El Pollo Loco's GPS-enabled curbside pickup expands digital channels

Beginning Sept. 28, customers can order curbside pickup online or through a revamped Loco Rewards app, building on the chicken chain's long-term e-commerce strategy. 

By Julie Littman • Sept. 4, 2020

Mastercard expands AI drive-thru testing to White Castle

Building on its pilot at Sonic Drive-In, the credit card company's latest AI Powered Drive Through platform will enable QSRs to use vehicle recognition and voice ordering. 

By Julie Littman • Sept. 1, 2020

Explore the 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

Saladworks to expand footprint with Chowbotics' robot

The $35,000 salad-making robot will help the chain save on labor and expand into nontraditional spaces like hospitals, universities and grocery stores. 

By Alicia Kelso • Aug. 27, 2020

Seated acquires events booking platform VenueBook

The reservation app, which also raised $30 million in funding, estimates that private events generate 10% to 15% of a restaurant's revenue and up to 20% of its profit. 

By Alicia Kelso • Aug. 19, 2020

64% of diners say staff wearing PPE is most important when eating out, survey shows

Consumers say restaurant staff taking safety precautions is a higher priority to them than efforts to add hand sanitizer and single-use menus at tables, according to a Toast report.

By Alicia Kelso • Aug. 7, 2020

Wendy's digital sales momentum grows with delivery expansion during Q2

While a majority of the mix was from delivery orders, the chain expects its newly launched loyalty program to boost mobile ordering.

By Julie Littman • Aug. 5, 2020

Shake Shack's digital sales doubled in Q2, but same-store sales declined sharply

As part of its expansion into new formats, the burger chain expects to open its first drive-thru next year in a suburban neighborhood.

By Alicia Kelso • July 31, 2020

47% of operators say moving to online ordering is their biggest challenge

This is particularly true for the majority of fine dining and upscale restaurants that didn't offer online ordering prior to the novel coronavirus outbreak, according to an Upserve survey. 

By Alicia Kelso • July 30, 2020

Yum grows digital sales $1B globally

Digital sales made up 30% of the company's global sales mix in Q2, bolstered by its launch of a tech team and various delivery and online assets. 

By Julie Littman • July 30, 2020

Popeyes urges fans to prank family members with autocorrect campaign

In a ploy to turn pizza lovers into fried chicken fans, the QSR is asking people to edit "pizza" into "Popeyes instead of pizza" using the autocorrect feature on smartphones.

By Robert Williams • July 28, 2020

Dunkin' creates new chief digital officer role as it doubles down on tech, mobile offerings

The position oversees digital marketing and media, consumer insights and IT transformation — areas seeing growing demand under the pandemic.

By Peter Adams • July 24, 2020

Starbucks will add more ways to pay, earn rewards this fall

Loyalty members will no longer have to use the Starbucks card to collect rewards, and can instead opt for cash, credit/debit cards and mobile wallets.

By Alicia Kelso • July 22, 2020

Uber Eats adds benchmarking data to Manager app

The delivery company's service will now provide information that allows restaurants to compare their operations to others in the area. 

By Julie Littman • Updated Dec. 21, 2020

81% of operators say third-party delivery helped prevent layoffs

Ninety-two percent ​of restaurants plan to continue working with third-party delivery services beyond the COVID-19 crisis, according to an Uber Eats/Technomic survey. 

By Emma Liem Beckett • July 21, 2020

Why Chipotle is 'pivoting the entire portfolio' to Chipotlanes

Two years after opening its drive-thrus for online orders, which helped the company surpass $1 billion in digital sales, the fast casual chain expects this concept to make up 60% of its new restaurants.

By Julie Littman • July 15, 2020

New McDonald's flagship runs 100% on renewable energy

The new restaurant, located near Disney's All-Star Resorts in Orlando, Florida, is part of the brand's push to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 36% by 2030. 

By Alicia Kelso • July 13, 2020

Ghost kitchens could be a $1T global market by 2030, says Euromonitor

Restaurant closures, in the wake of the novel coronavirus pandemic, could accelerate the growth of this market, Euromonitor's Michael Schaefer said in a webinar.

By Emma Liem Beckett • July 10, 2020

Taco Bell to launch new loyalty program 5 years after first iteration

The promotion of Taco Bell Rewards, which rolls out later this month, crashed the company's site and app on Tuesday. 

By Alicia Kelso • July 1, 2020

Google partners with AI-powered answering service to enhance Business Messages

The partnership with Numa lets restaurants and other businesses to receive calls or texts through Google Maps and Google Search.  

By Lauren Manning • June 26, 2020

Square partners with Postmates to offer on-demand delivery capabilities

Square's partner merchants will be able to provide delivery directly on their websites and dispatch couriers to fulfill the orders. 

By Julie Littman • June 25, 2020

Uber Eats users can now use a map to view restaurants offering pickup

In addition to the enhanced feature, the company also extended its 0% marketplace fee for businesses offering pickup. 

By Julie Littman • June 24, 2020

Chipotle adds group ordering, Facebook Messenger bot to digital assets

The features build on the chain's $1 billion online ordering platform, which includes second make lines, Chipotlanes and a rewards program. 

By Alicia Kelso • June 18, 2020

Uber Eats adds restaurant loyalty program, priority delivery option

Restaurants can now provide their own rewards through Uber's app and build direct relationships with its consumers. 

By Julie Littman • June 16, 2020

Pizza ordering platform Slice lands $43M in funding

The company, which provides online ordering tech and marketing solutions for independent pizzerias, will use the cash infusion to enhance and scale its offerings. 

By Emma Liem Beckett • May 13, 2020

Third-party vs. direct delivery: Debate reaches boiling point amid coronavirus

There's no restaurant roadmap to survive dining room closures. But one thing is certain: pick the wrong off-premise game plan when the stakes are this high, and it could gut your bottom line.

By Emma Liem Beckett • May 7, 2020