Make your business an escape from holiday stress with custom entertainment

As the holiday season ramps up, so do customers' stress levels — here’s how businesses can be more mindful.

Nov. 15, 2021

Yelp personalizes home feed in latest upgrade

Available in 150 metro areas, the iOS update provides visual content and updates from local restaurants based on factors like proximity and popularity of dishes.

By Julie Littman • Nov. 9, 2021

Explore the 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

How P.F. Chang's fuses innovation and business continuity during uncertain times

P. F. Chang's determined that their financial system was at its end of life and needed to be replaced. What was their solution? 

Nov. 8, 2021

5 ways QSRs are embracing technology

From drone delivery to artificial intelligence, fast food chains around the country are testing new ways to reach customers and fill the labor gap.

By Julie Littman • Nov. 3, 2021

McDonald's powers up 'Friendsgaming' livestream with FaZe Clan to unite gamers

As part of the event riffing on the Friendsgiving concept, the duo created a merchandise pack of co-branded gaming gear and DoorDash delivery codes.

By Peter Adams • Nov. 2, 2021

Emerging technologies call for robust data network

Data-driven decisions will expand beyond sales and staffing applications to guest services, supply-chain logistics and menu development, allowing restaurants to adapt what to sell in real-time as demand dictates.

Nov. 1, 2021

C3 deploys robot delivery in Los Angeles

Through a partnership with Coco, C3 will offer delivery via bots within two miles of several digital kitchens in the city, with plans to expand into new markets.

By Julie Littman • Oct. 28, 2021

McDonald's will sell McD Tech Labs to IBM

The sale of the platform reflects the chain's evolving approach to insourcing versus outsourcing technology, CEO Chris Kempczinski said.

By Emma Liem Beckett • Oct. 27, 2021

Bringing the phygital experience to restaurants

With the ever-growing use of technologies used in the restaurant industry, customers expect the same level of personalization and convenience in person as they do online.

Oct. 26, 2021

Introducing: A facts only approach to news designed for businesses

Cable news is broken, and it's detracting from the restaurant customer experience.

Oct. 25, 2021

Olo buys Wisely for $187M, its first acquisition as a public company

The transaction will allow Olo to expand its capabilities, which have largely been focused on online ordering, to include customer intelligence and engagement tools. 

By Julie Littman • Oct. 22, 2021

Peet's Coffee adds more incentives to its loyalty program

The revamp comes as more chains add loyalty programs or enhance existing rewards offerings to attract digitally savvy consumers, and marks the first major change to the chain's program since 2017. 

By Alicia Kelso • Oct. 21, 2021

Buffalo Wild Wings tests robotic chicken wing fryer

Through a pilot program with Miso Robotics, the full-service chain's parent company plans to deploy Flippy Wings to its ghost kitchen and eventually install it in a Buffalo Wild Wings location this year. 

By Julie Littman • Oct. 21, 2021

Fiserv expands restaurant reach with BentoBox purchase

The global payments processor said it would buy BentoBox to expand the reach of its Clover unit in servicing restaurants.

By Lynne Marek • Oct. 19, 2021

Report: 50% of operators plan to deploy automation tech in 2 to 3 years

Eighty-seven percent of restaurant owners/operators believe that technology adoption has been critical for survival throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Lightspeed's Global State of Hospitality report. 

By Alicia Kelso • Oct. 15, 2021

NRA: Declining disposable income dampens demand for on-premise eating

Diners want to eat at restaurants and order off-premise more often than they currently do, the association's SVP Hudson Riehle shared at DoorDash's Main Street Strong Conference on Wednesday.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Oct. 14, 2021

DoorDash beefs up ad capabilities for restaurants, CPG brands

The delivery platform is working to generate additional revenue as its growth slows from the highs reached during the pandemic's peak.

By Chris Kelly • Oct. 12, 2021

Wendy's to use AI, machine learning to improve customer experience

Through a partnership with Google Cloud, the fast food chain will offer diners tools like speech-to-text, Google Maps and Search.

By Julie Littman • Oct. 12, 2021

Workday gives Panera the right ingredients to face challenges head-on

Even now, the food industry continues to evolve. However, constant fluctuations and disruptions mean restaurants like Panera must make decisions quickly and accurately, consolidating data and insights across all of its functions.

Oct. 11, 2021

TGI Fridays will launch 300 ghost kitchens with Reef Technology

This is Reef's first deal with a global casual chain, which comes just a few months after the firm announced major expansion plans with 800 Degrees Pizza and Wendy's. 

By Alicia Kelso • Oct. 8, 2021

ChowNow launches Order Better Network

The commission-free, online ordering platform can now connect restaurants to more than a dozen channels for delivery and takeout orders, including Yelp, OpenTable and Snapchat. 

By Alicia Kelso • Oct. 5, 2021

All Day Kitchens receives $65M in funding for expansion

This latest round of funding brings the total money raised by the ghost kitchen platform to $102.5 million since its founding in 2018. 

By Alicia Kelso • Oct. 4, 2021

Kitchen United buys Zuul, entering New York City market

After announcing one of the first acquisitions in the ghost kitchen segment, the company's chief business officer said there's potential for more deals as it looks to expand geographically.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Oct. 4, 2021

How the 'chameleon effect' is limiting your business (and what to do about it)

In under a second, a single behavior can change the vibe of an entire venue. Businesses need a way to harness that tendency to positively engage guests.

Oct. 4, 2021

Taco Bell celebrates National Taco Day with Discord, messaging push

In the U.S., the chain will leave Easter eggs on Reddit and "raid" Discord channels to give away free tacos while a global push focuses on the taco emoji.

By Chris Kelly • Oct. 4, 2021