HORECA (Hospitality, Restaurant and Catering) sector has witnessed an unprecedented revolution thanks to the implementation of Big Data and Business Intelligence technologies. These tools have radically transformed the way companies in this sector manage operations, interact with customers and make strategic decisions.

In this article, we'll explore the various benefits offered by these technologies, from optimization of consumption until the return on investment analysis (ROI) in technology and energy efficiency.

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‍Decisions based on data and not on feelings‍

In the competitive world of hotels, restaurants and catering, the ability to make informed and strategic decisions is critical to business success. In this context, Big Data and Business Intelligence emerge as powerful tools that revolutionize the way companies in this sector collect, process and use data to boost their performance and competitiveness.

Big Data: Managing Big Data in Hospitality

Big Data refers to the analysis of extremely large data sets and complexes that exceed the capabilities of traditional data processing systems. In the HORECA sector, this involves the collection of data, ranging from customer transactions and food preferences to operational supply chain data or comments on social networks.

These data, depending on their nature and origin, provide a detailed overview of business operations that allow companies to identify patterns, trends and opportunities that would otherwise go unnoticed and would not be a decisive factor for the growth of the company or business.

Business Intelligence: Transforming Data into Valuable Information

On the other hand, Business Intelligence (BI), or Business Intelligence, focuses on data processing, analysis and visualization that we have commented on to provide information that supports business decision-making. In the context of the HORECA sector, this involves the creation of intuitive control panels and advanced analytical tools that allow managers and business owners to quickly understand operational performance or performance, identify areas for improvement or replicable patterns in other business areas.

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‍Where to take advantage of data in HORECA businesses‍

Demand forecasting and long-term planning‍

A significant factor of Big Data and Business Intelligence in the HORECA sector is their ability to forecast future demand and facilitate long-term planning. By analyzing historical data, market trends and external factors such as special events or weather conditions, companies can anticipate peaks in demand and adjust their supply accordingly. This allows them Minimize risk of product shortages or excess capacity, and operations are optimized to maximize their revenues.

The data can appear in different ways:

• The price of the product.
• The date of purchase.
• Establishment where the sale is made.
• The seller involved.
• The VAT.
• The customer loyalty card.

Data analysis allows restaurants to forecast the demand for sandwiches, for example, during the holiday season, the increase in spending on Amenities of a hotel when a congress is held in the city, or the increase in orders to take home when there is a soccer game.

One tool that we really like is Haddock, which allows you to dynamically construct the scandals of your plate to know the cost per plate in real time, based on the purchase notes.

Optimization of costs in basic supplies (electricity, water, gas, internet, etc.)‍

It is well known that basic supplies are essential for the operation of any business and have a direct impact on profitability. However, few know the savings opportunity that can be generated, monitoring your costs.

In this category, the analysis of data associated with supplies, makes it possible to identify consumption trends, forecast cash flow and act accordingly, either by modifying sales prices, seeking better conditions in service contracts or implementing energy efficiency solutions that help control or reduce costs.

Among the new tools, our supply management software allows business owners such as restaurants, hotels or caterers, to make a detailed monitoring of costs and consumption incurred in supplies.

Thanks to the digitization and centralization of the invoices issued for each place, point of sale, office or establishment, it is easy to Identifying peak consumption alerts of electricity, detection of incidents such as a water leak, erroneous charges on the gas bill, among others, which entail avoidable expenses for any business.

With solutions such as Polaroo, the company's operations are also favored thanks to automation, which, together with BI, make businesses more efficient, saving valuable time in tasks that used to be done manually, such as collating invoices, bank reconciliation, or accounting monitoring of the attributable cost of supplies to each property.

Customization and recommendations thanks to automated systems‍

With the help of automated systems based on Big Data and BI, companies in the HORECA sector can offer personalized experiences for your customers. By analyzing behavioral and preference data, these tools can generate personalized product and service recommendations, adapted to the individual needs of each customer. Not only does this improve the customer experience and encourage loyalty, but it also increases sales by promoting products that are relevant and of interest to each customer.

Reciprocally, both customer and business give each other what they want: product and information. At this point, data protection is very important. The Organic Law on the Protection of Personal Data and Guarantee of Digital Rights (LOPDGDD) establishes strict guidelines for the management of personal data, ensuring their confidentiality, integrity and availability. To store Big Data, you must first obtain the explicit consent of individuals to collect and process their data, as well as implement robust security measures to prevent unauthorized access or misuse of information. Failure to comply with these regulations can result in significant penalties for companies.

Predictive maintenance‍

In addition to improving inventory management and customer experience, the use of Big Data and Business Intelligence in hospitality can also optimize the maintenance of equipment and machinery. Through the continuous monitoring of performance data and operating conditions, companies can anticipate and prevent potential failures before they occur.

Not only does this reduce the costs associated with downtime and emergency machine repairs that are perhaps essential for the operation of the restaurant, hotel or catering, but it also extends the useful life of the equipment. In this case, operational efficiency is gained, sustainability is achieved by not wasting energy and reducing the cost of long-term maintenance.

The ROI calculated with Big Data

‍Finally, Big Data and BI allow companies in the HORECA sector to carry out an exhaustive analysis of the return on investment (ROI) in technology and energy efficiency. When collecting data on operational performance, energy consumption and other related costs, hospitality companies can accurately assess the financial impact of its technology and sustainability initiatives. For the viability of a business, taking into account the expenses and amortization of any investment is key.

Making informed decisions about future investments and business strategies it must always be done based on their profitability and their contribution to environmental sustainability. This type of investment can be accompanied by state, regional or even municipal aid or subsidies. This is the case of Digital Kit, where Polaroo is a Digitizing Agent in the categories of Business Intelligence and Process Management for basic supplies.

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‍Benefits and challenges of new technologies in HORECA sector‍

Companies in HORECA sector can, for example, use data analysis to forecast demand for food and beverages, adjust inventory levels accordingly, and minimize the waste of perishable products. In addition, data analysis can also help identify emerging consumer trends, allowing companies to adapt their menus and offerings to meet changing customer demands.

The benefits of Big Data and BI in the hospitality industry are obvious:

• Improvement of the operational efficiency by being able to identify emerging consumer trends, adapt menus and offers to meet changing customer needs or adjust to stock.
• Optimizes the user experience thanks to predictions and data history, leading to the personalization of the offer and an increase in customer satisfaction.
• Improves operations, avoiding incurring additional costs, maximizing management and, therefore, final revenues and benefits.

However, there are also challenges associated with implementing these technologies that must be considered:

• The collection and management of large volumes of data.
• The guarantee of privacy and information security.
• Training staff to understand and effectively use BI tools.

Data is of little use if there isn't someone on the workforce who knows where to look for it, interpret it, order it and present it in a way that makes the conclusions clear for making informed business decisions.

As Big Data and BI continue to evolve, their impact on the HORECA sector is expected to continue to grow. With the advent of emerging technologies such as machine learning and artificial intelligence, companies in this sector can expect greater automation, customization and efficiency in their operations.

Ultimately, Big Data and BI have the potential to completely transform the way businesses in the hospitality industry are managed and operated. Las new technologies will further promote the innovation, the competitiveness And the growth.

At Polaroo, we are helping other businesses to improve the basic supply management thanks to Business Intelligence and data analytics through our software that centralizes invoices in one place, providing cost and time savings. In addition, in recent days, state aid for the digitalization of Spanish companies has been expanded, providing this type of tool in their operations. Access the latest What's new in the Digital Kit Program about how you could benefit from them and implement these technologies in your business.