Turning restaurant paper checklists into an easy-to-use tablet app

Product type

SaaS

Industry

Food & Beverage

Timeline

first version in 3 weeks

Tools

Framer, Bubble

Wonder app

Wonder is a SaaS product that turns restaurant paper checklists into an easy-to-use tablet app. It helps staff manage daily tasks while keeping managers informed of progress. The solution goes beyond the tool by providing guidance and implementation steps for restaurant owners and managers to establish effective operational procedures.

The challange

Growing restaurant chain and limitations of paper-based checklist system

What started as a single restaurant twelve years ago grew into a respected hospitality group operating nine locations across three distinct restaurant's brands. With this growth came increasing complexity in maintaining consistent quality and operational standards, yet their operational backbone relied on paper checklists scattered across walls and printed in annual books.

Restaurant managers spent hours manually checking lists that could have been filled at any time, with no way to verify when tasks were actually completed. Auditors visiting locations bi-weekly or monthly found it challenging to track compliance across different restaurants, each with its own way of managing checklists. Staff members in kitchen, bar, and bakery sections juggled multiple lists while trying to maintain their focus on customer service. The situation was becoming unsustainable as the business continued to grow.

Results

By using Wonder app staff members can now log in with a simple PIN code on shared tablets, complete their section-specific tasks, and provide photo verification of fulfilled tasks. Managers gained real-time visibility into task completion and a streamlined way to communicate with their teams. The system was designed specifically for the fast-paced restaurant environment, featuring an intuitive interface that allows staff to quickly complete tasks during their busy shifts while maintaining focus on customer service and internal operations.

Radek took our rough idea and transformed it into something amazing. He understood exactly what we needed and delivered it perfectly. Precisely what we were looking for to launch as our internal tool and a new business line.

Ola Dojnikowska

Founder at Wonder

The transition from paper to digital needed careful handling. We developed a six-stage implementation process that began with thorough preparation and training. Managers first learned the system inside and out, then guided their staff through the transition. Rather than forcing an abrupt change, we allowed paper and digital systems to run in parallel until everyone felt confident in the new approach.

Making operations easier for all restaurants

Wonder represents more than just a digital checklist system. It embodies years of operational experience from a successful restaurant group, transformed into a tool that any restaurant can use to improve their operations. For restaurants still struggling with paper-based systems or looking to improve their operational efficiency, Wonder offers a practical solution born from real-world experience.

The implementation of Wonder provides valuable insights into restaurant operations. We're carefully tracking performance metrics and gathering user feedback to guide future improvements. The system will evolve based on real-world usage patterns and needs, ensuring it remains practical and valuable for both the original restaurant group and future users.

Behind the scenes - implementation journey

Initial assessment and vision

We began by evaluating the current state of restaurant operations and establishing clear objectives. The initial concept drew inspiration from successful solutions already on the market while adapting to specific local requirements. This phase set the foundation for both internal use and future commercialization as a subscription-based service.

Phase I: business and product strategy

We conducted comprehensive research to understand:

Market challenges and opportunities
Purchase patterns and decision-making processes in restaurants
Target customer profiles and their needs
Competitive landscape analysis
Market size evaluation and service capacity requirements
Distribution channels and marketing approaches

This research culminated in a detailed business and marketing strategy that would guide our development and go-to-market approach.

Then we created a structured product roadmap that categorized features into:

Now: Essential features for initial launch
Next: Priority features for early updates
Later: Future enhancements and expansions

We mapped core user flows and defined user roles with their specific functional needs, creating a foundation for choosing the right technical solution.

Phase II: validation and development

The second phase focused on bringing our concept to reality:

Organizational structure development
Creation of marketing and sales communication
Conducting customer interviews
Refining the product concept
Technology evaluation and selection
Initial cost estimations
Detailed specification development
Screen prototyping and design
Development and testing

Market validation through discovery

We conducted discovery calls with six different restaurants to validate our assumptions and gather additional insights. These potential customers were also invited to participate in testing sessions, ensuring our solution would meet real-world needs.

Tooling and technical Implementation

We chose a modern, efficient tech stack that would allow for rapid development and iteration:

Application Development: bubble.io for no-code development, enabling quick iterations and adjustments
Website Creation: framer.com for a professional online presence
Project Planning: miro.com for collaborative ideation and planning
Project Management: Notion for comprehensive tracking and documentation
Research Analysis: AI tools for processing and analyzing discovery call findings

This approach allowed us to move quickly while maintaining flexibility to adapt based on user feedback and changing requirements. The no-code solution particularly proved valuable in allowing us to adjust features rapidly based on early user feedback without extensive development cycles.