// TALKING POINT //

Andrew Laughlan, Head of Enterprise at Uber for Business, explores the benefits of a digital ordering system at lunchtime in the office.

Andrew Laughlan, Head of Enterprise, Uber for Business

If employers had access to technology that could replicate the same experience at work, it would be a great way to improve the employee experience and give teams an extra reason to be in the office.

Reducing the administrative burden

The convenience and flexibility provided by this technology would also reduce the organisational challenges. This would be ideal for the person arranging office lunches – often the poor office managers, who have plenty of other responsibilities to worry about.

A team lunch can quickly add to their workload. If emails need to be sent to everyone to select preferences and spreadsheets are created to track orders, it soon becomes a complex process. If people are ordering different food from different places, it can also mean gathering up lots of different receipts for expenses.

If employees were left to their own devices though, without someone managing it, a team lunch could quickly add up and become a costly affair.

Digital ordering is the way forward

This has made something as simple as sharing a meal together important, as meals help teams to bond quickly. For example, an informal in-person lunch will spark conversations that don’ t happen over a video conference call.

For this reason, businesses should be encouraging team lunches where possible. But, for small- to medium-sized employers, arranging a lunch can create challenges. It can mean satisfying an array of dietary needs and managing the administrative burden.

Employees needs and expectations

Gone are the days when teams were happy to have pizzas ordered into the office. Many now prefer something healthier, while others will want something more to their personal taste. Dietary requirements can also make catering for a whole team complicated.

Employees expect choice. Convenience and flexibility is something they have become familiar with in their personal lives. For example, when returning home from work, they have the option to use a mobile app to select from a wide range of local restaurants and have it delivered when they want.

Staff who are able to order through a marketplace app, however, can choose exactly what they want. While at the same time, companies can put clear parameters in place around spending. They can also track costs and manage the payments – without adding another layer of administration.

No one needs to pay out of their own pocket and no one needs to worry about a lost receipt. This technology is removing friction from the whole ordering process, making things easier for both employees and employers.

It means SMEs can now arrange an impromptu lunch and turn staff meals into a practical employee benefit. Time is not wasted arranging the event, staff can instead focus on what really matters – spending time together, bonding over a meal. �

18 Intelligent SME. tech