Pizza Today - November 2023 - 49

" These are tools that help solve the
content problem. "
The content problem is that pizzeria
owners don't have time to
continually input instructions for
new menu items and limited time
offers. A training platform that uses
AI can develop visual materials,
write content and produce interactive
training videos. AI can also communicate
the changes to employees.
Instead of sending out an e-mail that
no one reads, Nemeth says, managers
can use a content builder to generate
a course that the team could take and
get assessed on.
Innovations help
Improved metrics in LMS can
enable managers to track employees'
progress, and help develop talent.
" In the beginning, LMS quizzes
and exams were a good way to
validate learning, " says John Poulos,
vice president of customer success
for Crunchtime. " We needed
to go beyond that. " The system can
identify skills gaps, nominate high
potential candidates for promotion
and automate a schedule of courses
and reminders. Crunchtime also has
a survey component, so that coursetakers
can offer feedback about the
system.
" It used to be side-by-side training,
where you watch someone and
then hopefully through osmosis
you learn how to do it, " Poulos says.
" You have the issue with standards,
somebody learned from someone
who is not doing it right. " He adds
that blended learning, or taking
courses through an LMS and then
performing tasks, is most effective.
For example, a kitchen worker would
have to prepare three different pizzas,
or a general manager would have to
develop a local store marketing plan.
Must-haves
Poulos recommends using an
LMS that is made for the restaurant
industry and has foodservice-specific
content. Ease of use is important,
not just for new hires but for current
workers who want to move to a different
position within the restaurant.
It's important to have access to a
large library of content that includes
food safety training, harassment prevention,
diversity and other topics.
Automation is another must.
" Instructors should be able to set
up automations, and let their platform
do the rest: assign and remove
courses, set expiration dates, arrange
course sequencing and more, " says
Natalie Petsali, director of customer
success at Epignosis, the parent company
of TalentLMS. " Automations
help instructors update their content
with ease to match the fast pace of
their industry and because business
needs and compliance standards are
always changing. "
To start training right away, Petsali
says, restaurants rely on LMS that
offer ready-made courses that cover
food and beverage industry topics
such as compliance essentials and
workplace safety, and soft skills and
workplace topics. To engage the
learner, the courses should be presented
in short and interactive videos.
Gamification, or tracking progress
through points and badges, can make
learning more fun and rewarding. A
system can challenge staff's knowledge
with questions such as naming
the top three ingredients in today's
special. That can drive friendly competition
through a leaderboard, and
is useful for managers too.
" Interactive content is key to
increasing engagement, retention and
application of a restaurant's training
program, " says Brooke Hluza, vice
president of sales for Restaurant365.
" It's also a great way for managers
to gain insight into how confident
an employee feels about performing
their role and what else they need to
excel. "
LMS pricing depends on factors
such as number of employees, locations,
courses and tech support. The
billing could be a monthly subscription,
or purchased as a bundle of
courses. The pizzeria operator should
also consider the hours needed for
training, as workers would be paid
wages while they take the courses.
" For the independent operator I
would recommend thinking about
what they are trying to accomplish, "
says Poulos, from Crunchtime.
" Looking at someone that has
content that helps them get to where
they need a lot quicker, from a compliance
perspective, will be important
when they think about learning
development. "
Gen Z and
Alpha learners
Young adults really are starting at
their screens. According to a 2021 Ipsos
poll, 63 percent of Gen Z (age 16 to 24)
are more likely to watch TV, streaming
and videos alone on their smartphones.
They prefer the small screen even if a
big screen is available, according to the
survey, because the small screen helps
them focus.
For pizzeria owners, that offers insight
into how to engage with Gen Z, and
soon, Alpha, the generation born 2010
and later. " This is how they consume all
forms of content, " says Rachael Nemeth,
CEO and co-founder of Opus Training.
" Whether it's TikTok or a text from your
mom or a text from your manager, none
of this is on a desktop. "
It helps to make the information succinct,
engaging, and interactive. Gamification
can help: according to the Entertainment
Software Association, 62 percent of
adults age 18 and older, and 76 percent of
kids under 18, play video games.
NORA CALEY is a freelance writer
who covers small business, finance and
lifestyle topics.
NOVEMBER 2023 / PIZZATODAY.COM / 49
http://www.PIZZATODAY.COM
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