Clarity Commerce Solutions | Restaurant group pursues growth: Strada

Restaurant group pursues growth: Strada

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Clarity has met the IT needs of stylish Italian restaurant group Strada, since 2000, when point of sale (POS) solutions were first installed. Strada's expansion within the UK has driven the need for additional IT systems to be quickly and efficiently rolled out, and has served to underline the value of a centrally controlled solution. With Clarity's Central software, Strada's head office managers are able to apply consistent operational standards, while advanced reporting allows commercial activity to be optimised. For Strada's front line restaurant staff, the incredibly easy to learn and use POS system helps staff deliver great service and focus more on customers.

Client

Strada is a group of stylish, contemporary Italian restaurants serving simple, freshly prepared dishes. The menu is dedicated to providing exactly the kind of rustic, traditional dishes one would expect to find travelling around Italy - hand made pastas with fresh sauces, risottos, pizza, chargrilled meat and fish dishes and classic Italian desserts. The group's operations have been centred on the London area until recently - they now have plans to expand strategically within the UK.

Brief

Strada originally appointed Clarity as its IT partner in 2000, after evaluating the market for suitable point of sale (POS) solutions. More recently, Strada sought a centrally controlled estate IT system to enable the management of remote site settings, master product database, site stocking policies, pricing and keyboard layouts at its head office, while daily reporting was an additional priority.

At site level, a solution was needed that 'fitted' the expanding estate - one able to operate quickly and simply, with clear screen menus and concise reporting for trading breakdowns. Strada restaurants feature sophisticated yet unobtrusive design, and it was important that the IT system looked smart and contributed to this image.

Strada's ambitious expansion plans meant they needed their IT system to be easy to configure, install and train staff to use. Consistency across sites was important too, so that staff could work in different locations, yet be immediately familiar and comfortable with the system.

Solution

Strada operates Clarity POS solutions at all its restaurants. Most site systems feature touchscreen operation, while Clarity Central software (installed at head office) ensures full control of the estate.

As a multi-site restaurant business, Strada's brand relies on a distinct and consistently recognisable offer. The Clarity system is instrumental in supporting this, mirroring the policies and format specified at head office, and providing identical functionality and ease of use at every site. Staff are immediately familiar and relaxed within their working environment, regardless of which site they happen to be working at.

Clarity's system is remarkably quick to configure, test and implement, so it comfortably complies with Strada's requirements. Hardware is linked to the Strada estate Central server, enabling the system to inherit all of the group's standard products, pricing and settings from head office.

With Clarity Central, managers at Strada's head office benefit from;

Full head office control
Intuitive, easy to use interfaces
Quick access to daily figures
Easy management and distribution of menus and prices to sites
Fast, cost effective installation of new sites

Strada stipulate that the ordering of each new site POS system through to it 'going live' should fit into a 3 to 4 week timescale, and there is a continuous programme of new openings, system installations and training. The actual site IT installation for each new Strada restaurant, including combined 'Go Live' cover, is achieved within a day, and the system successfully transfers trading information back to head office from the first day of opening.

Outcomes

Clarity has met Strada's IT needs since 2000, and the partnership continues to go from strength to strength. The restaurant group describes Clarity as a 'vital ingredient' in its growth strategy.

Site level POS gives the group an accurate standardised database, saving valuable administrative time and helping ensure the regular new openings run smoothly, with staff taking easily to the Clarity system. Clarity is proud of the fact that new staff can operate at the POS terminal within 15 minutes.

Strada's Openings Manager, Jo Daniell, comments,

Clarity POS is incredibly fast and easy for our staff to operate, and contributes to our high quality customer service and efficient operations.

At Strada's head office, managers are able to control the estate via the intuitive Clarity Central interface, with daily reporting figures easily and quickly accessible. Central estate administration is straightforward, with menu products and the liquor database easily managed and replicated to all the sites.

Jo Daniell concludes,