Free food improves employee engagement and morale in the workplace, but can it also save time? ezCater recently set out to answer this question by surveying 1,101 customers who use the platform to feed their teams and clients. The answer is a resounding yes: catered meals are a significant time-saver — for employees and food orderers alike.
The key to tapping into these time-saving benefits? Finding the right catering partner — with the right built-in tools — to make the food ordering process as smooth as possible. This is why 99% of survey respondents say ezCater is their go-to solution for workplace meals. Let’s take a closer look at how much time they’re saving and the features that make it happen.
Big time savings for busy employees
Employees save an average of 35 minutes every time their company provides a meal, according to ezCater’s survey. This includes time employees would otherwise spend preparing meals at home, or leaving the office to pick up lunch from a nearby restaurant.
For busy teams, those 35 minutes add up quickly. Think of all the forms and receipts tax professionals could review if they had that extra time in March and April, for example. When employees don’t have to worry about food logistics, they can stay focused on their work.
Big rewards for companies ordering catering
More time (and more focus) means more productivity. Food ordering professionals know this recipe well, and many have seen it first-hand. A full 90% say their employees feel more productive when there’s company-provided food on the table.
Of course, that’s a clear win for employers, who see the results on their bottom line. But food yields business results in less obvious ways, too.
Take teamwork, for example. Sharing a meal is a great opportunity for colleagues to get to know each other. Those casual conversations over lunch can lead to stronger bonds and better communication. When that happens, teams are much more likely to work well together — so it’s good news that 97% of food orderers agree that food fosters collaboration and connection in their workplace.
Providing meals in the office also makes employees feel appreciated, according to 99% of food orderers. And because happy employees are more likely to stay at their job, that can save companies thousands of dollars in hiring and training costs.
How food orderers can save precious time feeding employees and clients
No doubt, free food at work saves employees time (and drives business results). But what about the professionals in charge of getting those meals? Are they spending all day ordering breakfasts and lunches employees will like?
ezCater customers surveyed say no. On average, food orderers save 10+ hours each week when they use the platform to feed employees.
Sales professionals and others who order food for clients save valuable time, too. Placing orders on ezCater saves them a whopping 12+ hours weekly.
Here’s how they’re doing it.
1. They find the right caterer quickly
No matter who they’re feeding, food orderers usually have to comb through dozens of local restaurants until they find the one that suits all their needs. Afterall, trying to please everyone from veggie enthusiasts to carnivores is no easy feat in the workplace.
With ezCater, they can find the ideal caterer quickly thanks to easy-to-use filters that let them find restaurants that have food for vegans and BBQ lovers, for instance. By narrowing down their options instantly, there’s no need for time-consuming internet searches and phone calls. It’s why nearly 90% of food orderers say ezCater helps them find the ideal restaurant in record time.
2. They place the orders online, hassle-free
For most busy professionals, ordering food is just one of many important tasks. The ability to place orders online when their schedules allow (like first thing in the morning) — rather than working around restaurant hours — can make a big difference.
Just ask the professionals tasked with feeding employees and clients weekly. Nearly 92% of them report that ezCater’s online platform saves them time by simplifying the food ordering process. No more long phone calls with restaurants or back-and-forth email chains detailing complicated orders.
3. They manage orders with ease
Coordinating multiple orders often leads to a maze of emails, notes, and spreadsheets. Food orderers need to keep track of details — like how many sandwiches they’ve ordered for a training, and when they’ll be delivered. It can be stressful. A better way to stay on top of things would be to keep everything in one place.
ezCater’s dashboard does just that. It offers a clear view of upcoming orders, checks headcounts, and lets users quickly make edits. That saves 91% of customers feeding employees and 87% of sales professionals ordering for clients a lot of time each week.
4. They choose paperless receipts and centralized reports
Chasing down old receipts and compiling manual reports can be a time-consuming, error-prone process. With ezCater, 79% of employee meal orderers and 90% of sales professionals say they save time and stay organized using paperless receipts saved directly in their accounts. When it’s time to file expense reports, everything is available for instant download, making the process faster and more accurate.
Maximize your time savings one meal at a time
When companies invest in catering, they’re investing in more than just food. They’re creating an environment where employees feel valued, productive, and connected, which translates into better business outcomes.
By streamlining the entire ordering process — from quickly finding the right caterer to seamlessly coordinating deliveries and managing receipts — ezCater can turn food ordering into an easy and rewarding task. Explore ezCater’s corporate catering solutions to learn how your business can reclaim valuable time.
