The Riverland Group is a cornerstone of Melbourne’s vibrant hospitality scene, operating six beloved venues that have become staples for locals and visitors alike. These venues include Riverland Bar, The Boatbuilders Yard, Pilgrim, The General Assembly, Bang Bang RC, and the newly refurbished Hotel Railway in Brunswick. Each venue offers a unique atmosphere, blending exceptional bar and food services with Melbourne’s renowned cultural charm.

Founded in 2006 with the launch of the iconic Riverland Bar – an architectural gem nestled along the Yarra River beneath Federation Square – the group has grown to become a leading force in the hospitality industry. With venues spread across Melbourne’s CBD and the inner suburbs of Elsternwick and Brunswick, the Riverland Group employs between 150 and 400 staff, depending on the season, and supports over 50 administrative endpoints to manage operations seamlessly.

The challenge

Riverland Group faced common challenges associated with multi-site operations, including:

• Standardization across venues: With six locations all operating as different brands, maintaining consistent operational standards, compliance, and customer service became increasingly difficult.
• Food safety and compliance: Manual processes for temperature checks and food labeling left the group vulnerable to inefficiencies and errors, making compliance management cumbersome.
• Operational oversight: The leadership team lacked real-time visibility into the day-to-day operations at each venue, making it harder to identify inefficiencies and address gaps.
• Efficiency in daily tasks: Critical tasks like opening and closing procedures, stock tracking, and compliance reporting relied on manual systems, which were prone to delays and inconsistencies.

The solution

Riverland Group chose Operandio to tackle the operational challenges of managing multiple venues while ensuring consistency and compliance. Operandio’s powerful operations and compliance platform offered a centralized solution to standardize processes, streamline workflows, and provide real-time visibility across all six locations.

This was a crucial step for Riverland Group’s headquarters, as it looked to provide senior management with the tools needed to monitor day-to-day operations, track compliance, and identify inefficiencies. With the right platform, the Riverland Group management team could unlock strategic insights to drive brand growth and strengthen overall operations.

How Operandio helped Riverland Group

• Digital checklists for standardized operations: By replacing paper-based systems with digital checklists, Operandio ensured that tasks were completed consistently across all venues. This increased accountability and operational efficiency while reducing the need for constant oversight.
• Automated temperature monitoring: Permanent temperature probes installed in fridges and freezers automated daily and monthly compliance checks. This eliminated manual labor, ensured regulatory compliance, and alerted teams to maintenance needs before they escalated.
• Date labeling integration: Operandio’s integrated label printing feature simplified food labeling in the kitchens, reducing errors and freeing up staff for other tasks.
• Seamless workflow integration: Operandio integrated effortlessly into existing workflows, ensuring that the transition was smooth and non-disruptive. Its intuitive interface enabled quick adoption across all levels of the organization.

Impact and future outlook

Operandio didn’t just address operational inefficiencies; it transformed the way Riverland Group managed their venues. By providing real-time insights, automated compliance, and standardized processes, the platform enabled the group to scale their operations without compromising quality or consistency.

With Operandio in place, Riverland Group is well-positioned for future growth. The platform’s ability to streamline multi-site operations and provide actionable insights ensures that the group can continue delivering exceptional hospitality experiences as they expand.