Why Micro Markets Are Becoming the Go-To Choice for Manufacturing Breakrooms
In a manufacturing facility, downtime isn’t really a term that is used often—or at all. Things move fast in these businesses, and that’s necessary to stay one step ahead of the competition. Everyone in the building has to keep moving all day long to meet output goals at the end of the month.
So, how do people in the manufacturing industry stay fueled up without losing much of their working time to chasing down things to eat or drink? Increasingly, they turn to a micro market. The nature of a micro market makes these features perfect for manufacturing buildings, and this is sure to become a favored destination for your staff shortly after it is added. Take a moment today to connect with InReach to learn more.
What Is a Micro Market?
First, a quick introduction. A micro market is a self-serve retail space within a workplace. With a micro market, people in your building can walk right up, pick out the items they want to purchase, and check out using a kiosk or mobile app. It’s a seamless and intuitive experience that allows employees to get what they need and return to work promptly.
You may choose to add a micro market instead of a bank of vending machines, or you may have both of these in your building to offer as many choices as possible. There is still plenty of room in the modern workplace for vending machines, and when a micro market is added to the mix, it becomes easy to keep everyone happy.
Why Manufacturing Facilities Benefit From Micro Markets
What is it about manufacturing facilities that makes them such a great fit for a micro market break room? It starts with the speed at which people can get what they want. Without much time to spare, employees need to get in and out and back on the job. That’s what a micro market does perfectly. There are no unnecessary points of friction and no reason for delays.
Micro markets are also a great fit because they are open around the clock and don’t need to be staffed. If your manufacturing facility runs 24 hours a day, so too will your micro market. So, no matter what shift someone is working, they can always use this feature to fuel up and stay hydrated.
This is also an appealing feature because of the variety it presents. Your staff is made up of individuals who have all kinds of different tastes, preferences, dietary restrictions, and more. You don’t want to exclude anyone, and micro markets are an excellent way to pack a ton of variety into a small space.
A Strong Business Case
There is a compelling financial case to be made for incorporating a micro market into your building. First, it is a fact that micro markets are affordable to install and operate. They don’t require much internal oversight, and you might actually bring costs down as compared to running a cafeteria or bringing in catered food.
Also, micro markets are easy to scale up and down as you go. You won’t be locked into anything specific. As your demand grows or shrinks, you can tweak your plan and stay right on track to meet your budgetary goals.
Invest in Your People With a Micro Market
Keeping your best employees for as long as possible is a big part of success in manufacturing. And, to keep those people around, you need to show them that you are committed to their well-being and satisfaction. A new micro market is a great way to do just that, and working with InReach will make the process as simple as possible.
Proudly part of Sodexo, InReach offers a global reach, customized attention, and a large, growing buying network that keeps food costs low while maintaining high quality. Contact us today to learn more.