Technology: Page 17

  • An image of a kitchen counter with DoorDash orders ready for pickup.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by DoorDash
    Image attribution tooltip

    DoorDash adds automated phone ordering for restaurants

    The system will answer all phone calls, offer recommendations for customers to add to orders and process orders through the restaurants’ point of sales. 

    By • Aug. 28, 2023
  • A Primanti Bros. sandwich sits on a restaurant tabletop with a diner in the background
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Primanti Bros.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Opinion

    Why AI is a key ingredient for success at Primanti Bros.

    The chain is simplifying and speeding up office processes by outsourcing tasks like sales and labor reporting to robotic process automation bots, writes Caitlin Stritmatter, director of financial planning and analysis at Primanti Bros.

    By Caitlin Stritmatter • Aug. 21, 2023
  • Front-of-end restaurant staff uses SevenRooms' customer relationship management software. Explore the Trendline➔
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of SevenRooms
    Image attribution tooltip
    Trendline

    How AI is shaping the restaurant industry

    Automated technology can transform restaurant systems and relieve pressure from rising operating costs, opening up new opportunities for chains looking to sharpen their value proposition. 

    By Restaurant Dive staff
  • A Checkers restaurant with metallic and red trim and a red truck waiting for an order.
    Image attribution tooltip
    The image by Phillip Pessar is licensed under CC BY 2.0
    Image attribution tooltip

    Checkers and Rally’s deploys Spanish-speaking drive-thru AI

    The restaurant chain has installed Hi Auto’s bilingual technology at 350 restaurants after a two-month beta test at five units. 

    By • Aug. 18, 2023
  • Woman standing behind counter and cash register serves ice cream cone.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Lynne Marek
    Image attribution tooltip

    Toast CEO: Lessons learned from fee flub

    Chris Comparato said on an earnings call the company will be more thoughtful about how it increases prices after facing backlash over a 99-cent customer-paid fee it later scrapped.

    By Caitlin Mullen • Aug. 10, 2023
  • A Grubhub courier. Grubhub and Sonesta will offer delivery to 120 extended stay hotels.
    Image attribution tooltip
    The image by Elvert Barnes is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
    Image attribution tooltip

    Grubhub, Sonesta bring delivery to 120 hotels

    Customers at Sonesta’s Extended Stay and Simply Suites locations can order through the delivery platform’s app or through QR codes displayed by the hotel.

    By • Aug. 10, 2023
  • An image of a woman ordering at a drive-thru speaker box.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Friday Feedback: How are you thinking about automation?

    Restaurant Dive wants to know if you are investing in technology like kitchen robotics or voice artificial intelligence at the drive-thru. 

    By • Aug. 4, 2023
  • An image of three mobile pictures that showcase in-seat ordering from Uber Eats.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Uber Eats
    Image attribution tooltip

    Uber Eats expands in-seat delivery to Oracle Park in San Francisco

    After seeing significant demand for in-seat ordering at Yankee Stadium, Uber Eats has brought the feature to the San Francisco Giants’ home turf. 

    By • Aug. 3, 2023
  • Jared Isaacman standing in a corporate office.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Shift4
    Image attribution tooltip

    Shift4 shrinks workforce

    The payments company cut 150 employees in the second quarter, executives said Thursday during an earnings conference call.

    By Caitlin Mullen • Aug. 3, 2023
  • Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by MrBeast Burger/Virtual Dining Concepts
    Image attribution tooltip

    MrBeast sues Virtual Dining Concepts, aims to kill his virtual brand

    Beast Investments claims VDC’s rapid expansion of MrBeast Burger resulted in poor customer experiences and food quality, but VDC alleges the complaint is “riddled with false statements.”

    By • Aug. 2, 2023
  • White Castle
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of White Castle
    Image attribution tooltip

    White Castle to roll out voice AI to over 100 drive-thrus

    The chain is automating its drive-thru order taking in partnership with SoundHound, which claims its tech can process orders within 60 seconds.

    By • Aug. 2, 2023
  • An image of Sweetgreen's rewards program on a smartphone.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Sweetgreen
    Image attribution tooltip

    Sweetgreen will extend loyalty program to its dining rooms

    The value of offering in-store rewards will be “super accretive,” CEO Jonathan Neman said, because most of the chain’s customers are first acquired through its restaurants.

    By • Aug. 1, 2023
  • A picture of a chef in a kitchen looking down at a calculator.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Readers Respond: Virtual brand sales are too low to justify complexity

    Across the board, Restaurant Dive readers didn’t expect virtual brands to grow this year, and some are considering cutting them to improve operations.

    By • July 31, 2023
  • A worker takes a bowl of processed avocados from a prototype of Vebu's Autocado.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Chipotle
    Image attribution tooltip

    Chipotle wants to improve speed with grills, robots

    The fast casual chain is trialing automated kitchen equipment that can trim prep time in half, in some cases, as it looks to improve accuracy and throughput.

    By • July 28, 2023
  • An image of a Beto Guajardo, who is wearing a suit and tie.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Blaze Pizza
    Image attribution tooltip
    Q&A // Meet the exec

    Blaze Pizza CEO: We want an experience that can’t ‘be replicated by machines’

    Beto Guajardo, now six months into his tenure at the build-your-own pizza chain, is focused on growing its footprint, making offerings more affordable and improving the diner experience.

    By • July 25, 2023
  • Opening small business. Happy arab woman in apron near bar counter holding digital tablet and looking at camera.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip
    Sponsored by Fourth

    How to make demand forecasting your competitive advantage

    Learn how to take control of your labor budgets, empower frontline managers and eliminate staffing inefficiencies with AI-powered forecasting.

    By Christian Berthelsen, Chief Technology Officer, Fourth • July 24, 2023
  • Brinker International launched its second virtual brand, Maggiano's Italian Classics, in 2021.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Retrieved from Maggiano's Italian Classics on August 18, 2021
    Image attribution tooltip

    Friday Feedback: How are you thinking about virtual brands?

    Restaurant Dive wants to know if you are using delivery-only brands as part of your operations.

    By • July 21, 2023
  • A photograph of Ming-Tai Huh.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Square
    Image attribution tooltip

    Square’s new GM for restaurants targets bigger operators with new tech

    Ming-Tai Huh shares how his position as a restaurant operator and a tech executive has given him a singular view of the restaurant industry’s challenges.

    By • July 20, 2023
  • Toast Inc. point of sale device
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Toast Inc.
    Image attribution tooltip

    Toast axes 99-cent fee

    The restaurant payments company said Wednesday it would remove the customer-paid order processing fee by the end of this week.

    By Caitlin Mullen • July 19, 2023
  • A table with a laptop that has features from DoorDash.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by DoorDash
    Image attribution tooltip

    DoorDash teams with ItsaCheckmate, Deliverect for easier restaurant signups

    Restaurant partners can sign up for DoorDash’s marketplace through some POS systems, allowing them to join the platform in days rather than weeks. 

    By • July 19, 2023
  • A portrait photo of Paul Tuscano, KFC U.S.'s incoming chief digital officer.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of KFC
    Image attribution tooltip

    KFC US adds chief digital officer role

    Paul Tuscano joins KFC from Marriott as the company’s focus on digital ordering and experiences grows.

    By • July 14, 2023
  • Donatos pizza
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of PR Newswire
    Image attribution tooltip

    Donatos Pizza to deploy pizza vending machine

    The chain will deploy its first automated pizza kiosk in partnership with Appetronix in Columbus, Ohio, at an unspecified time in the future.

    By • July 14, 2023
  • The new Saladworks in-store restaurant, in a Cincinnati Kroger
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Saladworks
    Image attribution tooltip

    Woworks adds 7 virtual brands across its restaurant chains

    The Saladworks parent seeks to open new revenue streams for its franchisees via new concepts like Soup Works and Stack’d Sandwiches, despite volatility in the virtual brand segment. 

    By • July 13, 2023
  • Woman standing behind counter and cash register serves ice cream cone.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Lynne Marek
    Image attribution tooltip

    Will Toast get burned by 99-cent fee?

    The restaurant payments software company’s rivals needled Toast over the addition of a fee to be paid by consumers.

    By Caitlin Mullen • July 12, 2023
  • A worker takes a bowl of processed avocados from a prototype of Vebu's Autocado.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Chipotle
    Image attribution tooltip

    Chipotle pilots avocado robot that could halve guacamole prep time

    The Autocado, a robot designed by Vebu at Chipotle’s Cultivate Center, can hold 25 pounds of avocados at a time and cuts, cores and scoops the fruits.

    By • July 12, 2023
  • An image of Dawn Gillis, CIO of Golden Corral
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Golden Corral
    Image attribution tooltip

    Golden Corral appoints 7-Eleven vet as CIO

    Dawn Gillis, who also worked at Freebirds and Torchy’s Tacos, will oversee the buffet chain’s digital growth strategy and modernize its tech stack.

    By • July 7, 2023