It makes sense that the food and beverage (F&B) industry is fast embracing biometrics technology. As such a dynamic industry, which involves everything from food production to retail and service, adopting biometrics is not only smart but is becoming a necessary progression. Biometric time and attendance systems work by measuring features of the body that are unique to each person. This provides accountability – which is especially important when it comes to food safety and hygiene – and unmatched efficiency.
Biometrics technology enables employers to keep track of the attendance and activity of a constantly changing and often remotely operating workforce. It’s reported that biometrics/facial recognition will be mainstream among restaurant operators by 2025 and that biometrics in the hospitality sector alone is poised to grow by 27 per cent by year 20201,2.
- Quality control
In the F&B industry, quality is usually the number one priority regardless of whether you’re a producer, restaurateur or consumer. If you’re a product or services supplier, and you don’t deliver on quality, you’re unlikely to survive in such a complex and fast-paced industry.
The common denominator when it comes to quality control in F&B is people. While every employer will have a process for employees to follow, and it’s up to employers to ingrain good practices among employees, having biometrics technology improves answerability to issues of quality control.
You can keep track of exactly who was on duty when or where a particular incident occurred through biometrics technology. You can also monitor overall trends in terms of quality and productivity over periods of time by linking the biometrics technology with time and attendance software.
Importantly, biometrics eliminates the possibility of employees accessing areas in which they are prohibited. This is especially relevant to the F&B industry, where food safety is just as important as quality. It also reduces the potential for theft of F&B products and/or the equipment used to create these products.
- Accurate tracking of attendance
Biometrics technology and their complementing time and attendance software, provide directors with real-time data that makes it possible to track every employee working at any given time.
In particular, biometrics technology prevents employees from abusing their attendance – no longer can someone log in for another employee nor can an employee punch a time card and then leave without being detected. There is accountability for hours at all times and at all levels; the system won’t discriminate whether you’re a production line manager or entry-level food processer.
- Keep compliant
Biometrics, along with digital time and attendance software, is configured to automatically ensure that all employee shift lengths and annual leave adheres to company, federal, state, local and industry regulations. This ensures a safer workplace and eliminates the risk of costly fines and penalties associated with non-compliance.
As mentioned earlier, the biometrics technology also prevents employees from entering areas that they should not have access to. Therefore the risk of tampering or contamination with consumables is contained.
Moreover, biometrics technology is advancing to the point where in the future they will be used to detect pathogens during the food production process. In tandem with the biometrics time and attendance measures, managers will be able to identify when and who was responsible for any breaches of food safety or hygiene.
- Remote management
The modern workplace is not necessarily a stationary, tangible space. Or in F&B, it can comprise of many physical spaces and the involvement of multiple parties. Biometrics technology and time and attendance software enables employers to keep track of everyone, anywhere, at any time. It is smart, safe and secure. It also creates a feeling of fairness among employees – that everyone abides the same rules and policies, no matter where and when they are working for the company.
- Better data, better use of resources
Manual timekeeping processes often result in inaccurate reporting. The consequences of such inaccuracies can prove to be costly. Examples include: overpayments, rota mistakes, holiday errors and incorrect legal compliance. Digitising the process ensures there is less room for human error.
Biometrics technology gives you accurate and paperless data on employee attendance. Managers will be able to identify patterns in lateness and sickness as well as the productivity and efficiency of an entire workforce. Spotting these trends and other anomalies will help managers make better decisions regarding their employees and the working environment.
Automated data collation and real time displays also save time and money for HR and payroll departments by cutting down on the time it takes to access information that is not kept in one central program.
Mitrefinch – Intelligent employee management
Mitrefinch, one of Australia’s leading time and attendance software providers, has extensive experience in the food industry. Mitrefinch has knowledge and expertise to work with different food providers and customise unique biometrics-driven time and attendance solutions for each business.
With over 30 years’ experience, Mitrefinch’s project team assists in every step of the way and has a dedicated consultancy team that combines project management skills and technical expertise.
To find out about time and attendance solutions for your business, visit: https://www.mitrefinch.com.au/
- Restaurant 2025: Emerging technologies destined to reshape our business, published by Oracle Hospitality, March 2017
- Global Biometrics in Hospitality Sector, 2016-2020, published by Research and Markets’, November 2015