Transforming Restaurant Management: The Journey of 7shifts and Its Founders
Company profile
Company business details
Motivation to build the product
The founders of 7shifts were motivated by the challenges restaurant operators face in managing staff effectively. They recognized the complexities of employee scheduling, onboarding, and retention as significant pain points within the industry, which sparked their desire to create a solution that simplifies these processes.Problem that their product solves
7shifts addresses the significant challenge of labor management in the restaurant industry. The end users are restaurant operators and managers who need to efficiently schedule employees, handle payroll, and ensure staff engagement. Solving this problem is crucial as it helps reduce labor costs, minimize turnover, and enhance overall productivity and customer service in a competitive market.Their unfair advantage
7shifts has a unique advantage due to its strong focus on the restaurant industry, along with its integrations with popular point of sale systems and a tailored approach to employee engagement. This specialization allows them to offer specific features that directly address the needs of their users, distinguishing them from more generalized workforce management solutions.Strategies
Idea Validation Stage
Empathy-driven Customer Feedback Loops
Jordan emphasized the importance of customer feedback in improving Seven Shifts' product. He noted that he and his product team actively communicate with restaurant operators to gather insights on their pain points. By sitting in restaurants and observing user experiences, they aim to understand the operational challenges and refine their offerings. This practice helps ensure that product development is aligned with customer needs, creating a strong value proposition that enhances user satisfaction.
Case Studies and Success Stories
As part of their initial market research, the company compiled Case Studies demonstrating successful implementations of their software across various restaurants. These narratives provided social proof, effectively validating the product's efficacy and aiding in gaining trust from potential clients looking for proven solutions.
Launch Stage
Digital Storytelling through Unboxing Videos
Sean Walchev, founder of Cali BBQ Media, produced a video to unbox and introduce their new point of sale system from Toast after transitioning from a legacy system. Inspired by children's unboxing videos on YouTube that often attract large audiences, they aimed to provide a humorous and engaging look at the onboarding process of new technology. The video serves as a digital storytelling tool that resonates not just with potential customers of the Toast system but with fellow restaurant owners contemplating a similar change. The video is publicly available on their Youtube channel, branded 'Cali Barbecue Media,' allowing for broader reach and engagement.
Strategic Content Creation
The marketing team at Seven Shifts, led by DJ Constantino, focuses on creating a suite of contextually relevant articles and tools that address the current challenges faced by restaurant operators. By doing so, they aim to assist operators navigating the pandemic and establish Seven Shifts as a valuable resource for their audience. This content strategy not only educates their target market but also builds brand loyalty and positions the company as an industry leader.
Product Expansion into Payroll Services
7shifts began as a scheduling platform for restaurants, leveraging their existing customer base of around 50,000 restaurants. To enhance their service offerings and encompass the entire employee journey, they launched a payroll product specifically designed for restaurants, providing a tailored solution that not only calculated tips but also facilitated direct payments to employees' bank accounts. This strategic expansion was driven by real-time needs observed within their initial clientele, allowing them to transition from a singular scheduling focus to a comprehensive employee management system.
Learn more about 7shifts
How to Lead with Transparency and Communication | Jordan Boesch (7shifts CEO) | DH097
Jason Silver & Jordan Boesch: The Journey of Entrepreneurship
Jordan Boesch - Founder & CEO of 7shifts
