What is Cloud Kitchen?

The cloud concept, the basis of the cloud kitchen, meaning a virtual kitchen, though relatively novel yet has already become quite popular for reasons more than one. It seems to wonder and makes one realize how things can be done without being physically present. In the internet space, we say, the cloud is an invisible space wherein a massive amount of data can be stored and accessed. This concept is already being used not just in the corporate sector but also on a personal level. People can save data such as documents, photographs and everything on their phones and laptops or computers.

So, when technology has blest us with this revolutionary concept, why would any sector remain untouched by it; hence the hospitality industry has incorporated this into its functioning in every way it can. The restaurants have started to function optimally owing to this cloud concept and consequently gave birth to the ‘Cloud kitchen’.

Also known as a ‘virtual kitchen’, this could be said to be the largest commercial kitchen. It has brought the ease of eating the favourite meals of the most popular food joints at the comfort of the customer. In other words, this is how an individual can order food according to their choice, and at the venue they wish.

The convenience of ordering meals in this way has taken a toll on the masses, and reports say that within just one year, there has been a surge in this by more than 150 %. Seeing the growing trend, there is no doubt that this form of food business is here to stay and only brings about more and more profitability. Understanding that the food business will boom with the inclusion of cloud technology in the kitchen, it is pertinent that one understands the concept thoroughly.

The users of cloud kitchen

• Those restaurants focusing more on ‘take away’ and ‘delivery’ are more drawn toward this technology. 
• Caterers who want to take orders without having to invest in a significant physical kitchen show an inclination toward this trend
• The meal prep companies that do not require kitchen space for more than a week often prefer to resort to the cloud kitchen
• The cloud kitchen massively helps the packaged food companies by making ample space available for the warehouse.
• The food testing companies take advantage of this technological advancement owing to its low-risk and low-capital solution. They are conveniently able to test the new food products as well as brand concepts.

The advantages of a cloud kitchen

These virtual kitchens are a blessing for a significant section of people in several ways, such as:

• The startup is comparatively more pocket friendly than a physical kitchen. The business owners are exempted from the construction of elaborate physical spaces and maintaining them. 
• This kind of kitchen can be started within days of its conceptualization, unlike the physical kitchen, which needs to wait to complete its construction.
• The overhead costs of a cloud kitchen, meaning ‘ghost kitchen’ as well, are much less, considering that these kitchens do not employ more than one or two cooks. So the staff payroll and maintenance costs are all warded off.
• The ghost kitchen also provides the option of simultaneously carrying out things such as equipment repairs, security monitoring, health inspections, repair of equipment, utility bills, janitorial services etc.
• The delivery system is highly optimized with the arrival of the cloud kitchen since it allows the expansion of the area of delivery.
• Online food delivery is advantageous to both the consumer and the business owner. The latter is able to take care of the logistics and lower the costs as well.

The future of a cloud kitchen looks very promising when considering the benefits it brings to the table. This form of a restaurant is gradually becoming the preferred form over a traditional physical restaurant for various reasons. The following are some of the primary reasons why the cloud kitchen can be called the future of a restaurant.

1. The capital investment is much less in a cloud kitchen as one can cut costs related to the construction and maintenance of the physical kitchen.
2. The risks associated are hence also low since the overhead costs are minimized.
3. The investment of time, effort and money on marketing is reduced as the delivery apps take care of all those aspects. The presence of the menu on the site always makes it easy to understand the preferred options and make changes accordingly. The digital presence is made better with this form of the restaurant.
4. The restaurant service is faster and more satisfactory than the traditional form. The orders received help to get the customers’ preferences assorted and make the delivery more efficient. The advancement of technology helps save the data of order by which the future orders of the same customer could be guided. 

The traditional restaurant form will certainly never lose its place, but at the same time, the gradual rise in the popularity of the virtual kitchen cannot be overlooked. The requirement for a smaller team makes this ghost kitchen a sought-after concept for food business owners. It is a big help in cutting down costs. This is the reason the profit margins of a cloud kitchen are more significant than the traditional kitchen. 

The increasing rentals of brick and mortar restaurants add a reason for individuals in this trade to switch their alliance to the concept involving cloud technology. The amount they spend on this cloud kitchen meaning virtual kitchen is only a fraction of what they spend otherwise. 

The fact that people look for convenience, comfort and speed in their daily lives should give the food business owners a good enough reason to incorporate the ‘cloud kitchen’ concept in their trade of serving food and making people happy.