A supply chain management form for restaurants streamlines processes for efficient day-to-day operations. Using a digital form facilitates easier tracking, monitoring, and reporting.
Inventory management, supplier coordination, and quality control are important aspects of supply chain management. According to the National Restaurant Association, about 75% of restaurants struggle to make a profit due to inventory and food cost management. This is typically due to inefficient communication, delayed deliveries, and errors.
Therefore, you need to carefully track and control your business’ inventory and overall supply management. Luckily, QR code forms provide a practical solution. As they can be linked to digital forms, restaurants can take care of inventory tracking, collect real-time feedback, automate supplier orders, and more.
Due to the QR code’s capability to store and access data conveniently, it is now widely used across all industries. But how does this tool work, and how can you apply it to your business? Let’s find that out.
What is a supply chain management QR form?
QR, or Quick Response codes, are two-dimensional codes that can store text, URLs, and various other types of information for quick access and easy sharing. These codes can be scanned with a QR code scanner or a smartphone.
In the context of restaurants, QR code form simplifies data collection. When an employee of the supply management team scans a QR code, they are directed to an online form that can be filled out and submitted in just a few minutes. This streamlines the process, making it more efficient and easier to use.
How to create a management form QR code for a restaurant supply chain
You can use the QR form generator to create interactive and user-friendly surveys and forms. The best part is both the form and QR code can be created in the same place. Here’s a step-by-step guide on creating a QR form.
- Visit the website: Go to TIGER FORM builder.
- Design your form: Before starting with the form creator, you can view and choose available form templates or create one from scratch. Then, add fields like text boxes, multiple-choice questions, drop-down menus, and more. Give clear instructions and make the form user-friendly.
- Generate the QR code: Once it is ready, tap “Generate QR Code.” This will instantly generate a unique QR code linked to your form. You can print it or display it wherever needed.
- Test the code: Before displaying the QR code, test and review it to ensure it takes you to the right form.
- Distribute the code: Print the QR code and place it at strategic locations for easy visibility and access to staff.
Following this guide, you can create a quick form along with a QR code within a few minutes.
Best practices for creating QR forms to enhance supply chain management
While QR form-making is quick and easy, you must follow some best practices to make the best out of it. Here’s what you can do:
1. Design user-friendly forms
A clean interface and clear instructions in a digital QR form minimize the chances of errors. This is because 67% of users abandon a form forever if they notice any complications. Since many restaurant staff members are on the go, having a straightforward form that works well on the phone makes it easier for staff to fill it out no matter where they are.
2. Integrate with existing systems
To make food supply chain management easier, you should integrate the QR forms with the existing systems. For instance, if the QR form you use for logging stock levels is linked directly to the inventory management system, the data flows automatically into the records. This means whenever a staff member scans a QR code and submits a quality check, the data will be instantly uploaded into the quality control system.
3. Test and review
What if you distribute your QR forms across all channels, only to find out the QR code redirects to an incorrect URL? This is why you must test and review the QR forms for food safety management before sending them out. Test the form for all the required features, such as conditional logic and workflows, and ensure they are easy to fill out and submit.
4. Regular updates
Things never remain the same in a restaurant. New inventory items are added, suppliers change, and quality control standards are also updated. In such cases, the forms become outdated. That said, the forms should be updated often to avoid errors in the collected data and align with new quality checks.
And even the menu changes from time to time. You can also use a menu access form for easier menu updates and a faster customer ordering system.
How does a supply chain management form for restaurants work?
According to an estimate, the number of people who use smartphones to scan QR codes for different use cases is expected to grow by 16 million between 2022 and 2025. From making payments to marketing campaigns and tracking attendance, QR forms are invaluable in so many aspects.
Here is how they can be used as different types of forms in supply chain management.
Procurement and Ordering
- Purchase Requisition Form: Used by staff to request specific items needed for kitchen or operations.
- Supplier Order Form: Sent to vendors to place orders for ingredients, kitchen supplies, or equipment.
- Standing Order Form: Records recurring supply orders, often used for items like dairy, bread, or produce.
Inventory and Stock Control
- Inventory Count Sheet: Tracks daily, weekly, or monthly inventory of perishable and non-perishable items.
- Stock Adjustment Form: Documents inventory changes, such as corrections, transfers, or losses from errors.
- Spoilage/Waste Log: Records items that are discarded due to expiration, damage, or overproduction.
Delivery and Receiving
- Goods Received Note (GRN): Confirms delivery of ordered items and documents discrepancies or damaged goods.
- Temperature Log Form: Ensures perishable goods are delivered and stored at the correct temperatures.
- Delivery Checklist: Tracks items delivered against the purchase order to ensure completeness.
Supplier and Vendor Management
- Supplier Communication Log: Tracks all correspondence with suppliers, including complaints, inquiries, and changes in orders
- Supplier Evaluation Form: Assesses the reliability, quality, and timeliness of suppliers.
Operational and Consumption Records
- Usage Log: Tracks the daily consumption of key ingredients or supplies.
- Prep Sheet: Lists items prepped daily for kitchen operations to align with the menu.
- Cleaning Supplies Inventory Form: Tracks detergents, sanitizers, and other cleaning agents critical for health compliance.
Financial Tracking
- Invoice Verification Form: Matches supplier invoices with orders to confirm correct billing.
- Daily Cost Analysis Sheet: Tracks and analyzes daily spending on supplies to manage budgets effectively.
Why you should use a QR form for restaurant supply chain
Here is how QR forms benefit restaurant supply chain management.
1. Supplier Feedback
Apart from getting customer reviews and feedback, you can also get supplier feedback instantly by using a QR code for logistics and supply chain. Suppliers can provide in-the-moment feedback while interacting with your business. This allows you to gain valuable insights, enabling you to respond promptly and make improvements based on the feedback.
2. Data Collection and Analysis
Data collection has never been easier with QR codes. Due to their ease of use, QR code adoption is expected to increase by 323% between 2021 and 2023. Since these codes lead directly to the required forms, they are helpful in collecting records of inventory levels and quality control checks. Integrating the form with the restaurant’s existing supply chain management system helps automatically aggregate and analyze performance.
While this tool is helpful for the supply chain, it can also assist staff with the restaurant ordering system through these digital forms. This can provide management with deeper insights into customer’s ordering behavior.
3. Better Engagement
If there’s something that actually bridges the gap between physical and digital things, it is a QR code. You can quickly lead the audience to the digital form using the QR code. Moreover, QR codes on menus or receipts link customers and staff to forms or surveys in restaurants. Since the process is easy and handy, you can expect higher engagement from the audience.
Aside from that, restaurateurs can boost engagement with a customer engagement form for marketing to promote their promos, newly launched dishes, and more.
4. Cost Reduction
Accurate inventory tracking through these forms helps prevent overstocking and understocking, reducing waste and expenses. The detailed records they provide can be used to negotiate better deals with suppliers, leading to cost savings. By analyzing purchasing patterns, restaurants can identify areas for optimization and further reduce costs.
5. Real-Time Supply Chain Data
Real-time order status updates are crucial for food logistics management. QR forms allow you to monitor the progress and delivery of your orders efficiently. With quick identification and communication of the supply chain issues, you can expect better management of restaurant operations.
Use QR forms to simplify food supply chain management
QR forms have a wide range of applications, particularly when it comes to supply chain management forms for restaurants. In addition to tracking and inventory management, they can be used in the food and beverage industries, where they enable real-time supply chain data and improve engagement.
So, if you are looking for an effective QR code generator, look no further than Form QR Code. You can build personalized forms to make data collection easier in your restaurant supply chain management.