Aliso Viejo-based Johnny Rockets Group Inc. said it and franchisees would save about $450,000 a year systemwide with new back-office operations software the retro burger chain developed in-house for $25,000.
The sales management, labor tracking and inventory software is in about 45 of its 320 locations.
Remaining restaurants plan to bring it online over three years, said Vice President of Information Technology Lacy Morris.
“Our goal is to migrate everyone to the new system,” he said. That’s when the full savings would begin.
Morris said the software also helps with marketing—instead of Johnny Rockets telling new franchisees they have to buy software, the company provides it for free.
“It’s nice to be able to say, ‘We’re going to save you money.’”
Using such software cuts costs by about 4% to 5% by finding efficiencies in the areas it covers, he said.
Morris said the software is cloud-based, so it can be used more readily in any country. About a third of Johnny Rockets restaurants are overseas.
The chain is owned by an affiliate of Boca Raton, Fla.-based Sun Capital Partners Inc., and Morris said the software could be used by other restaurant chains in its portfolio.
One of its portfolio companies is Souplantation parent company Garden Fresh Restaurant Corp., in San Diego.
