Cloud services are having a big impact on the way many businesses function, and restaurants are not missing out on the opportunity to streamline day-to-day operations. In this three part series, we’ll outline the benefits that the cloud offers and identify best practices for realizing the potential of the cloud in your restaurant.

Prior to the advent of the cloud, the high costs of traditional computer networks made economies of scale difficult or impossible to achieve for smaller restaurant operators and franchises. But with SaaS, the cloud’s low barrier to entry and “pay as you go” pricing structure enable smaller restaurants to realize similar economies of scale with minimal ramp up time and no capital outlay. Now, a family-owned restaurant can leverage similar software as a major restaurant chain.

The cloud also gives smaller restaurant operators instant access to the latest software, such as customer relationship management (CRM) and business planning software, which are updated automatically — a much better alternative than struggling with expensive and outdated traditional programs. Plus, because technical issues are handled by the cloud service provider, restaurateurs only need to learn how to use the systems on an end-user level, which saves on training and lets non-tech savvy individuals access important information.