H&C News meets with suppliers regularly to keep up to date with the latest product and service innovations, aiming to get the inside track on what companies offer to the market and how it is delivered.
This week, we met with Peter Hutt from Optimum Control to gain a better understanding of the business.
There seems to be quite a few different Optimum Control software products what sectors of the Hospitality and Catering do you cover?
The software is written by caterers who understand the infinite complexity of food and beverage operations. The software can adapt to the idiosyncrasies of different styles of outlet within our industry.
The software is designed to handle any restaurant operation from purchasing, through production, to service. This means that it can be applied to all sectors of catering from a fixed menu café, such as a pizza bar, up to a hotel chain that has diversity of operations such as bars, coffee bars and banqueting.
Optimum Control can control stock for other departments such as housekeeping consumables and mini bar.
Over the last 5 years we have developed the software for use in specific sectors. This now means that we can offer the functionality needed by catering colleges, care homes, garden centres, schools and central production sites that feed into retail outlets.
How does a hospitality outlet, hotel, restaurant, pub or other know which product is the most relevant to their business?
We always start by finding out about the operation so that we can advise customers on what set up will give them the results they want.
The most appropriate version of Optimum Control will depend on the number of sites to be controlled and whether the customer wants to segregate their cost and stock usage reporting for different parts of the operation, for example, the bar and the restaurant.
The basic version, Optimum Control Pro, will control everything at a single site with an installation on one PC.
We offer a full consultancy service under the umbrella of Competitive Contract Services. In fact, that is how optimum Control was introduced to the UK. We were searching for the best solution for one of our consultancy clients and we loved it so much, we decided to become the UK dealers.
Most software is reasonably easy to use especially for those of us that use computers every day, but most software even Microsoft Offices modules like Excel can do 100 times more than most use, do you offer training?
Optimum Control is easy to use and most chefs “get it” straight away and can set up and use the basic functions with no training. The purchase of the software includes 3 months telephone and email support so we are always just a phone call away if customers get stuck or need a little advice.
However, to get the best out the software it is always advisable to invest in training, particularly at the start when setting up the database. In training you learn the most time efficient way to perform routine tasks like ordering and stock counting. Customers who take training at a later stage always say, “if only I’d known that in the beginning, it would have saved me so much time!
Basic training takes new users through the many functions of Optimum Control, allowing them to decide what will work best for their business.
Training is particularly important when a number of customers are sharing the same database to ensure a consistent approach.
What sort of customer support do you offer and how does it work?
The purchase of the software includes 3 months telephone and email support. This can be extended on an annual basis. The support package includes software upgrades that are published during the agreement period.
The support involves developing a good relationship with each customer. We like customers to feel they can call us, however trivial the question may seem. The aim is make sure they are making the best use of Optimum Control and their own precious time! All our customers feed us with ideas for developing the software and making continuous improvements, mostly aimed at speeding up routine tasks.
Training can be done at the customer’s site or online. We charge a daily rate for on-site training and an hourly rate for online training.
Is there a trial version of the software?
Yes. Customers can try out the software by requesting a download of the trial version. The trial lasts for 30 days. The trial can be accessed here
The trial includes 2 databases. The first is a demo database showing how the software is used in the mythical Joe’s Burger Bar. The second database is a blank so that customers can begin setting up their own database and trying it out. This database can be used in the full version, if they decide to buy.
Are there any case studies available that show how the product is used?
Naturally our existing customers are our greatest recommendation. We can put any potential customer in touch with a reference from a similar kind of operation. All our customers wouldn’t be without their Optimum Control and they get separation anxiety if they move to a new employer who doesn’t have it – which is great news for us.
We have some customer testimonials on our website here
H & C News comment
We enjoyed the interview and one thing is clear to us, the software seems top offer any hospitality and catering outlet the opportunity to improve its bottom line, has to be worth a good look at.
You can call the friendly team at Optimum Control on 01566 779470
Or visit the web page Optimum Control