Frequently Asked Questions
Have a question about your account or product?
Please email us at info@blackboxintelligence.com.
Are my competitors in your data set?
With the largest and most comprehensive set of data in the marketplace, we’ve got your competitors. For a list of clients, contact sales@blackboxintelligence.com
Do I have to submit data?
Yes. In order to build custom benchmarks for your brand, we ask that you submit data through our Secure File Transfer Protocol (SFTP). Don’t worry, we set all this up with you on an orientation call and walk you and your team through the process.
How many segments do you track?
Black Box Intelligence tracks the six main restaurant segments including quick service, family dining, fast casual, casual dining, upscale/polished casual & fine dining.
How do you define different dining segments in the restaurant industry?
- QUICK SERVICE: Concepts with average guest checks below $10.00. Quick service typically has counter service and frequently offers drive-through and/or delivery service.
- FAMILY DINING: Concepts with average guest checks below $15. May include buffets, concepts with a large portion of sales from the breakfast day part and/or operate 24-hour.
- FAST CASUAL: Concepts with average guest checks below $15. May include bakery/cafes, offer limited service and/or evolving concept niches. Alcohol beverage may be available but are a small contribution to overall sales mix.
- CASUAL DINING: Includes concepts with average guest checks between $10 and $25. This segment is typically reported as the mid-range casual dining segment.
- UPSCALE CASUAL: Includes concepts with average guest checks between $25 and $50. Upscale casual concepts typically have higher square footage and number of tables per unit than mid-scale casual dining.
- FINE DINING: Includes concepts with average guest checks above $50. Fine dining concepts are typically chef driven concepts and/or dinner only concepts.
How granular can we see data?
We have data down to the unit level.
What is a DMA?
DMA, or Designated Market Area, is a geographic area that represents specific markets as defined by The Nielsen Company.
How are regions and states defined in reporting?
We define regions and states through the same parameters that are defined by The Nielsen Company.
How do you define a comp unit?
We define a comp unit (comparable unit) as one with at least 78 weeks of data behind it.
Can I see another company’s data?
You cannot see data from other companies in Financial Intelligence or Workforce Intelligence. Our data is aggregated and provided in benchmark form. We never provide company level data to anyone except your team. You can see the data in Guest Intelligence as that is public data pulled from social media sites.
How frequently do I get reports?
The frequency of the reports differs from product to product. Financial Intelligence reports weekly, Workforce Intelligence reports monthly and Guest Intelligence reports by the second (real time).
How will my team view our reporting?
All dashboards and reports are available through our platforms online with controlled access.
Are there fees for adding additional users?
100 users are included with a Guest Intelligence membership. More users can be added for an additional cost.
Do you have information on the cost of turnover per employee?
Yes. We can track that data in Workforce Intelligence.
Is the Total Rewards Survey included in membership?
Yes, the Total Rewards Survey is included in Workforce Intelligence membership for those who participate.
I’m a current client and have a question or need help. Who do I talk to?
You can contact our Client Success Team at client.success@blackboxintelligence.com.
How do I subscribe/get access to Black Box Intelligence?
Membership starts by being a client of one or more of our core products: Workforce Intelligence, Financial Intelligence, Guest Intelligence or Consumer Intelligence. Your membership comes with dashboard access, custom reporting, a dedicated client success rep and so much more. For access to one or more information about our suite of products, contact sales@blackboxintelligence.com.
Do I have to/how do I submit data?
Yes. In order to build custom benchmarks for your brand, we ask that you submit data through our Secure File Transfer Protocol (SFTP). Don’t worry, we set all this up with you on an orientation call and walk you and your team through the process.
How do I know my data is secure?
Protecting our clients’ data is our priority. We are SSAE 16 certified and undergo annual reviews by external auditors. In addition, we have a number of encryption methods, secure VPN connections and annual employee training. We go above and beyond so you can rest assured.
What is the pricing of a Black Box Intelligence subscription?
Pricing varies for each of our products. Workforce Intelligence pricing is based on employee count, Financial Intelligence and Guest Intelligence is based on unit count and Consumer Intelligence is based on usage. The quickest way to get custom pricing for your brand is to talk with a member of our team, contact sales@blackboxintelligence.com.
What are the benefits of subscribing to the entire Black Box Suite of products?
Black Box Intelligence suite clients receive preferred pricing, as well as the ability to validate performance across all core products. Subscribers of core products receive exclusive insights from quarterly performance reviews with a senior analyst, as well as a competitive scorecard that captures what differentiates top sales performers in the restaurant industry by combining financial, workforce and social data.
Have a question not answered above?
Email us at info@blackboxintelligence.com