the development of e-commerce in the catering industry

Section 1. Overview of e-commerce in the catering industry

The so-called e-commerce in the catering industry refers to the operation of the catering industry and its distribution system by advanced electronic means based on the network, catering information database and online banking. It integrates many disciplines, such as customer relationship, consumer psychology, merchant psychology, computer network, etc., and shows and enhances the value of "network" and "catering". It has the characteristics of low operating cost, wide range of users, no time and space restrictions and direct communication with users, and provides more personalized and humanized services.

Section II. Development of e-commerce in the catering industry

I. Technical environment of e-commerce in the world catering industry

E-commerce in the catering industry was a cake that attracted little attention in the world business before, but recently in the United States, some world-class information technology companies have turned their attention to the American catering industry to help the latter improve all aspects of their operations, including hiring people, purchasing equipment and setting orders.

Not long ago, at the annual exhibition of the American Restaurant Association, heavyweight companies such as Motorola, Electronic Bay and Sharp launched an "offensive" against restaurant owners. American catering service providers are finally beginning to realize that technology is a tool to promote business. Moreover, during the recent economic downturn, many restaurants are increasingly willing to use technology to reduce costs. Some restaurants even plan to equip the service staff with laptops, so that customers' ordering information can be transmitted to the kitchen in an instant.

Sharp's system can track everything from the sales of a certain dish to the performance of employees in many branches. Some technology companies also provide tools that can improve the operating efficiency of a single restaurant. For example, Motorola's two-way radio device can make it easier for waiters to contact the kitchen. Cyberport intends to make money from the sale of restaurant equipment.

In order to solve the problem that chain restaurants encounter in hiring high-quality personnel, a technology company based in Beaverton, Oregon has developed an online job-hunting system, which can track the statistical data and personality characteristics of employees who may be employed in the past, present and future.

IBM has also developed a brand-new desktop control system tailored for the catering industry, which provides diners with a very simple interactive ordering method-"plus e". "PLUS e" can not only provide delicious food, but also has a special entertainment function. It has a built-in video device that can play programs while guests are waiting for meals and meals.

The computer information management system has been used in large restaurants in all aspects, such as reservation, reception, ordering, uploading dishes, printing kitchen orders, bar code ordering, cashier and manager inquiry. The advantage of electronic information system is that it can integrate all aspects of restaurants by means of information.

2. The main advantages of developing e-commerce in catering industry

1. The catering industry is centered on small and medium-sized enterprises, and the state-owned components in China only account for more than 1%, so most catering bosses hope to reduce costs and improve profits through e-commerce;

2. E-commerce is a service economy in essence, and no other industry in China or the world is more proficient in service economy than catering industry;

3. Sub-commerce is a production mode of personalized service, and catering industry has long been a personalized production service system. Therefore, the catering industry is not only suitable for the development of e-commerce, but also the industry that is likely to make a profit first.

Section III. Development of e-commerce in China

1. Necessity of developing e-commerce in China's catering industry

At present, there are more than 3 million restaurants in cities and towns in China, with total sales reaching 319.96 billion last year and expected to reach 36 billion yuan this year. However, only 4% of the whole industry is profitable, 3% is guaranteed, and the remaining 3% is a loss. Why is this? In the traditional supply chain, the purchasing system depends entirely on middlemen, and the price gap between raw materials from the place of origin and restaurants is almost 3-8 times. Restaurants know that middlemen make too much profit from it, and often take the way of default to find a balance, which has caused a vicious circle. There are still two historical problems in the catering industry. The first is that the operators' understanding of consumers is almost zero. Therefore, operators only guess what consumers need by feeling, and consumers change their food very quickly. In addition, consumers are very passive and can only choose what they eat on the basis of what restaurants do. Food is the most important thing for the people, and the catering industry is called the gold industry in China, which has a huge consumer market. With the change of people's living standards and lifestyles, the new demand for the catering industry is constantly changing with the times. In the catering market, it is not unusual to compete for prices, dishes, grades and services in the past. In today's network economy era, many catering enterprises gradually rely on the use of sensitive electronic information tools to continuously improve their market adaptability by improving logistics distribution, customer relations and personalized services. A revolution in the catering industry is going on, and the innovation of small and medium-sized restaurants is imperative.