The Michigan Restaurant and Lodging Association in Lansing has partnered with Midland-based BYOD to provide employee health screening and contact tracing software, designed to mitigate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic as restaurants open.
The organizations are offering the software through Temp Protect and Guest Protect, solutions created by BYOD.
“As a Michigan-based company, BYOD leadership understands the complex environment in which restaurants and other businesses operate in our state to ensure the health and safety of customers and employees,” says Justin Winslow, president and CEO of the association. “Providing employee health screening and guest contact tracing software enables restaurant owners to effectively and securely do their part as we work toward full reintegration.”
Guest Protect uses a smartphone to scan a QR code that is unique to the participating operator. Guests enter their name, phone number, and email, which submits the encrypted information to a secure Amazon Web Services Cloud storage environment for retrieval by a health department, if necessary. The process can be completed by the guest or operator. In the first day of use on Nov. 3, 2020, more than 400 guests uploaded their data.
“In the restaurant business, people don’t see all the measures that are handled behind the scenes, but they have always trusted the right protocols were in place,” says Dave Dittenber, owner and founder of BYOD. “As we operate within the new normal and embrace more public-facing transparency, this technology shows consumers that restaurants are taking the necessary steps to create a safe dining environment.”
Temp Protect is a mobile app that health screens staff through a five-question survey and generates a QR code for location scanning. Staff members’ responses are then encrypted and stored in a secure cloud environment and accessible only to the administrator of the account. The app provides a one-day work permit, and staff must recertify each day through the app.
The association and BYOD are onboarding association members to both platforms at no cost, and nonmembers pay $25 per month per location. More information on the platforms and sign up are available here.
BYOD is a virtual restaurant manager that leverages artificial intelligence, machine learning, and internet of things. Its platform measures restaurant performance and provides steps designed to reduce costs, increase revenue, and support consistent operation.
The Michigan Restaurant and Lodging Association provides services to the foodservice and lodging community. It was founded in 1921 and represents more than 5,000 establishments across the state. The industry employs more than 595,000 people and creates nearly $40 billion in annual sales.
