All quotes attributed to Graham Kille, Technical Sales Director, Rational UK
As operators look to improve connectivity in their kitchens, utilising the in-built features of a combi oven and other catering equipment products can be a necessary stepping stone in achieving this. But as energy costs rise and kitchen operators look to maximise space and cut back on their bills where possible, how can combi oven suppliers and their in-built product features help businesses to develop a more smart/connected and efficient kitchen, and reduce their energy usage in the process?
Questions:
How can in-built connectivity features such as having built in steamers or wifi connectivity in combi ovens help operators to save space and cut back on energy usage/costs in professional kitchens?
Purchasing equipment with energy reporting software allows catering and facilities management teams to have visibility and accurate data capture in order to analyse the performance and efficiency of equipment. Using this information they can also plan ways to reduce their energy consumption.
In order to collect the data from appliances, connectivity is pivotal. Caterers can only manage what they can measure. Multifunctional catering equipment, such as the Rational iVario Pro and the iCombi Pro continue to help with both energy and working practices within the kitchen environment.
Rational in the UK alone have over 5,000 connected benefit from connectivity, from independent businesses through to large chain restaurants, benefiting from HACAP updates, hygiene and asset management information daily.
What are some of your latest product innovations or launches that you have released recently or have lined up for the coming year, including any new features or in-built technologies that are being utilised?
Users of ConnectedCooking, Rational’s digital kitchen management system, now have
access to an exclusive new function: the dashboard for digital energy consumption display.
This means that, for the first time, users can always keep an eye on the energy consumption
of iCombi Pro and its predecessor model SelfCookingCenter and can immediately identify
consumption peaks - as well as potential savings.
With the new energy consumption display on the ConnectedCooking dashboard, it is now possible to display the energy consumption of the current month for each cooking system or account. Also broken down for cooking or cleaning processes. For example, load peaks, which are relevant for the calculation of electricity costs, can be identified.
The Rational free ConnectedCooking app, first introduced five years ago has been updated. The latest version of the app features a new user interface designed to make navigation easier and faster.
The revised start page, which ensures the very latest content, such as new recipes and videos, appear automatically. Meanwhile another key feature, the search function, has been expanded to make it as comprehensive and user-friendly as possible.
What do you think the future outlook for the combi oven market is like in terms of connectivity and the ability to manage combi ovens remotely and connect these ovens up with other smart kitchen equipment to improve connectivity for operators?
Manufacturers are working together to ensure modern kitchen equipment can be used together easily, with each piece operating in synergy in order to maximise energy efficiency. This in turn will lead to a switch towards more technical equipment and away from traditional cooking appliances.
What are some of the biggest challenges for operators who are looking to use combi ovens within a smart/connected kitchen?
Operators should look to manufacturers that can help support them, by demonstrating how their combi-ovens can deliver benefits to their catering operation, through the connectivity and networking of their appliances. During on-site training with customers, Rational can show how this connectivity can provide data on which to base their energy decisions and how they can achieve a modern and energy efficient kitchen.
