Panera cooks up mobile-only AR ads that let viewers play with their food

The unit intends to bring more transparency to menu offerings by breaking down nutritional facts and ingredients.

By Peter Adams • Nov. 5, 2019

Chipotle, Panera, Starbucks have fastest in-store pickup times, survey finds

Dedicated pickup systems and an emphasis on mobile ordering capability helped the three QSRs outpace the seven other fast food chains analyzed by Rakuten Ready.

By Lauren Manning • Nov. 5, 2019

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

Fast food chains are losing $178M at the drive-thru annually

Complicated menu boards that impact the back-of-house can cause slower service times and inaccurate orders.

By Alicia Kelso • Nov. 4, 2019

Starbucks' AI project is turning past investments into data insights

"Deep Brew," an AI project launched in 2017, is a machine learning capability Starbucks is leveraging for personalization.

By Samantha Schwartz • Nov. 1, 2019

KFC will focus on digital drive-thru optimization in 2020

As drive-thru times continue to lag, KFC hopes to speed up the process and improve customer experience with AI-backed technologies. 

By Lauren Manning • Oct. 29, 2019

How TGI Fridays uses machine learning to scale personalization

"We're not Google," said the chain's Chief Experience Officer Sherif Mityas, but leveraging the tech has been key to tripling the restaurant's off-premise revenue.

By Emma Liem Beckett • Oct. 29, 2019

Chipotle's 'Boorito' returns in TikTok challenge for Halloween

The Mexican food chain is offering free burritos for a year to five TikTok users who post the most popular "before and after" views of getting into costume.

By Robert Williams • Oct. 25, 2019

McDonald's improves drive-thru times by 20 seconds

Faster food prep, menu simplification and tech implementation helped the largest fast food chain boost speed of service and improve customer satisfaction. 

By Julie Littman • Oct. 22, 2019

Chili's new CMO dishes on brand DNA and marketing's role within the organization

Ellie Doty details how Chili's integrates tech into marketing and shares lessons she learned after more than a decade at Yum Brands.

By Chris Kelly • Oct. 21, 2019

Lunch Break: Taziki's CEO Dan Simpson talks delivery and data control

Should restaurants partner with third-party platforms or build out their own fleet of drivers? For Taziki's Mediterranean Cafe, the answer was both. 

By Emma Liem Beckett • Oct. 18, 2019

Wendy's sponsors mobile games in new Giphy arcade

As the launch partner for Giphy Arcade, the fast food chain again shows a willingness to experiment with unique, interactive formats​.

By Robert Williams • Oct. 18, 2019

Outback trials AI to analyze diner interactions with staff

Franchisee Evergreen Restaurant Group will use the tech from Presto to track and share updates on wait times and other metrics in real-time with managers.

By Alicia Kelso • Oct. 17, 2019

Chick-fil-A diners can now order from their table

Customers can skip the line by placing a dine-in mobile order through the chain's app and tapping their smartphones to tech-enabled table numbers, which tell employees where to deliver the food.

By Julie Littman • Oct. 17, 2019

It's not just for drive-thrus: How AI can transform back of house

With heavy hitters like McDonald's and Yum Brands pushing forward with this cutting-edge technology, all restaurants should consider the impact it will have on behind-the-scenes operations.

By Julie Littman • Oct. 16, 2019

Pickup app Ritual enters Germany, Hong Kong, Netherlands

The third-party digital platform is in seven countries and aims to partner with 15,000 restaurants by the end of the year. 

By Lauren Manning • Oct. 15, 2019

Digitization primes restaurants for growth — and ADA lawsuits

Domino's recent fight over website accessibility highlights a growing risk companies face as they work to bulk up online orders.

By Emma Liem Beckett • Oct. 14, 2019

Jimmy John's orders its 1st nationwide Snapchat Lens game

Users have 30 seconds to catch as many falling digital sandwiches as they can in their mouths in the AR game.

By Robert Williams • Oct. 14, 2019

Wendy's expects digital to drive 10% of sales by 2024

Online sales, which includes delivery, are up 325% year-to-date, and the company is making big pushes in delivery, loyalty and its in-app experience to expand its digital customer base. 

By Julie Littman • Oct. 11, 2019

62% of diners fear restaurant data breaches, report says

New research shows 40% of consumers are frustrated by the number of steps required to order food online. Operators need to strike a balance between seamless digital ordering and security.

By Alicia Kelso • Oct. 11, 2019

AI could define the future of restaurants. What happens when it fails?

Twenty-five percent of companies report up to a 50% failure rate for their AI projects, according to an IDC survey, a phenomenon that poses privacy threats for diners and reputational risks for restaurants. 

By Alicia Kelso • Oct. 9, 2019

Domino's ADA ruling to spur industry compliance

The Supreme Court's refusal to hear an appeal from the pizza chain regarding accessibility issues with its website could open up other companies to similar lawsuits, critics say. 

By Alicia Kelso • Oct. 8, 2019

Uber Works matches gig workers with restaurants

The tech platform aims to help operators navigate a tight labor market, giving app users detailed information about available shifts and tracking workers' productivity.

By Alicia Kelso • Oct. 4, 2019

Diners want mobile ordering, but only 18% of restaurant apps offer it

This disconnect could be detrimental to growing off-premise with 91% of consumers placing delivery orders via a brand's app or website in the last year, a National Restaurant Association study shows.

By Alicia Kelso • Oct. 3, 2019

Delivery by the numbers: How top third-party platforms compare

Outsourcing delivery comes with some big risks and rewards. Restaurant Dive compared the top five U.S. delivery platforms on commission rates, driver employment status, lawsuit history and more to see how they stack up.

By Julie Littman • Oct. 3, 2019

Delivery profit is elusive. Are hybrid models the answer?

Restaurant execs are challenging the idea that standard third-party partnerships are key to survival in today’s market, but even non-traditional off-premise systems come with obstacles. 

By Emma Liem Beckett • Oct. 2, 2019