Data from the Other Side: Terrifying Tales of Spooky Metrics

If you as a manager were asked to make a list of things that were truly frightening (apart from emergency meetings and public speaking), many would say that the thought of accurately interpreting some spooky metrics and using their monthly operating statements and countless lines of ‘performance’ data you receive would raise a couple of heart rates. Those late-night thoughts of, did I use that right? I didn’t take statistics classes…..how do I even use this in my operations? begin to creep in and you are left with no sleep and a long list of horror movies that would have been a better way to spend your time. 

Harnessing the power of data analytics sounds good, but how do you do it?  Essentially, “who you gonna call?”

You may be wondering what a spooky metric is and what that can look like in practical terms.  Essentially, spooky metrics are metrics that, not unlike a ghost sighting, are unusual, unexpected, or difficult to explain.  An example of spooky metrics at work include:

·       A sudden drop in sales on a day of the week that is historically busy.

·       An increase in food waste without any apparent cause.

·       A high turnover rate among customer participation despite offering a wide variety of food options and services.

As important as it is to investigate these developments, it is equally important that you don’t overreact and make impulsive changes to your program.  Here are 3 simple steps that you can take to determine the root cause of the changes and if they are truly cause for alarm.

1.     Track your metrics over time instead of relying on a snapshot of your operation.  The abrupt drop in sales could, for instance, be due to nearby construction that has temporarily changed foot traffic patterns.

2.     Talk to your customers, employees, and suppliers.  The increase in food waste could be because of a change that your supplier made to one of its products which changed the taste of a popular menu item. 

3.     Compare your metrics to other similar operations.  They may also be experiencing high turnover that is indicative of the pandemic turnover.  This phenomenon is marked by a significant number of employees leaving the food service industry for careers that they perceive as more stable.1

Looking for a Data & Metrics Ghost Busting help?

CD Client Support Services has a large array of tools and experience to help those in need of some good Data Storytelling, not including any ghost tales, that help you tear away the cobwebs and the spooky things under the kitchen sink. Reach out to our team to learn more either by séance or just by email.

1.     Ohannessian, M. (2022, August 17). The Restaurant Turnover Rate is Astronomical. Here’s Why (and How to Fix It). Notch Financial. https://www.notch.financial/blog/restaurant-turnover-rate