Introducing: B2B customer "Maison Manesse"
Digitec has a total of over 65,000 business customers. Including in the catering industry. One of these customers is the Zurich Michelin-starred restaurant Maison Manesse.
Restaurant
The Maison Manesse, with Managing Director Miguel Ledesma and Head Chef Fabian Spiquel, has been competing with the tough gastronomic competition in the city of Zurich since 2013. Their cuisine earned them a Michelin Guide star in 2014. They are one of the top addresses in Switzerland.
The menu selection at the Maison Manesse is very short. In the evening, there is either a seven- or nine-course menu. Each for vegetarians or meat lovers. If you prefer a few courses less, you can drop by at lunchtime and be surprised by regional delicacies. If you like fine wines, you've also come to the right place at "Maison Manesse". Over 1000 different bottles are stored in their cellar.🍷😍
All the hardware installed in Maison Manesse was purchased from Digitec. Be it the speakers for the audio system, notebooks, iPads or printers. When asked why they bought everything from us, the answer was short and sweet: "You're fast and the cheapest."
Reservation software from aleno
In order to save time and nerves, the operators of the "Maison Manesse" opted for a reservation solution that is easy to use on any desktop or notebook and flexible in its handling. They therefore opted for the "booqin" reservation software from the Zurich start-up "aleno".
The incoming reservations are recorded directly in the system. The waiter only has to allocate the tables. As aleno is based on a WebApp, no additional software needs to be installed. It can be opened in any browser. This also has the advantage that the reservation programme can be accessed from anywhere and with any internet-enabled device.
In comparison to conventional reservation solutions, the aleno system is particularly interesting for small and medium-sized businesses. This is because the subscription fees are kept low and a small percentage of each reservation received is passed on to aleno. This means that a restaurant with just a few tables has to pay less than a large establishment. According to Ivi Balenovic, Managing Director of aleno, the system is designed to be so simple and intuitive that every new user can familiarise themselves with the reservation portal within just 30 minutes.
Cash register system from Gastrofix
The Maison Manesse also uses state-of-the-art technology for its POS system. With Gastrofix, no expensive hardware is required. A single iPad is enough to keep the business running. The waiter types in the order on the Gastrofix app and the receipts are printed out in the kitchen at the same time. The Apple iPad is therefore a central working tool at Maison Manesse, which is used to type orders, make reservations and even play music.
The only disadvantage of these two catering solutions is that they are two different systems and cannot yet communicate with each other. According to Balenovic, this is technically feasible but extremely complex to implement. However, a synergy between the two systems is currently being developed. However, it will be a while before this is ready for use.
Outlook
According to the Managing Director of Maison Manesse, a noticeable trend is developing in the Swiss catering industry. People are paying more attention to ethics and morals than ever before. Diners want to eat more consciously and attach more importance to health than they did a few years ago. Many restaurants in Switzerland have recognised this and adapted their offerings accordingly.
According to Miguel Ledesma, young restaurateurs are facing a tough time. In Zurich alone, around 60% of establishments are on the verge of bankruptcy. Which shows how competitive this business is. "Anyone who is not willing to work 16 hours a day will have little chance of success," adds Ledesma.
Riding my motorbike makes me feel free, fishing brings out my inner hunter, using my camera gets me creative. I make my money messing around with toys all day.