optimize labor costs.
- Inventory Management: Allows for rapid stocktaking and alerts regarding inventory loss/shrinkage.
Process Consulting:
- SETA provided not only technology solutions but also directly participated in consulting, training, and designing software process standardization, addressing security vulnerabilities, and optimizing productivity for the new system.
Business Impact
SETA's involvement helped The Restaurant Expert turn Restaurant Systems Pro into a powerful tool for the F&B industry:
- Superior Performance: The new system operates smoothly and stably, capable of serving thousands of concurrent users without interruption.
- Cost Optimization for End Users: Thanks to precise calculation features built by SETA, restaurants using this software have reduced Food Costs by an average of 2-5% and optimized labor costs.
- Workforce Productivity: The software automates management processes, allowing restaurateurs to monitor all business metrics without needing to be physically present at the venue 24/7.
