A menu cycle keeps food service at colleges and universities fresh and new, while streamlining the planning and preparation process. And with the release of Tacit’s new Rotational Menu feature, campuses can more efficiently define, schedule, and update rotational menu cycles across digital ordering channels, in addition to the ability to localize the availability of menu items throughout the day.

What is a Rotational Menu Cycle?
A higher-education campus with food services operating on rotational menus follow a defined cycle. For example, a menu that rotates on a three-week cycle offers a set of menus for week one, a different group of menus for week two, and another set of menus during week three. After week three, the cycle will start over and feature the menus from week one. Menu cycles are designed to support variety, balanced nutrition, efficiency, consistency, and cost control. The length of a rotational schedule is determined based on the specific needs and/or constraints of the operation.

How it Works
Tacit’s Rotational Menu feature allows campuses to schedule rotation cycles by location, shift menu items and rotations as needed or desired, and display a combination of weekly and daily offerings that cycle regularly. The Rotational Menu feature is simple to navigate with streamlined steps enabling users to:

• define the rotation cycle by location, with a start date and number of weeks of the rotation;
• mark the menus that offer items on rotation for each day of the week and each week of the rotation cycle;
• select items that are active for each day of the week and each week of the rotation cycle;
• and share rotational menus for pickup and/or delivery, and by time slot.

Accuracy and Control
It is crucial to share the correct rotational menu on the correct day. Whether it involves 86’ing a menu item or rearranging the order of the rotation cycle, the ‘Date and Time Stamp’ functionality captures any change made. This provides operators with the confidence that their food service ordering website, mobile app, and/or self-service kiosks display the correct rotational menu consistently.

The result is a frictionless ordering experience for the customer who can browse the correct menu, select and customize their order, and choose a payment method for the current day or a date in the future if advanced orders are enabled. 

Benefits
Share digital menu changes for customers quickly and as needed. It is fast and efficient to update rotational menus, revise and remove menu items, and alter the rotation cycle. This flexibility can support better planning and procurement while helping to optimize inventory and manage costs more accurately.

Additionally, insights gleaned from customer consumption and sales allow operators to identify popular dishes and modify upcoming menus to potentially reduce food waste and increase meal participation, which can help increase revenue and decrease costs for the foodservice program.

Click here to learn more about the rotational menu feature and to update configurations in the Tacit back-office.