In the competitive hospitality sector, digitalisation offers significant opportunities to reduce costs and improve operations. Let’s look at what manual buffet labelling really costs — and how much you can save with digital labels.
1. The hidden cost of manual labelling
Real expenses of manual processes
Hotels that use printed labels requiring manual updates before every service face considerable costs:
- 15 minutes per service (with 3 services per day)
- Approximately €270 per month in staffing costs alone
- €4,320 per year just in labelling time, not counting printing and lamination
And that figure is only the beginning of the total spend associated with manual buffet labelling.
2. The solution: electronic labels
Advantages of digital labelling systems
Electronic labelling systems eliminate manual label replacement, drastically reducing update time and associated costs.
Key advantages:
- Annual savings of up to €4,320 in labour costs
- Fast return on the technology investment
- 90% reduction in manual labelling tasks
- Staff can focus on improving customer service
- Elimination of printed material costs, replaced by durable digital screens
3. Flexibility and real-time updates
Agile management from any device
Digital labelling allows information to be updated quickly from mobile devices. Staff can modify languages, allergens and dish availability in seconds — something especially useful for:
- Last-minute menu changes
- Dish availability updates
- Guest information in real time and in their own language
Manual systems rarely allow timely updates, affecting both efficiency and the guest experience.
4. Sustainability: added value of digitalisation
Reducing the environmental impact of the buffet
Digital labels reduce environmental impact by decreasing consumption of paper and plastic for physical labels. This contributes to greener operations and improves the hotel’s image among environmentally conscious guests.
Want to find out how much your hotel can save with digital buffet labels? Contact Hoteligy for a personalised analysis.
