The internet has made it easier than ever to stay connected, and telemetry allows café owners and operators to take full advantage.
Telemetry, a system which monitors an espresso machine’s functions and performance via an internet connection, makes it possible for machine operators to keep track of how machines are being used – in real time and remotely.
Most new machines are installing their own version of telemetry, and why not? Just about everything is connected to Wi-Fi these days from Apple Carplay to iPhones, each with the purpose of keeping us connected to the information we crave, and the information we need to help make our businesses run more efficiently on a daily basis.
La Cimbali uses telemetry in its M34 and M100 machines, as well as most of its bean-to-cup machines, while Rheavendors and Eversys machines use an equivalent e-Connect system.
The advantages of utilising telemetry’s statistics and remote access cannot be understated. Here are my top five reasons you should consider buying a machine with telemetry the next time you’re looking for an upgrade.
1. Remote access
Whether you’re away on vacation or just on your day off, it is imperative you know what’s going on at your café. Keep track of statistics, settings, and machine conditions from the comfort of your home, or better yet, on a beach resort.
Service providers, roasters, or franchise groups can use telemetry to make machine users and staff more accountable. Big Brother is always watching.
On location and wondering how many coffees were made today? Just check your telemetry. Count the daily till and compare that figure with the machine’s data to see if there are any gaps, or how many freebies have been thrown in. Have your staff cleaned the machine today? Telemetry will let you know about it.
2. Analyse data
Telemetry isn’t just a back-up system. When used in the right way, businesses can use it to their advantage to assess data and push marketing ideas or popular menu items at certain times of the day you know your customer base peaks.
Data can be viewed in easy-to-read graphs, calendars, images, and text to make sure information is easily understood. Ranging from hourly, daily, and monthly productivity reports to technical performance and drinks profiles, telemetry machines can provide key management information in real time.
You can also analyse production volume, determine a café’s most popular drinks, assess the peak times of business, and cater staffing roasters accordingly or push special deals.
3. Real-time notifications
A telemetry system generates real-time information and notifications, meaning problems can be addressed proactively. If there’s ever a machine fault, a notification will be sent to the technician to alert the customer, most of the time before they are even aware of the problem. The system can even notify the service provider when the machine is ready for its routine check-up, based on the volume of coffees and water used. It can also indicate a potential problem before it becomes an issue, much like the idea of preventative maintenance. You don’t need to wait until a problem occurs to act.
4. Reduced maintenance costs
Telemetry prevents reactive calls from customers. Rather than bringing in a technician on a Sunday to find out why there’s a certain fault with a machine, which can be costly and time-consuming for a business owner, a technician can use telemetry to log on to the machine’s software to view certain parameters simply by using its registration number, user name, or by location.
Data is generated by the machine on site, sent via Wi-Fi connection to a virtual server and is accessible to those who have authorised access via a PC, tablet, or smartphone. For example, a technician can see what the brew temperature of the last extraction was, and assess if there’s a mechanical issue or not. They can see the volume of water running through the machine, output parameters such as boiler pressure and water temperature, and the machine’s history.
Even remotely, a technician can alter a brew recipe if needed. If there’s ever a machine fault, a notification will be sent to the technician to alert the customer, most of the time before they are even aware of the problem.
5. Quality control
The ability to preset and monitor all aspects of coffee making gives operators the ability to maintain a consistent quality of espresso. If anything is being used too sparingly or in excess, the system will record it.
If you’re a business owner with two or more venues, and you want your coffee in the CBD to taste the same as your regional café two hours away, you can use telemetry to set the same grind across multiple machines and extract at the same timeframe and volume. Telemetry makes consistency possible.
If you’re in the business for a new machine or upgrade, make sure you ask about telemetry, I think you’ll find it will become a welcome addition to your business, piece of mind, and company growth.
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For more information, visit www.servicesphere.com.au