The Cost of “Too Busy”: A Lesson from Palm Springs
Last year, I had the opportunity to pitch Knowbie to a very popular restaurant in Palm Springs. It was a buzzing, high-energy spot where the owner and GM were constantly juggling a million things at once. After meeting with both of them on two separate visits, I left confident that Knowbie was a perfect fit for their business.
They loved how much time and labor costs Knowbie could save them. The preshift feature meant no more scrambling to communicate daily menu updates or specials to their team. Our turn-key training would ensure new hires were brought up to speed quickly and consistently—without the GM or bar manager needing to train each staff member individually. The GM was enthusiastic and assured me that they’d send over the staff list to get set up.
But then… crickets.
No matter how many times I followed up, the GM was “too busy” and promised to get to it soon. Fast forward to today: the GM is no longer there, and the restaurant is in chaos. Not only are they scrambling to replace their manager, but the new hire will be tasked with creating training protocols and implementing entirely new processes from scratch.
PLUS: Palm Springs right now is in the PEAK of their busy season!
This situation is more common than you’d think, and it highlights a crucial problem in the hospitality industry: relying on people instead of systems.
The Knowbie Difference: Systems Outlast People
Restaurants are fast-paced, and managers often wear many hats. But when a business depends on its managers to be the sole “process and procedure” for running things, it’s a disaster waiting to happen. Managers leave, staff turnover happens, and the business ends up paying the price in lost efficiency, wasted time, and inconsistency.
Had this restaurant implemented Knowbie, the story would have been very different. Here’s how:
- Seamless Transitions:
Knowbie ensures that training and operations don’t live in a single person’s head. Everything is centralized and standardized, making transitions smooth when staff or managers move on. - Turn-Key Training:
New hires could have been trained quickly and efficiently without the need for a manager’s direct involvement. The system would ensure every new team member was set up for success from Day 1. - Preshift Updates:
Daily updates, like menu changes or specials, could have been sent directly to staff in seconds—no need for a chaotic scramble before service. - Reduced Labor Costs:
By streamlining training and pre-shift communication, the GM and bar manager would have been freed up to focus on their primary responsibilities, saving the restaurant valuable time and money.
A Call to Action for Restaurant Owners
If you’re in the hospitality industry, this is your sign to stop leaving processes and procedures up to chance—or one person. Build a system that works, whether your manager stays for 10 years or 10 days.
With Knowbie, you can future-proof your restaurant with tools that ensure consistency, efficiency, and flexibility. Don’t let being “too busy” today turn into chaos tomorrow.
Because a solid system doesn’t just help you survive the hustle—it helps you thrive.