Technology: Page 4

  • An exterior image of a Shake Shack restaurant
    Image attribution tooltip
    Brandon Bell via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    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 • May 2, 2024
  • Two women putting an order for food through a kiosk
    Image attribution tooltip
    Don Wu via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    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 • May 1, 2024
  • A man and a woman dressed as a chef look at a tablet. Explore the Trendline➔
    Image attribution tooltip
    Wavebreakmedia via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip
    Trendline

    Back-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
  • A picture of an IHOP server taking an order using a tablet.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of IHOP
    Image attribution tooltip

    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 • April 30, 2024
  • A bank of windows below a red sign that says "Chipotle." A man stands in the background inside the restaurant.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    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
  • A photograph of packaging and menu items for IHOP/Virtual Dining Concepts' new NASCAR themed brand
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Virtual Dining Concepts
    Image attribution tooltip

    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 • April 25, 2024
  • An image of a Zipline P2 delivery drone
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Zipline
    Image attribution tooltip

    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 • April 19, 2024
  • A box of St. Patrick's Day themed Krispy Kreme doughnuts.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Krispy Kreme
    Image attribution tooltip

    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 • April 17, 2024
  • Kiosks with biometric cameras at Steak n Shake
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Steak n Shake
    Image attribution tooltip

    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 • April 16, 2024
  • Wow Bao's Dim Sum Palace virtual restaurant on Roblox
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Wow Bao
    Image attribution tooltip

    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
  • An image of a woman ordering at a drive-thru speaker box.
    Image attribution tooltip
    MartinPrescott via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    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
  • A stock image of a consumer examining a receipt.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Patpitchaya via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    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 • April 10, 2024
  • Re-Up
    Image attribution tooltip
    Retrieved from Re-Up.
    Image attribution tooltip

    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
  • Screen shots of Uber Eats app with Waymo delivery
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Uber Eats
    Image attribution tooltip

    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 • April 3, 2024
  • The Florida state capitol building, a white building with Roman columns.
    Image attribution tooltip
    DenisTangneyJr via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    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 • April 3, 2024
  • Large squares containing "ASAP" and "Pick Up Orders"
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Waitr Holdings
    Image attribution tooltip

    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 • Updated April 2, 2024
  • Dave's Hot Chicken food spread out on a table.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Dave's Hot Chicken
    Image attribution tooltip

    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 • April 1, 2024
  • Two cooks sitting in their restaurant kitchen.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Square
    Image attribution tooltip
    Sponsored by Square

    The 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
  • Stickers with the visa and mastercard logos on the exterior window of a store.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    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
  • A McDonald's store is shown in Houston, Texas.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Brandon Bell via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    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
  • A Wing drone used by DoorDash delivers a Wendy's package.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of DoorDash
    Image attribution tooltip

    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 • Updated March 22, 2024
  • Graphic image of drive-thru system
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Presto Automation Inc.
    Image attribution tooltip

    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 • March 19, 2024
  • A promotional image for Starbucks NFT marketplace, Starbucks Odyssey.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Starbucks
    Image attribution tooltip

    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 • March 18, 2024
  • A photos of &pizza CEO Mike Burns
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by &pizza
    Image attribution tooltip

    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 • March 14, 2024
  • Sam Nazarian, C3 founder and CEO
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by C3
    Image attribution tooltip

    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 • March 14, 2024
  • The exterior of Chick-fil-A's digital pickup-only restaurant in New York City
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Chick-fil-A
    Image attribution tooltip

    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 • March 13, 2024