Staying ahead of the competition requires innovation and adaptability. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is not just a buzzword; it is a powerful tool that can transform how restaurants train their staff and enhance their overall operations.
The seemingly obvious way to avoid drab training is to use AI to create fresh content. But just telling AI what you need often fails. Here are seven ways to adjust your restaurant's training strategy by using AI in more incremental ways.
1. Personalized Training Plans
AI can do some cool stuff, like tailoring training plans for your team. It looks at each employee's strengths and weaknesses, and from there, it dishes out customized training modules. No more one-size-fits-all training – this means your staff will be more skilled and happier, and your customers will be too.
2. Training Outline Generation
AI can help streamline your training process by generating detailed module outlines. Creating training materials from scratch is no walk in the park for several reasons. It requires in-depth knowledge of the subject, meticulous curriculum design, a significant investment of time and resources, catering to various learning styles, ensuring engagement, rigorous testing, compliance with legal standards, adaptability to industry changes, and more. It's a complex process. It demands expertise and careful planning to produce effective and engaging training materials. Using AI to generate module and course outlines analyzes the skills needed for different roles and gives you a roadmap to get your employees up to speed faster. You'll be cooking with gas in no time.
3. AI-Powered Course Material Generation
Restaurants on average are spending up to $80,000/year on internal course generation through admin hours from existing leaders. Time to give them their time back. AI can automatically create training materials from existing texts, like employee handbooks or PowerPoint presentations. This means you get interactive, engaging training materials without breaking a sweat. AI extracts the good stuff, designs appealing slides, and even adds quizzes to spice things up.
4. AI and DALL-E Image Generation
For the past 10 years and the rise of Articulate 360, we have witnessed a flurry of agencies that will help you develop content in SCORM, go to your restaurant, take photos, and design your training. This is not to say this isn't a way to go about training. But, it's expensive and inflexible. AI, along with tech like DALL-E, can generate images based on your descriptions. Your training materials will be visually engaging and informative, making learning fun. And, training hack, studies show that trainees respond better to images and videos that are low production. See: Tik Tok.
5. Language Support
If your restaurant employs a diverse, multilingual staff, AI-powered language support is a lifesaver. As many of you know, in addition to decades in the food industry, second language acquisition is my expertise. Translating training materials into different languages ensures everyone can access training no matter what language they speak. This boosts understanding and retention. It's especially important in industries with safety rules and regulations. Plus, it keeps communication consistent, helping folks understand and stay safe. Employees can offer better customer service when they speak their customers' language. On top of that, it gives you a leg up when opening up new markets.
6. Real-time Feedback and Assessment
Imagine getting instant feedback during training sessions. AI can evaluate how your employees interact with customers and suggest improvements on the spot. Mistakes? They can be fixed right away, and skills can develop faster. It's like having a personal trainer for your team.
7. Employee Assistance Bots
THIS! Is the future, folks! You know those common questions that come up repeatedly? AI-driven chatbots can handle them. Questions about policies, menu items, or customer service tips – they've got it covered. This takes the pressure off managers and lets employees find answers on their own.
Conclusion
AI isn't just futuristic talk; it's here, and it's ready to revolutionize restaurant training. Whether it's personalized training, real-time feedback, module outlines, image generation, AI-powered course materials, language support, or employee assistance bots, AI has a lot to offer. Implementing it in your training strategy improves skills, customer service, and overall efficiency. So let's keep up with the times and make the most of what AI has to offer. It's a smart move that keeps you ahead of the game in the ever-evolving restaurant industry.
