The need for pre-ordering school meals after lockdown
During the Coronavirus pandemic, innovative technology such as pre-order apps and cashless catering products have come into a league of their own.
From improving the flow of traffic within the school dining hall to helping schools to maintain social distancing guidelines by enabling students to use their mobile devices to select their food options anytime, anywhere, pre-order apps such as ami Education’s Infinity+ Order have proved their worth in the past year.
However, with so many more untold benefits, it's clear to say that the peak of school meal pre-ordering is far from over.
Why do we need pre-ordering after lockdown?
Outside of the context of COVID-19, pre-ordering technology still holds value. According to a recent Footprint Intelligence Report, 41% of foodservice professionals said schools with pre-ordering systems have reduced food wastage and increased lunchtime efficiencies.
Maintaining a streamlined lunchtime service is also vital for reducing the stress of school caterers who have worked tirelessly to provide students with meals during the pandemic. When students select their meals ahead of time, catering teams can produce the exact amount of food required, eradicating the need for over-catering and cutting down on food wastage, which is better for school budgets, catering staff, and the planet.
Cutting down on food wastage isn't the only way pre-ordering is helping schools to reach their sustainability targets. The Infinity+ Order app provides complete records of past orders, and the online payment integration means that receipts no longer need to be printed out at POS, saving paper and needless printing costs.
Moreover, the powerful reporting suite helps predict trends that can help with accurate stock control to save schools money and food from ending up in the cafeteria bin.
It's not just the environmental factors attracting schools towards the pre-ordering revolution. Cashless catering apps such as Infinity+ Order are widely accessible on mainstream download platforms such as the App Store or Google Play, meaning that any student with a smartphone can gain access to the ease of pre-ordering in just a few clicks.
This ability to order snacks and meals from a personal device also gives students claiming free school meals added anonymity throughout the ordering and collection process, ensuring that FSM students are comfortable in the dining hall.
As schools adapt to the new normal, their primary goal will be to help students who may have fallen behind catch up to where they need to be. Pre-order apps can help with this task by reducing the amount of time spent queuing, meaning that pupils can get back to lunchtime catchup clubs as soon as possible.
Ordering meals in advance also removes hunger-based decisions, which often consist of unhealthy snacks and drinks - encouraging pupils to pick a fully nutritious meal that can power them through the day and improve their concentration in class.
What's not to love? Find out more about implementing pre-ordering into your education environment here to access a world of benefits: https://www.amieducation.com/pre-order-app.
Did you know that infinity+ can save you time and streamline your reporting processes?
With scheduled reporting, you can automate report delivery, ensuring the right people get the right information, when they need it—without any hassle.
Effortless scheduled reporting
With infinity+, you can configure the system to:
- Send reports automatically via email to one or multiple recipients.
- Share reports internally and externally—no manual sending required!
- Export reports in multiple formats including PDF, Word, or Excel.
- Customise reports with parameters like date range, supplement type, or tills, etc.
- Create multiple schedules—run reports once, daily, weekly, monthly, set for a specific date or date range.
How can scheduled reporting help you?
Here are a few ways infinity+ can make your school admin easier:
- Finance teams: Automatically send a report on outstanding accounts to help with debt chasing.
- Catering departments: Upload daily sales reports to the catering head office without lifting a finger.
- Attendance: Get an attendance report detailing entrance and exit times for all users.
Comprehensive reporting for all your needs
Infinity+ has over 60 different built-in reports covering
- Users
- Financials
- Retail
- Printing
- Attendance
Start saving time today
With infinity+, reporting doesn’t have to be a chore. Automate, customise, and simplify your reports, leaving you to focus on other admin tasks.
..and best of all, it's free!
This is a free add-on service to your school's licence, if you would like this time-saving feature set up for your school, please contact us and we will get that set up for you.
Can't find the exact report you're looking for? No problem! Let us know, and we can create a custom report tailored to your needs.
The Schools & Academies Show is an exciting event that brings together education professionals, school leaders, and decision-makers across the UK. The show serves as a platform for showcasing innovative solutions, such as cashless catering, and sharing best practices in the education sector.
Amidst the buzz and enthusiasm, ami Education had the pleasure of exhibiting at the event alongside Tucasi, payment and administration software providers.
Infinity+ Cashless and Chip & Pin live demonstrations
At the Schools & Academies Show, ami Education proudly showcased the Infinity+ Cashless catering system, revolutionising cashless processes in UK and international schools.
The live demonstrations highlighted the seamless and efficient point-of-sale experience, impressing attendees. This smart system manages student accounts and processes orders at the point of sale effortlessly, providing a convenient and secure dining experience. Visitors learned about the extensive reporting suite, offering insights from free school meal usage to catering reports and discovered how to harness this data to streamline operations and reduce administrative tasks.
Furthermore, ami Education debuted their highly anticipated Chip & Pin technology, which received a positive response at the event. Popular amongst sixth forms and secondary schools, attendees experienced the contactless solution and appreciated the availability of multiple payment methods. Attendees saw first-hand how ami Education's Chip & Pin terminals optimise the dining experience and empower educational institutions to streamline operations and provide a seamless payment experience.
Our POS software is evolving with features such as Chip & Pin and additional features. But the next big thing we've got to do now is go cloud-based.
- Tony Reeves, General Manager.
Infinity+ Order receives positive engagement with attendees
Alongside the Infinity+ Cashless & Chip & Pin demonstrations, ami Education was excited to showcase its cutting-edge Infinity+ Order pre-order school meal app at the Schools & Academies Show. The demonstrations highlighted how students could seamlessly check balances, browse menus, and conveniently pre-order their meals from their mobile phones.
This revolutionary app transforms how students order their meals, ensuring efficiency and convenience. With Infinity+ Order, pupils have easy access to a wide range of menu options, the ability to pre-order meals in advance, and the flexibility to customise their choices based on dietary requirements or allergies.
The Infinity+ Order app empowers staff to efficiently manage meal preparation and reduce food waste by accurately anticipating meal demand. This topic was very relevant at the show due to the current challenges schools and academies face. The app lets pupils control their dining experience, ensuring they receive their desired meals quickly and conveniently.
Schools are starting to like the pre-order solution, as they can allow pupils to pre-order up to three weeks in advance. Pupils only have to go to the till point and collect their meal.
- Tony Reeves, General Manager.
ami Education's participation in the Schools & Academies Show at the London Excel was met with excitement and enthusiasm.
The Schools & Academies Show served as an excellent platform to showcase our solutions, and we are grateful for the opportunity to contribute to positive change in school catering. ami Education remains dedicated to driving innovation, fostering positive experiences, and propelling the education sector forward.
 | To gain further insights into the exciting world of ami Education, watch our exclusive interview with Tony Reeves, our General Manager. In the interview, Tony delves into ground-breaking innovations, transformative approaches, and the future of cashless solutions in education. This interview provides a deeper understanding of our commitment to advancing education institutions. |
If you couldn't attend the event but still want a demonstration, don't worry! Book a demo with our team today to learn about implementing cashless catering, pre-ordering or Chip & Pin software in your school. Our team are here to provide all the information and support you need.
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