Page 30 - GBC Winter 2024 English

For inventory, AI can forecast demand for specific ingredients or menu items, helping managers ensure they have the right amount of stock on hand. This minimizes both stockouts and overordering, reducing food waste and keeping costs in check. For example, if a tournament or special event is approaching, AI can forecast increased demand for certain menu items based on historical data and event size, allowing managers to adjust inventory levels in advance.
STREAMLINING OPERATIONS AND SUSTAINABILITY
Beyond menu creation and labour forecasting, AI can optimize almost every aspect of golf course foodservice operations. Automated systems can track and manage inventory in real-time, alerting staff when supplies run low and even placing orders with suppliers based on preset thresholds. This eliminates the need for manual inventory checks and reduces human error.
AI can also play a key role in minimizing waste. Often, restaurants overlook yield optimization and proper preparation, leading to unnecessary loss. We can now use AI to really look into our operation, analyzing our sales over a set time period to ensure we are optimizing our products and ingredients across our menu to minimize waste and loss.
At the 2023 Golf Business Canada Conference & Trade Show in Montreal, I led a breakout session that focused on this “wasted” opportunity. I demonstrated how using AI can identify opportunities to repurpose kitchen waste, thereby creating additional meal options from what would typically be discarded. As this session illustrated, AI can help us find uses for restaurant waste and byproducts by developing recipes or creating new, revenue- generating products from ingredients we would otherwise have been wasting.
AIalsocontributessignificantly to sustainability efforts by accurately predicting product usage and minimizing waste. In addition, AI-powered systems can suggest more sustainable food sources and packaging options, helping golf courses align with green initiatives and appeal to environmentally conscious golfers.
HOW TO START USING AI
If you are looking to integrate AI into your operations, a simply way to start is by using ChatGPT, which is an artificial intelligence chatbot you can engage in dialogue, much like a human. Simply create an account, log in and start typing questions you would like it to answer, which it does in seconds. If you aren’t satisfied with the response, maybe you would like
more details, or the answer inspires a more focused question, you can type in your response and request further information or clarification.
ChatGPT, developed by OpenAI, uses machine learning to draw on a vast array of publicly available information, from books and articles to licensed materials. The most daunting part of using ChatGPT is knowing where and how to start, but my advice is just to dive in. Ask questions and see where it leads. You may discover insights that never occurred to your before.
The key is figuring out the most pressing questions for your business and how to use the chatbot to return actionable ideas. You can even ask it what questions you should be asking to achieve a certain result, and I promise the responses will be useful and impressive.
A GLIMPSE INTO THE FUTURE
As AI continues to evolve, its role in foodservice at your golf course will only expand. From dynamic pricing models that adjust meal costs in real-time based on demand, to AI- powered virtual chefs assisting with new menu creations, the possibilities are vast. Golf courses that embrace AI technology will be well-positioned to thrive in an increasingly competitive market, offering their guests not only an exceptional golfing experience but also top-tier foodservice that meets their evolving needs.
AI is more than just a technological upgrade—it is a shift in how golf courses operate. By adopting AI-driven solutions, golf course foodservice operations will become more efficient, sustainable, and profitable, ensuring a bright future for the industry.
Golf Business Canada
30Golf Business Canada