Why fast casual brands are embracing digital training with open arms | Fast Casual

Judy Mottl, experienced editor, reporter and blogger writes, Paper-based employee training manuals and binders are quickly disappearing as staff training is going digital.
 

Fast casual brands are embracing digital training for a slew of reasons and was a focal topic during the 2018 Fast Casual Executive Summit.
Photo: Fast Casual

Fast casual employee and leadership training is going digital in a big way. Those clunky heavy binders and paper-based guides are swiftly being replaced by smartphones, tablets, laptops and PCs.

The list of reasons why, according to both global and emerging restaurant brands, is long — digital learning is saving money, time, travel requirements while proving to be more useful, relevant and engaging for those being trained.

Whether it's learning how to slice cold cuts and wrap the sub at a Jersey Mike's, gaining greater customer insight at Rise Biscuits Donuts, driving customer engagement at Holler & Dash or skills certification within a Chipotle Mexican Grill digital learning is reinventing staff training from the kitchen to the dining area to the corporate leadership ranks.

It affords greater accessibility to gaining knowledge and improving skills and simply meets the needs of today's young workforce as people learn differently than they did 10 to 12 years ago...

Blair and Chissler shared training insight along with Tom Ferguson Jr., founder of Rise Biscuits Donuts, and Keith Hertling, senior vice president leadership coaching and culture at Jersey Mike's, in a panel session Monday during the three-day Fast Casual Executive Summit that kicked off Sunday evening at the Hyatt Regency Lake Washington.

The summit, run by Fast Casual's parent company, Networld Media Group, draws restaurant executives interested in learning and networking via interactive sessions. The session was moderated by Peter McLaughlin, head of customer success for PlayerLync which sponsored the panel. PlayerLync is learning software that helps operational teams deliver rewarding customer experiences.
 
Why digital is grabbing big traction  
Enhancing and delivering an exceptional customer experience is a big focus in employee training for the fast casual industry as the experience is on par, in terms of value and importance, with quality food.
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Source: Fast Casual