Revolutionizing Dining with the Mycelium SWISH

Automating Restaurants with Innovative Technology by Ihor Shadko

The inspiration behind the Mycelium SWISH stemmed from a desire to eliminate the often frustrating waiting times in restaurants and to streamline the ordering process. Ihor Shadko drew inspiration from user experience research and conversations with small business owners and service staff. The result is a 21st-century order automation system that promises to save up to 50% on staff costs, increase table turnover and order numbers, and reduce fraud and costly mistakes.

What sets the Mycelium SWISH apart from other systems is its real-time tracking and analytics of almost all processes that occur in a restaurant. This is achieved through an easy-to-use dashboard system, and apps for iOS, Android, or web application. The system was realized using various design and prototyping tools including Sketch, Illustrator, Photoshop, After Effect, Flinto, Invision, and Zeplin.

The operation of the Mycelium SWISH is straightforward. The restaurant's administrator fills an electronic menu with items, assigns order points, sets opening hours, and assigns staff members. Restaurant managers can then analyze various aspects of the restaurant's operations such as income, employee performance, and the profitability of specific tables or dishes. Customers simply scan a QR code and order their meal in a few steps, avoiding queues and potential language barriers.

The development of the Mycelium SWISH presented several challenges, including the creation of a comprehensive analytical section and the integration of restaurant managers, waiters, and customers into a single, stable ecosystem. Despite these challenges, the design team, led by Ihor Shadko, was able to successfully overcome them, resulting in a system that improves restaurant process analytics, waiter efficiency, and the overall convenience of food ordering.

The Mycelium SWISH has been recognized for its innovative design and functionality, winning the Silver A' Website and Web Design Award in 2017. This award is given to designs that demonstrate outstanding expertise and innovation, strong technical characteristics, and remarkable artistic skill. As the dining industry continues to evolve, the Mycelium SWISH stands as a testament to the power of design and technology to improve our everyday experiences.