In the bustling world of hospitality management, time is of the essence. Every minute saved is an opportunity gained. This rings especially true for Michelle Widjaja, owner and operator of IIKO Mazesoba, an intimate Japanese counter-service specialising in ramen with no broth in Darling Square, Sydney. In this blog post, we explore how FoodByUs has revolutionised IIKO Mazesoba’s procurement processes and saved them labour cost and accounting time.

A Niche Concept Born from Travel

“I was inspired by Tokyo’s iconic noodle shops, and wanted to give Sydneysiders another way to enjoy ramen.”

IIKO Mazesoba, specialising in brothless ramen, was born out of Michelle’s solo expeditions in Japan. Her experiences inspired a concept that caters to solo travelers seeking a comfortable dining experience. This offering like no other sets them apart in the Australian culinary scene.

Time Savings

“We’ve reduced our ordering time by at least half with FoodByUs. What saves us the most time is having easy access to the Digital Catalogue.”

Before FoodByUs, ordering was a fragmented process that involved SMS, fax, and email. Now, Michelle’s team has cut down their ordering time by at least half, thanks to the ease of ordering on the industry-leading Digital Catalogue interface. “We used to make tables with SKUs for orders that we wanted to put through. It was hard and painstaking.”

IIKO Mazesoba also saves precious minutes thanks to FoodByUs’ Issue Resolution Tool; with a quick response upon submitting an issue report, the platform promptly provides a concise summary, ensuring speedy resolutions and uninterrupted kitchen efficiency. “Once you submit an issue request, you get a response so quickly,” Michelle says.

Cost Reduction

“For us, the biggest cost is labour. FoodByUs saves time and ultimately saves costs. Even if it’s just 15 minutes a day, it adds up at the end of the year.”

FoodByUs has reduced errors and improved team alignment for the IIKO Mazesobs team. Previous ordering methods were extremely disorganised, so communication and record-keeping were challenging and time-consuming. “If someone used their personal phone to make an order, no one else on the team would see what was ordered,” explains Michelle. With a young team of 4 sharing access to the platform, Michelle says FoodByUs provides tools for order management and documentation which helps to manage labour costs effectively.

“The Pantry List and shopping cart allow for complete team visibility over orders and make sure everyone is on the same page.”

Efficient Accounting and Payments

“With the Xero integration, invoicing is so easy. I went from needing to take photos of paper invoices to having everything pushed through automatically with no manual work.”

FoodByUs’ integration with Xero stands out as Michelle’s favorite feature, simplifying bookkeeping and accounting. “As a business owner, I now mostly look after the restaurants’ finances. The integration is what personally helps me the most. It makes accounting so convenient.”

FoodByUs offers a range of flexible payment options, with no additional fees – not even on credit cards. Michelle says, “Payments are simple. We use AMEX and there’s no surcharge and it’s instant. I also don’t need to do multiple credit apps, which is convenient.” From payment and invoicing to dispute resolution and reconciliation, FoodByUs streamlines accounting and payment processes so business owners and restauranteurs get more time back in their busy days.

IIKO Mazesoba‘s journey with FoodByUs showcases how streamlined ordering, digital solutions, team alignment and integrations can significantly impact a restaurant’s success. From saving time in ordering to efficiently managing costs, FoodByUs has become an essential ingredient in IIKO Mazesoba’s recipe for success.

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