Technology


  • An image of a Starbucks sign
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    Courtesy of Starbucks
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    Starbucks scheduling tools crippled by Blue Yonder outage

    A ransomware attack against the software vendor has pushed the coffee chain to temporarily rely on manual scheduling to ensure workers are paid for hours.

    By Nov. 26, 2024
  • A woman holds up her smart phone to a tablet that is asking what percentage of a tip should be added.
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    lechatnoir via Getty Images
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    Are customers tipping more? Here’s what the data says.

    While customers feel more pressure to tip across industries, they still tip a relatively stable 18% at restaurants.

    By Nov. 25, 2024
  • A man and a woman dressed as a chef look at a tablet. Explore the Trendline
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    Wavebreakmedia via Getty Images
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    Trendline

    Back-of-house Technology

    From voice AI at the drive-thru to robot-powered makelines, restaurants are investing in technology solutions to optimize kitchen operations and reduce employee turnover. 

    By Restaurant Dive staff
  • Paytronix
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    Retrieved from Paytronix website.
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    Paytronix upgrades its software weeks after being acquired

    Additions include an AI tool that answers operators’ questions and a group of features meant to help manage and process online orders.

    By Brett Dworski • Nov. 20, 2024
  • A Smoothie King with a drive-thru.
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    Courtesy of Smoothie King
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    Smoothie King hires Red Robin exec as CIO

    Jyoti Lynch is tasked with creating a comprehensive technology strategy to enhance the guest experience and improve franchise profitability.

    By Nov. 20, 2024
  • A man stands in front of two self-order kiosks at Bojangles.
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    Permission granted by Grubbrr/Bojangles
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    Bojangles to install ordering kiosks across its system

    The chicken chain said its pilot of the Grubbrr technology had high adoption rates and helped increase throughput.

    By Nov. 15, 2024
  • Person in blue collared shirt and apron behind a counter handing a paper bag to a person in a red shirt and short blonde hair.
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    NCR Voyix / Kate T. Parker Photography

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    Sponsored by NCR Voyix

    Deliver distinctive guest experiences and liberate your staff from manual tasks

    In the next decade, restaurants will drive rapid growth by owning the experience in new ways.

    Nov. 12, 2024
  • A worker takes a bowl of processed avocados from a prototype of Vebu's Autocado.
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    Courtesy of Chipotle
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    Serve Robotics buys Autocado maker Vebu

    The acquisition of the Chipotle-backed equipment developer signals Serve’s interests are growing from the sidewalk to the kitchen.

    By Nov. 7, 2024
  • A photo of a phone showing a Paytronix app.
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    Courtesy of Paytronix
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    Paytronix acquired by The Access Group

    The deal will expand the offerings available through Paytronix’s platform and help accelerate its growth, executives said.

    By Jessica Loder • Nov. 1, 2024
  • Kitchen staff
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    10,000 Hours via Getty Images
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    Sponsored by NCR Voyix

    Optimizing technology costs through smarter architecture

    Maximize efficiency and cut costs — learn how smart tech architecture can transform your business's bottom line.

    By NCR Voyix • Oct. 28, 2024
  • A young man wears a black hat and black apron smiles at the camera. There are three people blurred out in the background. They are standing behind a makeline.
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    Courtesy of Chipotle
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    Chipotle’s latest automation tool to help with hiring, recruitment

    Paradox, a conversational AI system, will manage administrative tasks and is expected to reduce the time to hire by 75%.

    By Oct. 22, 2024
  • A woman with brown hair is looking at her phone and carries an orange bag with white "Grubhub" logo.
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    Courtesy of Grubhub
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    Grubhub boosts delivery access with Amazon Key partnership

    The tie-up gives Grubhub delivery partners one-click access to restricted residential buildings and has already improved the driver and customer experience.

    By Oct. 21, 2024
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    adobe.stock.com/PixelBus

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    Sponsored by reciProfity

    How the lack of food costing technology is costing restaurants more money

    For restaurant owners, understanding the nuances of food costing is not just an operational necessity; it’s a crucial factor in ensuring profitability and sustainability.

    Oct. 21, 2024
  • An image of a Richtech Robotics adanced robotic beverage system. The white robot is preparing a drink at a counter top.
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    Courtesy of Richtech Robotics
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    Richtech Robotics to open 20 more automated restaurants inside Walmart stores

    The tech company, which uses robotic arms to create drinks, will become a Ghost Kitchens America franchisee as part of its expansion plans.

    By Oct. 18, 2024
  • One of Serve Robotics next generation robots
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    Courtesy of Serve Robotics
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    Serve Robotics debuts faster, larger robots for Uber Eats deal

    The company is on track to deploy about 250 robots in Los Angeles in Q1 2025, and its next gen model can run for longer and carry more.

    By Oct. 16, 2024
  • A couple looks at food delivery packaging on the left. On the right a mobile app displays generic branding and discounts for a restaurant.
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    Courtesy of Toast
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    Toast adds branded apps and text marketing

    The company said its new features can help restaurants drive traffic and frequency, and that apps are more effective than websites.

    By Oct. 8, 2024
  • A farmer holds a coffee plant bearing fruit
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    Courtesy of Starbucks
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    Starbucks buys more innovation farms to create climate-proof coffee

    Farmers in Costa Rica and Guatemala will test drones, hybrid crop varieties and more as the company aims to address some of the most pressing challenges facing the region.

    By Sarah Zimmerman • Oct. 7, 2024
  • Two autonomous vehicles with Avride and Uber branding
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    Courtesy of Avride
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    Uber Eats to deliver with Avride robots in Austin

    The deal is the latest in a string of partnerships between the delivery giant and robotics developers, and includes sidewalk robots and robotaxis.

    By Oct. 4, 2024
  • An image of a woman's hand on a mouse in front of a computer screen. The woman is managing a website and designing an app.
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    Permission granted by DoorDash
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    DoorDash’s commerce platform includes AI phone ordering

    Partner restaurants can also access tools to create their own apps and customer support solutions.

    By Sept. 25, 2024
  • A red sticker on a restaurant window announcing the restaurant offers delivery with DoorDash.
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    Michael M. Santiago via Getty Images
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    DoorDash, Uber Eats win NYC customer data court battle

    New York City’s rule requiring delivery apps to give restaurants consumer information violates the First Amendment, a judge found Tuesday.

    By Sept. 25, 2024
  • A drive-thru menu board with a speaker box at Taco John's
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    Courtesy of Presto Automation
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    Presto Automation puts itself up for sale

    The tech firm, which was delisted from the Nasdaq earlier this year, does not anticipate changes to its operations as a result of a sale.

    By Sept. 24, 2024
  • Olo founder Noah Glass on Olo's first day of trading
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    Permission granted by Olo
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    Olo cuts 9% of workforce despite profitability

    The restaurant tech company laid off more employees after reporting a 27% revenue surge last quarter to attain “balanced growth.”

    By Updated Sept. 23, 2024
  • A woman holds a smartphone with the White Castle loyalty program prominently displayed
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    Courtesy of White Castle
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    White Castle pivots to gamified, tiered rewards

    The slider chain is looking to encourage specific consumer behaviors, like late-night visits or trialing new menu items, with “quests” across three loyalty levels.

    By Sept. 19, 2024
  • A picture of an Olive Garden restaurant.
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    Courtesy of Olive Garden
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    Olive Garden will test Uber delivery to fight sales slump

    Parent company Darden Restaurants will pilot the delivery platform’s white-label service at select units this year, with tentative plans for nationwide deployment in 2025.

    By Sept. 19, 2024
  • 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 prioritizes tech investments on the hunt for better experience

    Technology updates and the introduction of on-premise sales managers who tailor consumer experience to specific stores are showing promise.

    By Bryan Wassel • Sept. 16, 2024
  • 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 starts in-store testing for avocado, makeline robots

    The two pieces of equipment, including the Autocado, were developed in conjunction with firms backed by its venture fund.

    By Sept. 16, 2024