Food for thought. Use people counting data to revolutionize staff canteens
Do you know that Time-of-Flight (ToF) people counting is becoming an increasingly popular solution to improve services and responsiveness in in-house restaurants and staff canteens? This technology offers a range of benefits, including using the people counting data to improve dining experiences, give better service and make operational efficiencies. At the same time Time-of-Flight technology ensures privacy and anonymity for customers.
This article looks at how operators of staff dining facilities can solve several problems and ensure a more positive work environment, thanks to accurate, anonymous people counting data from Time-of-Flight sensor solutions.
Problem #1: lack of accurate utilization data
In-house restaurant and staff cafeteria owners and operators don’t always have a clear, accurate picture of the demand flow over a day, the number of diners, or a visualization of peaks and troughs for the busiest and quieter times.
It’s possible to optimize in-house restaurant services by having more staff work during the peak demand times and less staff when it’s not as busy. This, in turn, gives a better dining experience to staff members, by reducing otherwise long wait times and queues, and having a wider range of freshly-prepared food available.
Problem #2: finding a place to sit
Larger staff dining rooms and in-house restaurants may offer a range of different eating spaces. However, if there’s not a clear system to show where there are vacant seats, it can take staff time to find a place to sit during crowded mealtimes. With accurate, real-time data from people counters, this problem can be solved.
The solution: anonymous data from Time-of-Flight people counting
Accurate, anonymous data about the use of a space can transform it into an efficient, more welcoming and well-managed space. For in-house restaurant owners and operators, this means having accurate, real-time and historic data on the flow of customers in the restaurant, busy times and quieter times, and the number of people who use the facilities, thus allowing them to plan and adapt their services and staff rosters accordingly, while maintaining staff members’ privacy.
To best manage the staff cafeteria, getting an overview of potential zone saturations through accurate, reliable people counting data,is vital. This enables the facility manager to make informed decisions and to adapt their restaurant services according to actual peak demand times and levels.
This data can also be used to help guide customers to non-saturated zones, to improve their dining experience and overall satisfaction levels. Also, identification of the least used spaces through anonymous occupancy data, means that in-house restaurant operators can take appropriate measures to enhance these spaces and therefore increase total restaurant occupancy.
How does Time-of-Flight technology from Terabee work?
Time-of-Flight technology emits a beam of light, in the form of infrared (IR) or laser pulses. The time taken for the beam to travel to an object and back again is measured. Time-of-Flight sensors can create a depth map of the surrounding environment and detect objects within it, including people, by calculating the time-of-flight of each pulse.
The principle behind Time-of-Flight technology is similar to that of radar or sonar. However the key difference is that ToF uses light instead of sound or radio waves. As a result, Time-of-Flight sensors are more accurate than other distance measurement technologies. Additionally, ToF sensors are less sensitive to low light conditions, ambient noise and interference, making them suitable for use in a wide range of environments.
Why choose Terabee Time-of-Flight people counting technology?
Terabee people counting devices use Time-of-Flight technology for high precision foot flow metrics and occupancy data, while ensuring anonymity and privacy protection. As Terabee Time-of-Flight people counting sensors don’t use camera technology, the data they gather is 100% GDPR-complaint. They don’t gather any images, videos or audio so personal identifiable information (PII) is always protected.
This technology gives data which is accurate to 98% or higher, the best price-performance ratio in its category and it is fast and easy-to-install. Time-of-Flight sensors are less sensitive to low-light conditions, ambient noise and interference, making them suitable for use in a wide range of environments.
Revolutionizing in-house dining and work cafeterias
When Time-of-Flight technology is used in Smart Buildings solutions for occupancy monitoring in staff cafeterias and in-house restaurants, it works in a completely non-camera, anonymous way. Terabee people counting sensors, based on Time-of-Flight technology cannot capture any personal data, images or videos of individuals as they don’t use camera technology. Rather, Time-of-Flight technology simply detects presence and movements within a defined area and provides this as a data count.
For your staff canteens and in-house restaurants, Time-of-Flight people counting technology from Terabee can bring the following benefits:
Enhanced customer experience: With accurate data on occupancy levels, staff canteens can provide a better customer experience through reduced wait times, optimized seating arrangements, and by providing better service during peak hours. Real-time occupancy data can enable employees to decide the best time to eat. Similarly, information about where there are free seats can make the dining experience more smooth and reduce waiting time. This brings the added benefit that staff can enjoy meals while the food is warm and fresh, which can make employees more satisfied.
Better resource management: With accurate data on cafeteria occupancy levels, you can better manage canteen resources, such as food, seating and staff. This can help reduce food waste and optimize operations, resulting in cost savings and improved sustainability.
Visitor counting data can help you identify the best performing areas, or areas for improvement, based on footfall numbers and dwell times. Accurate, reliable data on the number of visitors to onsite food outlets and the peak and off-peak times can enable facility managers to maximize their resourcing. Improved levels of employee satisfaction can help to increase the use of in-house restaurant facilities.
Improved staffing: Terabee’s people counting technology can help businesses understand their busiest times and allow them to schedule staff accordingly. This can reduce wait times and improve overall team members’ satisfaction with their dining experience. Staff planning for set-up, food service and cleaning can all be optimized as a result of insights from footfall monitoring and people counting data.
Informed decision-making: With accurate data on occupancy levels, businesses can make better decisions about expanding or reducing the size of their in-house restaurants or staff canteens. This can help optimize space usage and improve the overall work environment. The people counting data helps operators to deliver faster and smoother cafeteria services. Identification of the least used spaces through anonymous occupancy data, means that in-house restaurant operators can take appropriate measures to enhance these spaces and therefore increase total restaurant occupancy.
Data privacy by design: Terabee Time-of-Flight sensors do not rely on capturing images, which is a key difference from camera-based technologies. They gather data related to three points when someone passes into the people counting area: head and both shoulders, nothing more. Terabee people counters don’t measure the height of someone passing into or out of the counting area, nor do they gather any information about gender, physical appearance, clothing or other personal data.
People Counting solutions from Terabee
In-house restaurants and staff canteens are a vital part of today’s working environment. These spaces provide staff with a comfortable place to eat and relax during breaks.
They provide businesses and organizations with the opportunity to foster a positive work environment. Accurately counting the number of individuals entering and exiting these areas can be challenging, especially during peak hours.
With its ability to aggregate data taken from up to five separate sensors, the People Counting L-XL device offers easy installation and configuration. It is a highly accurate solution to gather data on people flow at large doors, entrances and indoor gates. On the other hand, the People Counting M device is suitable for standard doors and narrow corridors, such as in small dining rooms and washrooms.
Contact us to speak to an expert about your people counting challenges and requirements. Get in touch today! If you would like to learn how to deploy people counting solutions in your canteen, restaurant or other facility, contact a member of the Terabee team.
