Technology
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Brandon Bell via Getty Images
Shake Shack’s kiosks are now its largest ordering channel
The chain added upselling options to its kiosks and made the channel’s customization experience more similar to online ordering.
By Julie Littman • May 2, 2024 -
Don Wu via Getty Images
Yum’s digital sales mix tops 50% systemwide
Following several quarters of kiosk and e-commerce deployment, digital is on track to generate $30 billion in annualized sales.
By Julie Littman • May 1, 2024 -
Explore the Trendline➔
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TrendlineBack-of-house Technology
From voice AI at the drive-thru to robot-powered makelines, restaurants are investing in technology solutions to optimize kitchen operations and reduce employee turnover.
By Restaurant Dive staff -
Courtesy of IHOP
IHOP’s POS migration is boosting speed, check totals
The diner chain has nearly completed a two-year migration of 1,500 restaurants to Tray’s platform, which integrates with handheld server tablets to trim order and pay times at tables.
By Emma Liem Beckett • April 30, 2024 -
Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
Chipotle makes order fulfillment, not fancier tech, its top CX focus
Faster order speed is “one of those things that cascades into everything being a lot better,” CEO Brian Niccol said.
By Bryan Wassel • April 25, 2024 -
Courtesy of Virtual Dining Concepts
IHOP adds 2 new Virtual Dining Concept brands, expands another
IHOP is focusing on virtual brands as a solution to traffic problems in non-peak dayparts and thinks two sports-themed brands could lift sales.
By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • April 25, 2024 -
Permission granted by Zipline
Flynn Group, Zipline to deliver Panera Bread orders via drone
Deliveries are expected to begin next year and will be available from select Panera units in the Greater Seattle area.
By Julie Littman • April 19, 2024 -
Courtesy of Krispy Kreme
Krispy Kreme switching to points-based loyalty scheme
Loyalty members will earn 10 points for every dollar spent starting April 23 as the chain shifts away from a consistent 8.3% discount rate on rewards.
By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • April 17, 2024 -
Permission granted by Steak n Shake
Steak ‘n Shake installs facial recognition at self-ordering kiosks
The chain, which completed its move from full-service to self-service last year, first tested PopID’s technology in October and began deploying it in January.
By Julie Littman • April 16, 2024 -
Permission granted by Wow Bao
Wow Bao links restaurant rewards to Roblox in platform-first integration
Metaverse hype may have dissipated, but brands remain interested in leveraging games like Roblox to connect with Gen Z and Gen Alpha.
By Peter Adams • April 11, 2024 -
MartinPrescott via Getty Images
4 ways restaurants can add AI to their operations
The technology can help employees improve customer satisfaction, cook food to a brand’s standards and accurately refill inventory, executives say.
By Danielle McLean • April 11, 2024 -
Patpitchaya via Getty Images
Dynamic pricing firm Juicer snags $5.3M in funding
Restaurant pricing tools may help operators boost sales in lagging dayparts, but consumer sensitivity about these applications is still powerful.
By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • April 10, 2024 -
Retrieved from Re-Up.
Florida c-store chain to test kitchen robots
Re-Up convenience stores is planning to use AI-driven machines to help fry its food, brew its coffee and squeeze fresh juice.
By Brett Dworski • April 5, 2024 -
Permission granted by Uber Eats
Uber Eats partners with Waymo for autonomous delivery in Phoenix
Uber Eats has been expanding its network of autonomous delivery partners since 2022 and works with Motional, Nuro, Cartken and Serve Robotics.
By Julie Littman • April 3, 2024 -
DenisTangneyJr via Getty Images
DeSantis signs Florida delivery bill pre-empting local delivery regulations
The law, backed by Uber and DoorDash, requires delivery firms to delist restaurants that request to be removed and will prevent local governments from passing regulations impacting third-party delivery.
By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • April 3, 2024 -
Permission granted by Waitr Holdings
ASAP goes bust
ASAP, once known as Waitr, ceased its operations over the last few weeks and let go of its executives, prior to filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy on Tuesday.
By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Updated April 2, 2024 -
Courtesy of Dave's Hot Chicken
Dave’s Hot Chicken tests kiosks, bigger drinks in face of $20 CA wage
The fast-growing chain is raising prices 9% and testing tech that it says boosts check but doesn’t cut labor costs.
By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • April 1, 2024 -
Permission granted by Square
Sponsored by SquareThe Future of Restaurants Report: 2024 Edition
The Square Future of Restaurants report will give you insight into how global restaurant owners are staying competitive and what motivates customers to dine with them.
April 1, 2024 -
Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
Visa, Mastercard reach landmark credit card settlement
The two biggest U.S. card networks agreed to cap interchange fees for five years, among other terms, to settle merchant litigation that has lasted nearly two decades.
By Lynne Marek • March 28, 2024 -
Brandon Bell via Getty Images
McDonald’s, NielsenIQ team for Cultural Relevance ad-testing module
By analyzing the role and effectiveness of cultural factors in content, this solution can help advertisers deliver more impactful and inclusive ads.
By Jessica Deyo • March 27, 2024 -
Courtesy of DoorDash
DoorDash to deliver by drone from a VA Wendy’s
Wing drones will deliver meals from the fast food location to nearby customers within about 30 minutes, the company said.
By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Updated March 22, 2024 -
Permission granted by Presto Automation Inc.
Presto lays off 18% of staff 4 months after most recent cuts
Following a pivot away from its tablet business to drive-thru artificial intelligence, the company eliminated 24 corporate roles.
By Julie Littman • March 19, 2024 -
Courtesy of Starbucks
Starbucks shutters NFT beta test
On March 31, Starbucks Odyssey Beta — a major restaurant effort to capitalize on Web3 hype — will end 18 months after it was announced.
By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • March 18, 2024 -
Permission granted by &pizza
How &pizza’s new CEO is transforming the chain’s loyalty program, operations
Burns, who has held the position for over two months, is leading a major tech overhaul at the chain, including a new rewards scheme, app and website.
By Julie Littman • March 14, 2024 -
Permission granted by C3
Sam Nazarian buys Kitchen United IP, forms new virtual brand platform
Nazarian will combine these unspecified components with Nextbite and C3 to support the new concept, Everybody Eats, which has goals that echo the growth plans of failed ghost kitchen pioneers.
By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • March 14, 2024 -
Permission granted by Chick-fil-A
Chick-fil-A to open first digital-only pickup restaurant in NYC
The 3,500-square-foot walk-up restaurant is the first of two digital-focused locations to open this year, with an elevated drive-thru expected to follow.
By Julie Littman • March 13, 2024
