Hal McCoy II, Restaurant Management Co.'s CEO,
reviews sales figures gathered with SpeedLine.
How hard is it to spot a Pizza Hut? Just watch for the famous red roof. With more than 12,000 Pizza Hut restaurants and delivery units operating worldwide, you just can’t miss the largest pizza franchise in the world.
Restaurant Management Co. (RMC) opened their first Pizza Hut in 1974 and soon became one of the chain’s largest franchisees. Today, the company owns 136 Pizza Hut restaurants, 20 Long John Silvers and 10 KFCs across the United States.
But in a fiercely competitive world, selling an established global brand does not guarantee market dominance: it takes hard work and smart leadership to stay ahead.
POS Data as a Management Tool
“Our management style is key to our success,” says Mark Roberson, IT director for RMC. “Our managers are taught to be independent and make decisions based on the goals for their store. And they have the power to make those decisions.” At the same time, in the head office, it is essential that upper managers know what goes on in the stores.
In choosing SpeedLine as their exclusive provider in October 2004, RMC’s decision makers sought to balance the needs at the corporate and store levels. “SpeedLine provides a good in-store solution that enables store operators to help customers quickly and efficiently,” says Mark. “Yet, at the same time, it gives us the data we need to make decisions back in the home office.”
“SpeedLine provides a good in-store solution that enables store operators to help customers quickly and efficiently. Yet, at the same time, it gives us the data we need to make decisions back in the home office.”
Cohesive Data Management
Mark and his team began by integrating SpeedLine’s data into the company’s Web-based above store application. “SpeedLine gives us detailed information,” Mark explains. “We can mine the data all the way down to the ticket level. It can almost take us to a keystroke view, if we chose to go that far. It gives us a clear idea of what is really happening in the stores.” “We can tie it back into our phone system,” Mark continues, “to see how the calls we’re taking on the phones compare with the orders we take.”
So much data may make your head spin. But at RMC, careful data comparison helps guide decision-making. “We might use the information to make price changes, map territories or find employee theft,” says Mark. “We also use the information to decide what coupons work or don’t work, where they work or where they do not.”
“There are always logistics involved in getting a new system in and training everybody to adopt new ways. But the cost of equipment and training is an investment in the future.”
“There are always logistics involved in getting a new system in and training everybody to adopt new ways,” adds Mark. “But the cost of equipment and training is an investment in the future.” RMC looks ahead to long-term gains as SpeedLine provides the information needed to manage costs, steer marketing and refine business processes.
A Responsive Business Partner
Because RMC also owns Long John Silver and KFC restaurants, SpeedLine made custom adjustments to adapt the winning pizza POS software for other restaurant settings. SpeedLine now delivers tailor-made features to improve performance in quick service environments.
“The people at SpeedLine met their promises, and kept listening to us. Things keep changing, and SpeedLine keeps changing with them. If any new innovations come along, I’m sure SpeedLine will be able to take advantage of them.”
“The people at SpeedLine met their promises,” says Mark, “and kept listening to us. Things keep changing, and SpeedLine keeps changing with them.”
The ability to innovate is crucial to meet the expectations of tech-savvy customers, who increasingly go to cyberspace to browse and shop. “SpeedLine is one of the few other systems beside Pizza Hut’s own corporate POS that can handle our Internet ordering,” adds Mark. “And if any new innovations come along, I’m sure SpeedLine will be able to take advantage of them.”
Could a POS help you make better business decisions? Book a free demo to see the wealth of data SpeedLine provides.