Making Dough with Diane: September-October 2014

In order to run a successful foodservice operation, you must be able to hire the right personnel and train them properly.

In order to run a successful foodservice operation, you must be able to hire the right personnel and train them properly.

However, many owners and operators are not professional teachers or trainers. That’s why many foodservice operations are turning to online training to help in this area.

There are basically two different ways to set up online training for your pizza operation. You could either build your own training website from scratch, or use a web-based service called a learning management system (LMS) that allows you to upload your own training materials to a proven platform.

Online training also eliminates a great deal of expense, as there is no need to constantly print and reprint training materials.

However, online learning platforms should never replace the need for person-to-person guidance. It is still essential to your operation’s training program to create a dialog and relationship with all your employees and offer praise and constructive criticism at all times.

Here are five reasons training your employees online might be the way to go in the future.

1. It’s convenient
People are constantly busy and on-the-go. Online training allows your new employees to train on their own time using their mobile devices. This is especially important if you are hiring young people to work in your pizza operation. Since many of today’s youth are attached to their digital devices, it makes sense to train them digitally as well.

2. You get consistency
With an online training program, you ensure that all your employees are learning the exact same materials. It is especially ideal for teaching technical skills such as how to use the POS system, how to prepare products, or how to set up displays, as trainees can review the material over and over again until they understand and pass the test.

Visual training components are also very handy, especially in the foodservice industry. Online training also allows you to use videos, which can be especially effective when training on how to use new equipment, new products, and key safety issues. With consistent training, it is easier to maintain certain levels of standards that you may have in your pizza operation.

3. it Uses time efficiently
It is much easier to update materials using an online training program. Any addendums, changes or additions you wish to add to your training program can be done within seconds, keeping it relevant at all times. If you have any new materials you wish your employees to see or review, you can send them a text message to let them know that there is new information they need to check.

4. It can be BOTH fun and interactive
An online training program offers immediate results because all testing is done online. This method allows employees to remedy their errors right away instead of waiting hours or even days for results to come back in.

Your training program can also include interactive games that could make the process more fun and entertaining.

5. training online gives you accountability
Owners and operators can monitor each employee’s training and receive test results automatically.

Most training platforms have a reporting mechanism that allows managers to monitor the progress of each employee’s training, as well as the ability to see employees’ training scores and results.

Some platforms will also indicate which areas specific employees had difficulty with. Having this information allows owners and operators to work on that area with the individual employee on a more intimate basis.

Consider using today’s technology to make training your new hires more efficient and effective.

Better-trained employees make for better business.

Diane Chiasson, FCSI, president of Chiasson Consultants Inc., has been helping foodservice, hospitality and retail operators increase sales for over 25 years. She provides innovative food and retail merchandising programs, interior design, marketing and promotional campaigns, and much more. Contact her at 416-926-1338, toll-free at 1-888-926-6655, at chiasson@chiassonconsultants.com or visit www.chiassonconsultants.com.