Technology and the transformation of small business: How to prepare your team for the future

Running a small business in 2021 looks almost completely different than it did two years ago. Even in a city like Dallas with a thriving downtown, diverse culture set and a small business sector that’s second to none, the challenges of our post-pandemic economy have had lasting impacts from labor shortages to payroll problems.

If you’re out there weathering the wake of this last several months – if you’re getting up every day, going back at it and flipping that “Open” sign in the ongoing struggle to return to normal, you know exactly what I’m talking about, and I salute you for your savvy resolve and confidence in the face of this climate.

As someone familiar with the struggles of securing a startup, I’m no stranger to setbacks, obstacles and all things out of our control. In the last several years, I’ve had a hand in every type of business from commercial tech to the culinary space, and one thing I have come to realize through talking with colleagues, customers and the communities that support us is we’re entering an unprecedented era of change. Of course, some of these changes can have unforeseen challenges.

In this year alone, we’ve seen mass shortages in everything from furniture to fossil fuels. Bloomberg reports that it’s going to be a daunting holiday season with supply chain backups and retail in peak mode. The labor shortage of the last two years is still affecting small businesses, especially in the restaurant sector. In their 2021 report, the National Restaurant Association revealed that three in four operators have cited recruitment and employee retention as their toughest challenges, despite employee gains. They go on to conclude that menu prices are increasing, citing labor costs as one of the key contributors.

There is good news in all of this. With the snowball effect created by all these new industry changes and challenges, the need for innovation increases. With each problem in business, a new solution is born, the side effects of which will surely far surpass this era of obstacles and lead to a new standard in the way small business operates.

Look at Zoom, for example. In the earliest phase of our global pandemic, businesses relied on video conferencing platforms like Zoom. By using these platforms regularly, businesses were able to find new ways to work remotely, thus leading to one of the most flexible models in modern work — ones we still use even after stay-at-home orders were lifted.

This is no different for restaurants. In a world where the state of labor is changing so rapidly, it’s the places that foresee what’s ahead and proactively adapt that will ultimately insulate themselves from all things uncontrollable. The great news again is that restaurant tech is really catching up to the challenges. From portable, small business-serving POS systems to QR code menus, technology is changing the way we deal with what’s next.

Reeman Robotics have been in the business of creating restaurant automation solutions for over five years. In the last several weeks, all this insight has allowed me to reflect upon what automation will mean for our futures as small business operators and entrepreneurs. The landscape can change in an instant and having the right tools is more important than ever — especially as these tools get smarter.

As you begin to add automation into the mix of your working capital, there are a few key things to remember. Most importantly, you must make communication between you and your employees a top priority. Remember with change comes uncertainly, which can quickly lead to apprehension. Keeping a clear and transparent integration strategy will help with clearing up any misconceptions about the implications of technology in your labor flow.

Just as it is imperative for you to be upfront with your staff, you should ask for regular feedback from them as well. These are the people who will be interacting with automation on a daily basis. Their insights are key in understanding how efficiencies can be improved and better implemented from a frontline perspective.

The more you share with your employees in helping shape the future of your labor landscape, the more knowledge you will both gain and the more trust you will garner. Remember, this technology is supposed to be beneficial to each party from the top down and eventually into the customer experience.