Arwen Robitaille is the director of operations at Snapchef, a staffing solutions company that recently opened a second Providence location on Weybosset Street. In addition to in-person training, one of the company’s major offerings is a digital platform intended to facilitate smoother staffing between employees and employers in the hospitality industry.
PBN: Since launching Snapchef, how have you noticed hiring strategies and staffing needs change, and how can digital services address these needs? What changes have come about in more recent years due to the pandemic?
ROBITAILLE: The hiring strategies have changed drastically over the last 20 years, with our most notable changes occurring in the last three years. Prior to the pandemic, the application process was rather long and required the applicant to come into the office, fill out a long application, print it out and go through the entire thing with a manager, then be sent over to human resources.
Now, the application can be completed in person or remotely. We still prefer them to come in person, to get that person-to-person contact, but it can work either way. It’s a much quicker process done digitally with no actual paperwork.
PBN: How does Snapchef’s digital platform SnapWare work to connect employers and employees?
ROBITAILLE: Employees can view open shifts, they can see any notes left by the client regarding the shift, such as if the client wants a specific uniform or a specific skill set, and they can view the location, as well as clock in and out on the app once on location.
Our clients can view who is coming to their site. They can approve the employee’s timecard, edit the times and even request or review a certain employee that they enjoyed having.
All clients can add their shifts either through the Snapchef portal website or they also have the Snapchef app available on their phones, just like the employees.
PBN: In addition to connecting job seekers with hiring employers, in what other ways does Snapchef use technology to meet workforce needs?
ROBITAILLE: Our app and proprietary software is constantly being updated and enhanced to align with employee and client needs. Daniela Snopkowski, co-founder and chief financial officer, spends countless hours researching and coming up with ways to improve the app. The goal at the end of the day is to make the communication between management, employees and clients as seamless as possible.
PBN: How has Snapchef’s digital platform changed over time to address workforce trends and industry needs?
ROBITAILLE: Some examples of recent upgrades include a place for employees to request time off, a separate section of the app dedicated just to our drivers – Snapchef offers transportation to our employees – with a place for them to track their driving routes, and we have also recently added a section of the app where employees can see any shifts that we have available and they can put in a request to fill those shifts.
PBN: In what ways would you like to see this platform grow or otherwise change in the future?
ROBITAILLE: We like the direction the app is going with all of the recent upgrades, and the next step is making the application process even more streamlined than it already is by adding it to the Snapchef app.
Jacquelyn Voghel is a PBN staff writer. You may reach her at Voghel@PBN.com.
