About the Organization
Tin Kitchen is a chef-driven catering operation dedicated to delivering restaurant-quality food in a catering setting. Their mission is to provide fresh, flavorful options that stand out in a competitive industry.
What Sets Them Apart
Unlike many catering companies that send out pre-heated meals, resulting in food sitting in hot boxes for hours, Tin Kitchen takes a different approach. They finish cooking on-site using portable ovens and griddles, ensuring that every dish is fresh and delicious. This commitment to quality requires skilled culinary professionals at nearly every event, posing a significant scheduling challenge that Nowsta has effectively addressed.
The Partnership with Nowsta
Challenges Before Nowsta
Before partnering with Nowsta, Tin Kitchen faced difficulties with scheduling. They were creating schedules a week in advance and often struggled to accommodate individual team members’ availability and preferences. Finding a scheduling app that met their needs seemed impossible.
Why Nowsta?
Nowsta stood out as the right solution due to its advanced scheduling capabilities. The ability to schedule events ahead of time was crucial, and the organization discovered that empowering staff to have control over their schedules significantly boosted morale.
“We didn’t fully realize how positively the staff would respond to having more control over their own schedules,” said David Stuck, Chief Executive Officer and Founder. “What we initially viewed as a risk turned out to be a fantastic benefit.”
Experience with Nowsta
Working with the Nowsta team has been a seamless experience. The system’s intuitive design meant that setup was straightforward, requiring minimal assistance. Each interaction with the onboarding team was pleasant and efficient, with special thanks to Amanda and Jenn for their support.
“Our experience with the Nowsta team was enjoyable and efficient,” noted Stuck. “The system is so intuitive that we hardly needed help with setup.”
Impact & Results
Since implementing Nowsta, Tin Kitchen has seen a transformation in its workforce operations. Allowing staff to pick up their own shifts not only enhances team morale but also streamlines internal processes, saving hours previously spent on scheduling.
Measurable Wins
The ability to staff events in real time has been a game changer. Knowing not only how many staff are needed but also who can pick up shifts weeks or even months in advance has provided real peace of mind for the organization.
Team Adaptation
The entire team adapted quickly to Nowsta, with no reported issues during the onboarding process.
Collaboration & Growth
Looking ahead, Tin Kitchen plans to integrate their event management software, Total Party Planner, with Nowsta next month. This integration promises to maximize the capabilities of both platforms, enhancing their operational efficiency even further.
Personal Perspective
The most enjoyable aspect of working with Nowsta is its intuitive nature. With a team of 30-40 people, Tin Kitchen found it remarkably easy to get everyone up and running on the platform.
Advice for Others
While the initial investment in Nowsta may seem higher than other scheduling and time-tracking platforms, Tin Kitchen believes it is well worth the cost. They are grateful for the switch and encourage others to consider the long-term benefits of investing in a robust scheduling solution.