Technology: Page 12

  • a Burger King burger and a person's face being scanned by facial recognition tech
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    Retrieved from Burger King Brazil on December 21, 2023
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    Burger King turns hangovers into discounts with facial recognition

    In the tradition of its “Whopper Detour” and “Burn that Ad” campaigns, the chain’s latest stunt uses mobile technology to drive engagement.

    By Chris Kelly • Dec. 21, 2023
  • Wingstop's new Dallas location will serve as a laboratory for new restaurant layouts.
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    Courtesy of Wingstop
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    Wingstop names CIO

    Chris Fallon joins the wing brand as it prepares to roll out a $50 million in-house technology platform built to allow it to leave Olo’s system.

    By • Dec. 15, 2023
  • A man and a woman dressed as a chef look at a tablet. Explore the Trendline➔
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    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
  • Yellow, square-shaped robots roam a farm field
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    Courtesy of Chipotle Mexican Grill
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    Chipotle invests in regenerative farming robots

    The restaurant chain is looking to reduce its dependence on conventional fertilizer with a fleet of autonomous, weed-cutting bots.

    By Sarah Zimmerman • Dec. 14, 2023
  • A man in a dark car at a Wendy's drive-thru that uses artificial intelligence to take orders
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    Retrieved from Wendy's on December 11, 2023
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    Wendy’s franchisees can pilot drive-thru AI in 2024

    Wendy’s FreshAI, a partnership with Google Cloud, used drive-thru chatbots to shave 22 seconds off service times at a Columbus, Ohio, test site compared to the local market average.

    By • Dec. 11, 2023
  • McDonald's Q1 Earnings Up On Higher Menu Prices, Overseas Growth
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    McDonald’s doubles down on geofencing

    The chain will expand its Ready on Arrival mobile pickup technology, which can trim wait times by about 60 seconds, in its top six markets by 2025.

    By • Dec. 11, 2023
  • An image of Uber Eats Manager platform with percent off offers
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    Permission granted by Uber Eats
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    Uber Eats adds marketing tools to bolster restaurants’ holiday sales

    The delivery aggregator added holiday happy hours, multi-location offers and percentage-off offers to help restaurants attract new and existing consumers.

    By • Dec. 8, 2023
  • Kiosks for ordering food sit in the dining area of a McDonald's restaurant located inside the company's new corporate headquarters on June 4, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois.
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    Scott Olson / Staff via Getty Images
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    McDonald’s taps Google Cloud to super-size analytics, AI

    The fast food giant said it plans to leverage the hyperscaler’s hardware and software capabilities across thousands of locations worldwide.

    By Matt Ashare • Dec. 8, 2023
  • The prize center inside a Dave & Buster's restaurant
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    Michael Loccisano/FilmMagic via Getty Images
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    Dave & Buster’s sees future in revamped restaurants and loyalty growth

    The restaurant chain is remodeling its store fleet and enhancing its loyalty program with personalized offerings. 

    By Bryan Wassel • Dec. 7, 2023
  • An exterior photo of CaliExpress by Flippy restaurant in California
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    Retrieved from CaliExpress by Flippy on December 05, 2023
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    Miso Robotics to open autonomous restaurant in California

    CaliExpress by Flippy was created in partnership with Cali Group and PopID and uses robotic arms to cook burgers and fries, requiring minimal human labor.

    By • Dec. 6, 2023
  • A restaurant customer using a card to pay via a Square tap device at the counter.
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    Permission granted by Square
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    Sponsored by Square

    For most restaurants, the AI revolution will start small

    Tech leader and operator Ming-Tai Huh on how AI can measurably increase your bottom line through small improvements. 

    By Ming-Tai Huh, GM of Restaurants at Square • Dec. 4, 2023
  • Kroger and Kitchen United partnered in 2021 to open ghost kitchen sites inside the grocery store.
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    Courtesy of Kroger/Kitchen United
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    Kitchen United will sell or close all physical units, pivot to software

    The ghost kitchen pioneer, which raised $100 million last year to expand its food halls, began to offload its physical locations months ago. It has already shuttered its Kroger outposts, which made up 44% of its footprint.

    By , Catherine Douglas Moran • Updated Nov. 29, 2023
  • Football Field
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    Permission granted by EverPass Media
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    Sponsored by EverPass Media

    Don’t miss out! Bring two exclusive NFL games and more premium content to your guests with EverPass Media

    Learn how your business can stream exclusive NFL games, Big Ten basketball and more through Peacock Sports Pass via EverPass Media.

    Nov. 27, 2023
  • A person pays in a restaurant
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    Getty Images
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    Digital payments have increased restaurant tips. But is it backfiring?

    Some diners feel pressured by tipping digitally in front of employees, which can hurt restaurant traffic, but experts say there are best practices that can ease customer trepidation.  

    By Danielle McLean • Nov. 21, 2023
  • Image of a counter with a ordering kiosk and shelves in the background with bags.
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    Permission granted by Kitchen United
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    Why ghost kitchen pioneers want to say goodbye to the name

    Omnichannel business, a focus on operations and reasonable growth timetables set the stage for ghost kitchens’ second act.

    By • Nov. 21, 2023
  • Graphic image of drive-thru system
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    Permission granted by Presto Automation Inc.
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    Presto lays off 17% of global workforce

    The staff reduction, which may impact around two dozen employees, is part of the technology company’s strategy to reduce costs, boost profitability and streamline operations.

    By • Nov. 17, 2023
  • A robotic arm that prepares Better Days food for delivery
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    Permission granted by Remy Robotics
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    Remy Robotics opens bot-run ‘Better Days’ kitchen in NYC

    The concept employs machines that use artificial intelligence to cook hundreds of menu items in kitchens as small as 200 square feet.

    By • Nov. 10, 2023
  • A photo of the outside of a Wingstop.
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    Courtesy of Wingstop
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    Wingstop drops Olo in favor of $50M in-house tech

    The chain, which represents 3% of Olo’s revenue, will roll out a proprietary tech stack in 2024 designed to provide more personalization and drive frequency.

    By • Nov. 8, 2023
  • Toast point of sale hardware is shown
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    Courtesy of Toast Media Kit
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    Toast’s growth slows

    The restaurant fintech noticed “a modest slowdown” in same-store sales in the latter half of Q3 that continued into October, the company’s CFO said Tuesday.

    By Caitlin Mullen • Nov. 8, 2023
  • An image of sweetgreen's automated kitchen in Naperville, Illinois
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    Courtesy of Sweetgreen
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    Sweetgreen accelerates deployment of automated kitchens

    The salad chain opened its first Infinite Kitchen this year and has seen improvements to throughput, order accuracy, portioning and diner experience.  

    By • Nov. 6, 2023
  • Side-by-side screenshots show DoorDash's in-app tip reminder screen.
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    Courtesy of DoorDash
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    DoorDash tests in-app tip reminders on customers

    A new prompt, which tells customers that orders without tips are likely to be delivered more slowly, has reduced tipless orders in a multi-market trial.

    By • Nov. 2, 2023
  • A Denny's location in Emeryville, California.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Denny’s will grow its burrito virtual brand ninefold

    The diner chain is bringing Banda Burrito to 80 additional restaurants next month to combat sluggish traffic and rising wages.

    By • Oct. 31, 2023
  • A Five Guys restaurant is pictured in London, England on May 7, 2020. The company confirmed a data breach last September in a series of consumer notification letters issued Dec. 29, 2022.
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    Alex Davidson via Getty Images
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    Five Guys discloses hack of 2 employees’ emails

    The disclosure comes weeks after the company agreed to settle a federal class action suit stemming from a 2022 attack.

    By David Jones • Oct. 30, 2023
  • A still from Chipotle's promotional automated makeline shows corn bouncing in a bowl.
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    Retrieved from Chipotle on October 03, 2023
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    Chipotle will raise wages in California, continue testing robots

    The chain plans to hike prices by mid-to-high single digits in California next year to compensate for a 20% wage increase in that market.

    By , • Oct. 27, 2023
  • A person uses Square's generative AI to set up a website for a retail brand.
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    Courtesy of Square
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    Square adds generative AI tools for restaurants

    The point-of-sales provider's latest features include menu and website copy generators, which are designed to automate operations and increase efficiency.

    By • Oct. 18, 2023
  • Denny's is bringing on a new exec to lead its information technology efforts.
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    Courtesy of Denny's
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    Denny’s hires Brinker exec as first chief digital and technology officer

    Pankaj Patra joins Denny’s from Brinker and will oversee the digital and technological aspects of both Denny’s and Keke’s Breakfast Cafe, which Denny’s acquired in 2022.

    By • Oct. 16, 2023