Technology

  • A black and white image of a person wearing a suit and smiling in front of of a gray background.
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    Permission granted by Ascent Hospitality Management
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    Ascent Hospitality appoints technology chief

    Brian Wallunas has more than 20 years of experience in hospitality and technology. He has overseen digital transformations at brands such as Domino’s and Arby’s.

    By • June 12, 2025
  • An Outback Steakhouse restaurant on a cold day.
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    Scott Olson via Getty Images
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    Restaurants develop a taste for AI as economic outlook sours

    BJ’s Restaurants, Cracker Barrel and Bloomin’ Brands pursue efficiency and productivity gains with AI initiatives.

    By Lindsey Wilkinson • June 12, 2025
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    Wavebreakmedia via Getty Images
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    Trendline

    Back-of-house Technology

    From AI-enhanced POS systems and analytics to robot-powered kitchen equipment, restaurants are investing in technology solutions to optimize kitchen operations and reduce employee turnover. 

    By Restaurant Dive staff
  • An image of a white room packed with pink and orange robots.
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    Courtesy of Coco Robotics
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    Coco Robotics raises $80M in funding to fuel expansion

    The delivery bot firm will use the funding to enter into additional partnerships, grow its fleet and advance its AI system.

    By • June 11, 2025
  • Patrons at a Chicago Starbucks after the coffee chain on Feb. 25, 2025.
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    Scott Olson via Getty Images
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    Starbucks deploys virtual assistant to improve workflows

    Green Dot Assist will help staff look up various ingredients for drinks, troubleshoot equipment and help managers staff last-minute callouts.

    By • June 11, 2025
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    Permission granted by Square
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    Sponsored by Square

    Why Bluestone Lane switched to Square to run its 65 locations

    Bluestone Lane improved efficiency and customer service by using Square tech across its locations.

    June 9, 2025
  • An image of an orange bag with Grubhub and pizza boxes.
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    Permission granted by Grubhub
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    Grubhub launches multi-store ordering

    The feature, which coincides with further expansion into alcohol delivery, allows customers to order from two eligible merchants in a single order.

    By • June 5, 2025
  • A robot table busser with a cat face on a tablet screen.
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    Aneurin Canham-Clyne/Restaurant Dive
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    The many faces of automation at the NRA Show

    This year artificial intelligence appeared in forms ranging from a cat-eared delivery robot to a generated analytics dashboard.

    By • June 5, 2025
  • A person ordering food from a kiosk at a restaurant.
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    Permission granted by Square
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    Sponsored by Square

    3 ways to grow your restaurant in 2025

    From adding income streams to adjusting menus, restaurants are finding new strategies to expand.

    June 2, 2025
  • Adam, a robot made by Richtech Robotics, makes an espresso drink at the National Restaurant Association Show in May 2025.
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    Aneurin Canham-Clyne/Restaurant Dive
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    Reporter’s notebook: 3 unanswered questions from the NRA Show

    Can a robot really replace a worker? Will tariffs trigger a recession? Can you charge $14 for a mocktail?

    By • May 28, 2025
  • Robot arms make a pizza.
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    Courtesy of Donatos Pizza
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    Donatos Pizza to open automated restaurant in airport

    The pizza chain, which has worked toward operating robotic pizzerias since 2023, said an airport environment is ideal for the concept.

    By • May 28, 2025
  • Waitress attending customers and using mobile phone in a restaurant
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    FG Trade via Getty Images
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    Sponsored by Bottle Rocket

    How restaurants can serve up personalized experiences through technology

    The ability to speak directly to consumers elevates successful restaurants and brands.

    May 27, 2025
  • A photo of a parking lot with a number of EV chargers set up alongside the parking spaces.
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    Courtesy of BP Pulse
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    BP Pulse is bringing EV chargers to Waffle House

    Chosen sites in the Southeast and the Sunbelt will get six electric vehicle charging bays, with the first locations coming online next year.

    By Jessica Loder • May 22, 2025
  • A Jack in the Box sign looms ominously from behind a hedge.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Jack in the Box deploys kiosks at 1,500 restaurants

    The chain, which posted negative same-store sales for the quarter, boasted a 18% digital sales mix, just shy of its 20% goal.

    By • May 16, 2025
  • A Wing drone used by DoorDash delivers a Wendy's package.
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    Courtesy of DoorDash
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    DoorDash, Wing bring drone delivery to Charlotte

    Panera is among a handful of restaurants now offering drone delivery from a shopping center in the North Carolina city.

    By • May 15, 2025
  • Three images of a smart phone showing ways to reserve through the application.
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    Permission granted by Uber Eats
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    Uber Eats, OpenTable reservation integration will launch this fall

    Users will be able to book a reservation from the Uber Eats app through a “Dine Out” tab, which will feature various local dine-in restaurants.

    By • May 15, 2025
  • An exterior image of a Wonder food Hall
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    Permission granted by Wonder
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    Wonder raises $600M, will nearly double unit count in 2025

    The food hall and delivery company, which bought Grubhub in 2024, has a reported valuation of $7 billion and plans to reach 90 locations this year.

    By • May 6, 2025
  • Shift4 CEO Jared Isaacman
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    Courtesy of Shift4. Shift4 CEO Jared Isaacman
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    Shift4 turns to restaurants for future growth

    The payment processor has signed thousands of restaurants in Europe and plans to expand that business.

    By Patrick Cooley • May 6, 2025
  • A man in Deliveroo livery loads a Joe and the Juice bag into a delivery bag.
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    Courtesy of Deliveroo
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    DoorDash to acquire Deliveroo for $3.9B

    Four years after entering Europe through its $8 billion Wolt acquisition, DoorDash will add nine additional countries to its footprint with this deal.

    By • May 6, 2025
  • Front-of-end restaurant staff uses SevenRooms' customer relationship management software.
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    Courtesy of SevenRooms
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    DoorDash to buy SevenRooms for $1.2B

    The deal comes on the heels of DoorDash’s $3.9 billion Deliveroo acquisition and will add tools like reservations, waitlist and table management to its merchant products. 

    By • May 6, 2025
  • An image of a beige building wiht both Fatburger and Round Table Pizza signage
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    Permission granted by Fat Brands
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    Fat Brands hires Jack in the Box vet as CIO

    Drew Martin, who has over 35 years of IT experience, will help the chain implement scalable technology solutions in his new position.

    By • May 5, 2025
  • A person ordering food from a kiosk at a restaurant.
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    Permission granted by Square
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    Sponsored by Square

    The New Rules of Digital Ordering

    What is digital ordering done right? While methods have changed recently, three things remain true: It's got to be easy for customers to complete, convenient to use, and fast to execute.

    By Kristen Hawley • May 5, 2025
  • An image ofa brick colored building with a logl of a red-headed girl with pigtails.
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    Courtesy of Wendy's
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    Wendy’s to deploy drive-thru AI to over 500 restaurants this year

    The chain has installed Fresh AI at over 160 units as part of its larger strategy to improve the customer experience.

    By • May 2, 2025
  • A waiter serves a table at a nice restaurant
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    Rawpixel via Getty Images
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    Fiserv ventures into high-end restaurants

    The payment processing giant’s point-of-sale platform Clover will begin catering to upscale dining establishments next month.

    By Patrick Cooley • April 28, 2025
  • Cheerful shop owner using a digital tablet in her grocery shop
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    jacoblund via Getty Images
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    Sponsored by Restaurant365

    Tech resolutions 2025: Must-have tools that will define the future of restaurant operations

    AI and inventory tech are reshaping restaurants—see the must-have tools for 2025 success.

    April 28, 2025
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    Permission granted by Restaurant Technologies
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    Sponsored by Restaurant Technologies

    One of Freddy’s biggest secrets: Automation

    One Freddy’s franchisee deployed automated cooking oil management in his restaurants. Learn how it has helped reduce costs, safety risks and increased efficiency.

    April 28, 2025