NEW YORK A new technical standards set targeting the needs of foodservice companies will lower operator costs and improve food safety, the Association for Retail Technology Standards, or ARTS, said at the recent National Retail Federation Big Show.
ARTS, a council of the National Retail Federation made up of retailers and technology suppliers, said the new POSLog for Foodservice standards set involves point-of-sale system and commercial kitchen equipment integration. Sources at Washington, D.C.-based ARTS said the standards were developed in conjunction with member companies of the National Council of Chain Restaurants, or NCCR.
"As restaurants continue to diversify and expand their menus, it becomes more difficult for managers to keep track of information," said Jack Whipple, president of the NCCR, which is also a division of the National Retail Federation. "This new standard targets the specialized needs of restaurants, helping managers keep track of their inventories while reducing information technology costs."
The POSLog for FS standards set schema is available free online at www.NRF-ARTS.org, as is additional information.
ARTS sources said the new foodservice standards address an industry need for systems integration supporting better exchange of POS and inventory information. They said POSLog for FS provides a set of consistent data messaging standards enabling POS data to easily flow to back-end financial systems for enhanced sales reporting and inventory management.
Also part of the new standards are commercial kitchen equipment standards that monitor proper operations, maintenance and up-time, as well as food safety protocols, the ARTS representatives added.
Richard Mader, ARTS executive director, said the new standard will help restaurateurs "get the data and information they need to make well-informed business decisions despite an environment of specialized equipment, different operating systems and unique applications."
Collaborating with ARTS in managing the new technical specifications' development is the North American Association of Food Equipment Manufacturers, or NAFEM. ARTS said it is being aided in ensuring international compliance with the new standards by OFSC, a Japanese non-profit foodservice support corporation.
