Managing Operations with VenueNext

Description:
This article provides a detailed overview of the VenueNext platform, designed to optimize food and beverage operations for businesses across various venues. The article covers VenueNext’s point-of-sale (POS) systems, self-service kiosks, mobile ordering platforms, and Canopy content management system (CMS), which allow businesses to efficiently manage menus, items, and services. It also explains VenueNext’s organizational hierarchy and the importance of Menu Models and Service Types in delivering a smooth customer experience.

VenueNext Product Overview

VenueNext provides an integrated suite of tools tailored to the needs of modern businesses, enabling efficient management of food and beverage services. This platform is widely used in venues such as sports arenas, theme parks, and large event spaces to streamline operations and enhance customer experiences. The primary products in VenueNext’s lineup include:

• Quick-Service POS Systems: These are designed to streamline in-person transactions, offering a fast and user-friendly interface that helps reduce waiting times and improve customer satisfaction.
• Self-Service Kiosks: Kiosks empower customers to place orders and pay for their items without needing assistance from staff, improving operational efficiency by reducing the reliance on employees and enhancing the customer’s experience.
• Mobile Ordering Platforms: Customers can use their mobile devices to place orders for pickup, delivery, or self-checkout, enabling faster service and smoother workflows, particularly in high-traffic venues.
• Canopy 2.0 Content Management System (CMS): Canopy 2.0 allows businesses to manage content such as menus, items, and service workflows across multiple venues from a centralized system. This flexibility makes it easier to control operations at different venues, revenue centers, and service types.
  
  

Hierarchical Structure of VenueNext

A key component of VenueNext’s operational framework is its hierarchical structure, which organizes clients and their venues into manageable levels, making it easier to oversee operations and scale efficiently. This hierarchy includes:

1. Organizations: These represent the companies or clients that own or manage multiple venues. An organization might consist of a stadium operator, a restaurant group, or an event company.
2. Venues: Venues are the specific physical locations where business operations take place. Examples include sports arenas, concert halls, or restaurant chains that belong to a specific organization. Each venue is customized to meet the unique requirements of its location.
3. Revenue Centers: Within each venue, there are Revenue Centers, which represent distinct areas where financial transactions occur. For example, in a stadium, each concession stand or bar might be a separate Revenue Center.
4. Menus: Menus list the available items for purchase in each Revenue Center. Menus can vary by location, time of day, or service type, providing businesses with the flexibility to customize their offerings.
5. Items: The lowest level in the hierarchy, Items are the individual products or services available for purchase within each menu, such as food, beverages, or merchandise.

This hierarchical structure simplifies the management of multi-venue operations, ensuring that businesses can maintain control and consistency across their various locations.

Menu Models and Service Types

VenueNext uses Menu Models and Service Types to standardize and tailor ordering processes across different venues. These models dictate how each menu operates based on the desired service flow. Some key examples include:

• Mobile Menu Models: These support Pickup, Delivery, Pre-Order, and Self-Checkout options, allowing customers to choose the method that best fits their needs.
• POS Menu Models: These include Quick Service (QS) and Full Service (FS) configurations for traditional in-person ordering, as well as models suited for event catering services.
• Kiosk Models: These support both Belly-Up (in-person ordering and immediate payment) and Order-Pay-Fulfill models where customers place their order, pay, and receive their items later.
• Autonomous Systems: Autonomous systems such as Zippin and Amazon’s Just Walk Out allow for fully automated shopping experiences where customers select their items and are automatically charged as they leave the venue.

Each Service Type within VenueNext products is associated with specific behaviors and workflows based on the type of service being offered. Examples include:

• POS (Point of Sale): This refers to traditional quick-service or full-service ordering where customers interact with staff to place and receive their orders.
• Concessions (Pickup): Mobile ordering that allows customers to place their orders remotely and pick up their items at designated locations once they are ready.
• Quick Pay: A QR code-enabled ordering system where customers scan a code, place their order, and show a confirmation page to the staff for verification.
• Delivery: Mobile orders that are delivered directly to customers, such as to their seats at an event.
• Self-Checkout: Customers scan and pay for their own items using their mobile device without needing assistance from staff.

These Menu Models and Service Types allow VenueNext clients to tailor their service offerings based on the specific needs of their venue and customers.

Surface Types and Content Management

VenueNext products are designed to operate across a range of surface types, or ordering platforms, providing flexibility for both customers and businesses. These surfaces include:

• POS Systems: Optimized for quick-service environments where customers place orders in person and receive their items immediately.
• Self-Service Kiosks: Kiosks allow customers to place their own orders and pay at the terminal, reducing wait times and minimizing the need for staff involvement.
• Mobile Devices: VenueNext’s mobile ordering platform allows customers to place and monitor their orders directly from their smartphones, offering a convenient way to order in high-traffic venues.

To manage the content available on these surfaces, VenueNext provides the Canopy Content Management System (CMS), which includes two versions:

• Canopy 1.0: The legacy CMS, which is being deprecated. This system was primarily used for managing content such as menus, items, and revenue centers.
• Canopy 2.0: A more advanced, modular CMS that offers intuitive tools for businesses to manage their operations across multiple platforms. Canopy 2.0 includes several key apps:
  • Menu Manager: A central hub for creating and managing menus, items, and revenue centers.
  • Status App: Allows businesses to adjust the availability of services, items, and revenue centers in real time.
  • Loyalty App: Manages customer loyalty programs, including promotions and virtual currency.
  • Devices App: Used for configuring and managing POS and Kiosk devices.
  • Orders App: Allows managers to search and manage customer orders, resend receipts, issue refunds, and review transaction histories.
  • Access App: Controls employee access to the POS system and Canopy features by managing permissions and PIN logins.
  • DataNow: A data analytics tool that provides reports on sales and performance across venues.
    
    

Final Overview

VenueNext offers a powerful, flexible platform designed to optimize food and beverage operations for businesses operating in venues of all sizes. By providing a suite of tools, including POS systems, self-service kiosks, mobile ordering platforms, and a comprehensive content management system, VenueNext allows businesses to manage their operations efficiently while improving customer experiences. With its hierarchical structure, customizable Menu Models, and flexible Service Types, VenueNext is an ideal solution for businesses looking to streamline and modernize their food and beverage services across multiple locations.