Article
4 min read
How to supercharge your business in 2025
Alex Francis
Nov 29, 2024
What's on the menu?
Are you ready to make 2025 your best year yet? The UK economy is set to grow next year, so now is the perfect time to be thinking about taking your business to the next level.
What will the opportunities be? What will the challenges be? These were some of the big questions we posed to our panel of experts at our recent Tech on Toast brunch.
And they didn’t hold back, sharing their thoughts on everything from employee wellbeing and development, to new technologies, through to the importance of a healthy workplace culture.
The expert panel
Engaging and managing your team
Working in hospitality can be high-pressure, so anything you can do to alleviate that stress and create a happier, healthier work environment can make a huge difference.
Some 67% of hospitality workers say that scheduling rotas ahead would improve their life, and scheduling software like Planday allows you to do that quickly and easily. Taking the pressure off managers while helping employees plan their lives better.
“When you have the platform to help with rotas it’s less stress on your managers and the team,” says William Conners.
At the same time, using a dedicated platform at work - rather than something like WhatsApp, which people use in their private lives - helps with the ‘right to disconnect’. Employees’ time off should be exactly that; a time to switch off and recharge, without worrying about work.
Jack Lander says: “We went to Slack for our comms a few years ago. It has great functionality for switching off, because in a 24/7 business it’s hard to tell people not to message you after a certain time.”
Taking a people-centric approach
While there are big opportunities for growth next year, the panel also emphasise the importance of putting your people first.
Any new software you introduce, for example, should be used to complement your team and their roles - not replace them or make it harder to do their jobs.
Ella de Beers says: “As a business, you know where things are going right or wrong. So when it comes to adding new technology, don’t rush the decision. Take your time to research the best solution, and always remember to ask what technology doesn’t do.”
Focusing on culture
As your business changes and grows, it’s important to keep an eye on your workplace culture. Is it working for those within it? Is there anything that needs changing, and what can you do to improve it if necessary?
“The inclusivity part of a workplace culture is important - the idea of everyone being in this together,” says Jack
“We try to empower the managers to make sure they are living the ethos and are connecting with everyone in the business.”
Ella adds: “To ensure your culture is looked after, you mustn’t lose track of why you are doing things. Especially when you’re scaling your business, always remind yourself of the reason you’re doing it.”
Changing trends and customer habits
For a long time hospitality has been a human-led experience, but will this still be the case in 2025? As new technology develops and customers expect seamless, efficient interactions, is the hospitality industry ready?
The key is finding the right balance between tech integration and personal service. As customer habits change and newer generations embrace quicker, accessible tech, it’s important to ensure traditional values are upheld.
“People are more tech-receptive in hospitality now,” says William. “But it has to be the right tech in the right place. If it’s good, it will fit.”
Jack agrees: “Tech is the first thought for younger clientele, but you need to find the right point to engage. Allow people to engage with your technology where they feel comfortable.”
Challenges for next year
A growing economy and advancing tech offers huge opportunities for hospitality businesses, and the challenge lies in how those opportunities are taken.
Scaling a business too quickly, or jumping on new technology without proper thought, can be counterproductive. Rather than helping your team, you could end up alienating them. And that could mean losing staff and missing opportunities.
You shouldn’t lose sight of what makes your businesses - and the hospitality industry as a whole - so great: the human element. People want human interactions, and you’ll always need experienced teams who are able to problem solve on the fly.
As William puts it: “If you want a brand who connects with people, you should be using people.”
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