Team Communication

Effective communication is crucial for restaurant operations. LQD's communication features keep your entire team informed, aligned, and responsive to daily changes.

Overview

LQD's communication system includes:

• Message Wall: Central hub for announcements and updates
• Real-time Notifications: Instant alerts for important changes
• Shift Communications: Share critical information before and during shifts
• Team Announcements: Broadcast important messages to all or specific team members

Message Wall

The message wall serves as your team's central communication hub, displaying the latest announcements, updates, and important information.

Accessing the Message Wall

The message wall is prominently featured on the main dashboard:

1. Dashboard View: Latest announcements appear on the home screen
2. Full Message Wall: Click "View All" to see complete message history
3. Mobile Access: Fully accessible on mobile devices for on-the-go updates

Types of Messages

Daily Announcements

🍽️ Daily Special: Seafood Risotto with Pan-Seared Scallops
📅 Today's Date: March 15, 2024
👨‍🍳 Chef's Notes: Use the new saffron from our supplier - smaller portions!

Shift Changes

🔄 Shift Update: Sarah will cover for Mike's evening shift
⏰ Time: 5:00 PM - 11:00 PM
📞 Contact: Reach Sarah at extension 205 for questions

Important Updates

⚠️ Important: New POS system training tomorrow at 2 PM
📍 Location: Back office
🎯 Who: All servers and bartenders
📋 Bring: Your login credentials and notepad

Creating Messages

For Managers and Admins

1. Navigate to the Message Wall or Dashboard
2. Click Create Announcement or the + button
3. Choose message type:
   • General Announcement
   • Shift Information
   • Menu Update
   • Safety Alert
   • Schedule Change
4. Write your message with clear, actionable information
5. Select recipients (all team, specific roles, or individuals)
6. Add priority level (Normal, Important, Urgent)
7. Click Post to share with the team

Message Components

• Title: Clear, descriptive headline
• Body: Detailed information with context
• Recipients: Who needs to see this message
• Priority: How urgent or important the message is
• Attachments: Photos, documents, or links (optional)

Notification System

Push Alerts

LQD sends push notifications to the phones, tablets and computers where a team member has turned them on. While the app is open, changes appear live; push covers the moments when the app is closed or in the background.

Team members with push turned on receive an alert for:

• New messages: In public channels, private channels and direct messages
• 86 list changes: An item added to the 86 list (86'd: <item>) or restored from it (Back: <item>)

Alerts go to everyone in the organization except the person who made the change. Tapping an alert opens the conversation or the 86 list. If you already have LQD open on that screen, the alert is skipped because you are looking at the change.

Notification Preferences

Turning Push On

Push is turned on per device, so each phone, tablet or computer is enabled separately:

1. Open Settings → Notifications
2. Turn on Push notifications
3. Allow notifications when your device asks
4. Tap Send test notification to confirm the device receives alerts

On a phone, LQD also shows a one-time prompt offering to turn push on. Signing out turns push off for that device; signing back in turns it on again automatically.

iPhone and iPad

iOS delivers push only to web apps added to the Home Screen (iOS 16.4 or later):

1. Open LQD in Safari
2. Tap Share, then Add to Home Screen
3. Open LQD from the Home Screen icon and turn on push in Settings → Notifications

The in-app prompt walks you through this when it detects Safari.

Not Yet Available

The following are on the roadmap and are not available today:

• Email digests or daily summaries
• SMS alerts
• Quiet hours
• Manager override of individual preferences
• Choosing which kinds of alerts to receive (push is currently all or nothing per device)

Communication Best Practices

For Managers

Writing Effective Messages

1. Be Clear and Specific

   ❌ "Something's different today"
   ✅ "Happy hour extended to 7 PM due to large group booking"

2. Include Key Details

   • What: What's happening or changing
   • When: Specific times and dates
   • Who: Who's involved or affected
   • Where: Location if relevant
   • Why: Context helps team understand importance

3. Use Action-Oriented Language

   ❌ "There might be some kitchen delays"
   ✅ "Kitchen is 15 minutes behind - inform customers of longer wait times"

4. Prioritize Appropriately

   • Normal: Daily specials, general reminders
   • Important: Schedule changes, new procedures
   • Urgent: Safety issues, immediate operational changes

Timing Your Communications

• Pre-Shift: Post updates 30-60 minutes before shifts start
• During Service: Only urgent updates that can't wait
• Post-Shift: Wrap-up notes and next-day preparations
• Daily Summaries: End-of-day recap for the next team

For Team Members

Staying Informed

1. Check Messages at Shift Start: Review all new announcements
2. Enable Notifications: Keep important alerts turned on
3. Acknowledge Important Messages: Use reactions or replies when requested
4. Ask Questions: Use the message thread for clarification

Communicating Up

While most communication flows from management down, team members should:

• Report Issues: Alert managers to operational problems
• Share Customer Feedback: Pass along compliments or concerns
• Suggest Improvements: Contribute ideas for better operations

Message Organization

Categories and Tags

Organize messages by type for easy reference:

• 📋 Daily Operations: Regular operational updates
• 🍽️ Menu & Food: Food-related announcements
• 🍸 Bar Operations: Beverage and bar updates
• 👥 Team: HR, scheduling, and team news
• 🚨 Alerts: Urgent or safety-related messages
• 🎉 Events: Special events and promotions

Search and Filtering

Find specific messages quickly:

• Search by Keywords: Find messages containing specific terms
• Filter by Date: View messages from specific time periods
• Filter by Type: See only certain categories of messages
• Filter by Sender: View messages from specific managers or admins

Advanced Communication Features

Message Templates

Create reusable templates for common announcements:

Daily Special Template

🍽️ Today's Special: [DISH NAME]
💰 Price: [PRICE]
🥄 Description: [INGREDIENTS & PREPARATION]
⚠️ Allergens: [ALLERGEN INFO]
📊 Expected Volume: [HIGH/MEDIUM/LOW]

86 List Update Template

🚫 86'd Item: [ITEM NAME]
📝 Reason: [OUT OF STOCK/PREP ISSUE/OTHER]
⏰ Expected Return: [TIME/DATE OR "UNKNOWN"]
🔄 Substitute: [RECOMMENDED ALTERNATIVE]

Automated Messages

86 List Updates are automatic today: adding an item to the 86 list or restoring it sends a push alert to the team (see Notification System).

Not yet available:

• Shift Reminders: "Don't forget your shift starts in 1 hour"
• Schedule Changes: Alerts when shifts are modified
• Daily Specials: Recurring announcements for regular features

Message Analytics

Track communication effectiveness:

• Read Rates: How many team members view messages
• Response Times: How quickly team acknowledges important messages
• Engagement: Which types of messages get the most interaction

Troubleshooting Communication Issues

Common Problems

Team members not seeing messages

• Verify they're logged into the correct organization
• Confirm they are members of the channel (private channels and DMs are only visible to their members)
• Ensure their device has internet connectivity
• Confirm their account is active and properly set up

Messages not sending

• Check your internet connection
• Try refreshing the app or logging out and back in

Notifications not working

• Check your device's notification settings: LQD must be allowed to show notifications
• Open Settings → Notifications in LQD and confirm Push notifications is on for this device
• Tap Send test notification; if it arrives, push is working and the problem is elsewhere
• On iPhone or iPad, make sure you opened LQD from the Home Screen icon, not from Safari
• Push is per device: turn it on separately on each phone, tablet or computer

Getting Help

For communication-related support:

• In-App Help: Use the help section within LQD
• Email Support: hi@lqd.rocks
• Team Training: Request additional training for your team

Integration with Daily Operations

Pre-Service Communication

30 minutes before service:

• Daily specials announcement
• 86 list updates
• Any special events or large parties
• Staffing changes or coverage needs

Start of service:

• Final reminders and confirmations
• Last-minute updates
• Team motivation and goals for the shift

During Service

Real-time updates:

• New 86 items as they occur
• Kitchen delays or timing changes
• Special customer requests or VIP arrivals
• Emergency or safety communications only

Post-Service

End of shift:

• Shift summary and highlights
• Issues to address for next service
• Kudos and recognition for good performance
• Preparation notes for tomorrow

Effective communication keeps your team informed, engaged, and ready to deliver exceptional service. Use LQD's communication tools to create a more connected and efficient restaurant operation.