How ICONINK Doubled Speed and Improved Operational Insights
Challenges
Goals
The challenges that we had prior to joining WISK are we are a multi unit, multi-concept operator - so very different menus, very different products coming in. Ordering from similar suppliers and often different suppliers, but nobody was getting the best price. And so what I was able to do with WISK was, from a head office standpoint, get a dashboard with line of sight on the purchases at all venues and streamline and be able to understand where we're spending the money in the supply chain and support those partners appropriately.
The overall shrinkage, the overpouring, understanding where the product is going in store; we were able to dial that in so much tighter and keep people accountable. Also being able to customize the inventory system for each concept and still being able to honor those partnerships and have the right brands present at each venue, despite the different concepts and the different menus.
The challenges that we had prior to joining WISK are we are a multi unit, multi-concept operator - so very different menus, very different products coming in. Ordering from similar suppliers and often different suppliers, but nobody was getting the best price. And so what I was able to do with WISK was, from a head office standpoint, get a dashboard with line of sight on the purchases at all venues and streamline and be able to understand where we're spending the money in the supply chain and support those partners appropriately.
The overall shrinkage, the overpouring, understanding where the product is going in store; we were able to dial that in so much tighter and keep people accountable. Also being able to customize the inventory system for each concept and still being able to honor those partnerships and have the right brands present at each venue, despite the different concepts and the different menus.
I have used and considered using several other software programs that are competing in this space over the years and time and time again, what I saw was the systems were as strong as the information that was put into it and when the system maintenance fell apart, it's garbage in, garbage out and none of the output is accurate.
The relief that I felt once I was able to understand the simplicity of being able to onboard a new account, make introductions, get the training scheduled; just the overall onboarding process that WISK has put together is second to none. It is absolutely painless and so easy to become a customer.
Being able to have the line of sight on the inventory on a daily basis at each restaurant and understand how they're pacing in the month, how to curb appropriately, if we're running into, over costs or over budget. That's one thing that we saw right away.
Another thing that we definitely felt from the property level was the length of time it takes to take inventory was cut in half. Once you've nailed down the process of inputting into WISK itself, the time it took to do the weekly inventory was reduced by at least half. If not more.
I could go on for days about the inefficiencies that WISK helps with. They can't even remember what it was like doing inventory before WISK, because it was so all over the map.
Another thing that we definitely felt from the property level was the length of time it takes to take inventory was cut in half. Once you've nailed down the process of inputting into WISK itself, the time it took to do the weekly inventory was reduced by at least half. If not more.
I could go on for days about the inefficiencies that WISK helps with. They can't even remember what it was like doing inventory before WISK, because it was so all over the map.
The Problem
As a multi-unit operator, ICONINK sourced products from multiple suppliers, yet lacked visibility into purchasing practices across their venues. This made it difficult to achieve consistent pricing and optimize the supply chain.
Without a centralized system, inefficiencies such as product shrinkage, overpouring, and discrepancies in stock usage were common. The absence of streamlined tools also hindered accountability, making it harder to track where products were going and control costs effectively.
Additionally, ICONINK faced significant challenges in training and onboarding staff to manage inventory. High turnover in the hospitality industry exacerbated this issue, as new hires struggled to maintain consistency in manual inventory processes. These outdated practices consumed excessive time, created inaccuracies, and disrupted workflow across the group.
The combination of inconsistent procurement, inefficient tracking, and the burden of manual processes highlighted the need for a streamlined, automated solution that could provide real-time visibility, improve accuracy, and reduce time spent on inventory management.
The Solution
WISK gave ICONINK the tools to simplify their complex procurement and inventory challenges. With a centralized dashboard, James Harrington and his team gained a clear view of purchasing across all 50 restaurants. This visibility helped them identify where money was being spent, streamline orders, and ensure they were getting the best prices from suppliers.
WISK also tackled the issue of product shrinkage and overpouring. Tracking inventory became more accurate, which allowed the team to hold staff accountable and tighten control over stock usage. This improved efficiency across every location while still allowing each restaurant to maintain its unique concept and brand partnerships.
Training and onboarding staff became much easier with WISK’s user-friendly system. In an industry where turnover is high, James found it simple to teach new hires how to use the software, even when staff moved between locations. The process stayed consistent, and the team didn’t lose momentum or accuracy during transitions.
One of the biggest wins was time savings. Weekly inventory that used to take hours was cut in half—if not more. With WISK’s streamlined system, ICONINK could track costs, monitor budgets, and make smarter decisions without the hassle of manual processes.
How ICONINK Doubled Speed and Improved Operational Insights
James shares how WISK made training and onboarding significantly easier, which is crucial for an industry with high staff turnover. “What I was able to see with WISK was a much easier way of training the staff to execute the program,” he explains. The system’s simplicity ensured that staff could quickly learn and carry out inventory tasks without feeling overwhelmed.
He also highlights how WISK solved a common challenge for ICONINK—maintaining consistency during staffing changes. “With the turnover rate of staff in our industry, it was easy to onboard a new hire, train them, and carry the process through without seeing it fall apart.” Even when team members moved from one restaurant to another, the process remained seamless. Staff could step in, pick up where they left off, and keep things running smoothly.
For James, WISK’s user-friendly design created a reliable and repeatable process across ICONINK’s 50 restaurants. “It was just a much easier, seamless program to put into our restaurant group,” he adds. Whether new hires were joining the team or employees were shifting locations, WISK ensured inventory operations stayed consistent, saving time and reducing disruptions.
I could go on for days about the inefficiencies that WISK helps with.
“Once you've nailed down the process of inputting into WISK itself, the time it took to do the weekly inventory was reduced by at least half, if not more,” he says. The team quickly realized how much faster and smoother inventory became, compared to the chaotic system they were used to.
He reflects on how disorganized things were before WISK. “I could go on for days about the inefficiencies that WISK helps with. They can't even remember what it was like doing inventory before WISK because it was so all over the map.” The shift was so dramatic that the old way of working—full of inconsistencies and wasted time—felt like a distant memory.
For a group managing 50 restaurants, gaining back that time each week allowed the team to focus on more important tasks. WISK didn’t just simplify inventory—it brought a level of efficiency and control that ICONINK had never experienced before.
" Once you've nailed down the process of inputting into WISK itself the time it took to do the weekly inventory was reduced by at least half. If not more. "
James Harrington
Director Of Procurement
ICONINK's partnership with WISK transformed how they managed inventory across their 50 restaurants. Before implementing WISK, the team struggled with inefficiencies, lack of central oversight, and the constant challenge of high staff turnover. With WISK, they gained the clarity and control they needed to optimize costs, reduce shrinkage, and improve purchasing practices.
The results were immediate. Inventory time was reduced by at least 50%, freeing up valuable hours for other tasks. The platform’s ease of use also made staff training and onboarding much smoother, ensuring that even with frequent turnover, the process stayed on track. WISK helped ICONINK streamline operations, tighten control over costs, and ultimately improve profitability, proving that a simple yet powerful tool can have a major impact on hospitality businesses.
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ICONINK
Global restaurant collective dedicated to creating + crafting meaningful experiences with 20+ venues managed.
Maurice, Assistant Manager @ Flyjin
“Before using WISK, we had hesitations due to past unsuccessful experiences with other systems. We often reverted to pen and paper, which required transferring data to Excel, making the process very time-consuming. We started scanning everything, doing the inventory, it went super well, so I was very pleasantly surprised.”
Massimo, General Manager @ Lucille’s
“It took a lot less time to get everyone on board. They were all open for it because it's an app. They could use their phone. You know, at the touch of our phones, we have everything available. We just scan the item, we go through it all in a sequence, so it's very well organized, everything's well counted, and I think it just really facilitates the time efficiency of everything.”
Loyd, Owner @ L’infâme Tittle Tattle and La Gargamelle in Montreal
Before WISK, honestly, inventory was kind of a drag. We had this huge Excel sheet, we have over a hundred products in here, so it's kind of hard to just do inventories. It used to take us about one or two hours every week. Twice a week actually, it was not very accurate with our Excel sheet, but now it takes us like 20 minutes and we're done. And I was kind of surprised it was so user-friendly.