Our client is a well-established restaurant chain that has operated in multiple states in the US for over two decades and has more than 250 outlets. The chain specializes in casual dining experiences, featuring a mix of American classics and internationally inspired dishes while also offering bar service.
As a business serving a diverse customer base and operating in various regulatory environments, our client faced the ongoing challenge of categorizing their extensive menu offerings precisely. Their primary goal was to distinguish alcoholic and non-alcoholic items to ensure customers could make informed choices and maintain legal compliance. Since they frequently updated the menus (containing beverages and food items), the menu categorization process had to be scalable to keep up.
The client hired our text annotation team to accurately review a comprehensive list of menu items and label them precisely.
The project involved some significant challenges, including:
The client's menu underwent frequent updates to keep pace with seasonal changes, regional preferences, and evolving consumer trends. This called for a robust solution for menu item classification. Our team was required to constantly monitor menu changes and perform text annotation.
The project presented a significant data volume challenge, as the client required text annotation for 250+ menus with nearly 50000+ items. Each of these items needed to be reviewed, accurately categorized, and labeled within the given timeframe.
Some items in the client menu had ambiguous names or ingredients that were unclear as to whether they were alcoholic or non-alcoholic, which required detailed research and verification. Moreover, precision in categorization was needed to avoid legal repercussions and ensure customer satisfaction.
Recognizing the complexity and volume of this task, we delegated a team of five text annotators to undertake the project. Our approach centered on choosing appropriate text classification techniques and acquiring a nuanced understanding of menu terminology, ingredient composition, and preparation methods.
The initial phase involved thorough research and data gathering. We collected official menus from the client's website and also compiled a comprehensive database of alcoholic ingredients, including common spirits and less alcohol-containing components like certain extracts and flavorings. This database served as a crucial reference point throughout the annotation process.
We appointed a subject matter expert in the food and beverage industry to lead the project. The SME guided the team in research and verification methods, especially those with unfamiliar ingredients to identify whether the item contained alcohol or not. Our SME crafted detailed annotation guidelines, outlining clear criteria for classification, including:
Our team used text classification as the primary annotation technique for categorizing each menu item into alcoholic or non-alcoholic categories. MS Excel was used as the annotation tool to facilitate efficient data entry and categorization, with clear labeling for easy review and updates. The classification process involved:
The project involved a rigorous quality assurance phase. Each item initially labeled as unclear was reviewed by another annotator or subject matter expert, which helped us catch any discrepancies or potential errors. Before project delivery, the final dataset was reviewed by the QA resource, ensuring that all items were correctly categorized.
The final annotated dataset was comprehensive and fully verified, enabling the client to update and roll out menus across outlets quickly.
Accurate classification helped the client reduce legal risks associated with incorrect alcohol content labeling.
Ensured clear and accurate information for customers about alcoholic content which supported informed decision-making for those with dietary restrictions or preferences.
Discuss your requirements today. Our experienced data annotators have assisted numerous clients across various industries, providing tailored text annotation and metadata labeling services to meet unique requirements. To learn more about our capabilities or get a free trial of data annotation services, write to us at info@suntecindia.com