Sophisticated online monitoring systems for the beverage industry
Using sophisticated online monitoring systems to increase efficiency and diminish waste always sounds promising, especially in cost-conscious times like these.
Two innovative new businesses, The Beast Beverage Management System and Beverage Metrics, are doing just that for the beverage industry, bringing technological innovation to very down-to-earth businesses.
Three Deep's Beast Beverage Management System or 'Beast' provides bars with the numbers needed to compare how much they go through versus how much they sell. It uses a handheld scanner to scan barcodes already found on bottles. All inventory and consumption information is uploaded via a normal phone line to a website where bars can access their current inventory, consumption trends and numerous other tools and reports. Basically benchmarking bar-code style! And while accessing their inventory from anywhere with an Internet connection, Beast users can manage their orders, pricing and adjustments, too.
This information helps cut down on shrinkage resulting from over-pours, consumptions not rung up, over-drinking by staff, etc. It also allows bars to easily view their theoretical liquor cost. Last but not least, the Beast's consumption reports let a bar accurately decide what to order by the case and what not to order at all.
When it comes to increasing efficiency while drinks are actually BEING poured, Beverage Metrics (a division of Hospitality Metrics) tops the category by providing an extensive set of measuring tools with embedded chips, and wireless technology for invisible inventory monitoring of actual bottles.
This includes everything from the 'Cap Puls' (an electronic bottle cap opener system that records when a bottle is opened), to One Click Video (which saves video stills for the duration of a pour), to the The Puls Pager (which can be set to page a manager or bartender regarding drinks that have not been rung up). It may freak out sloppy or dishonest bartenders, but the savings can be considerable.
Opportunities
The Beast and Beverage Metrics are still in start-up phase, meaning most of the US and all of the rest of the world are wide-open for business. That is a lot of bars, restaurants, lounges and clubs. Hospitality players, distributors and breweries could well benefit from acquiring, partnering with or copying these new ventures.
On a larger scale, it should also inspire anyone interested in turning barcodes and supporting databases into viable B2C and B2B business models, like setting up real-time information benchmarks. Check out Priceminister's business idea, in our December 2002 issue, for another excellent use of barcodes.
Please note that Springwise is not associated with the company / product mentioned in this article.