Technology: Page 3

  • 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 CEO says the business will survive if delisted

    The voice AI company, which went public in 2021, could benefit from a NASDAQ delisting that lets it act more like a start-up, Gee Lefevre said.

    By • July 30, 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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    Chipotle’s advanced equipment strategy takes a step forward

    The fast casual giant said its avocado processing machine and automated digital makeline are in the final steps before in-restaurant testing.

    By • July 26, 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
  • A rendering of Marco's store design includes a front pickup counter, beverage cooler and a small waiting area.
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    Courtesy of Marco's Pizza
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    Marco’s opens first location with new digital-focused design

    The prototype, which has the option for a pickup door and window, is expected to accelerate the chain’s growth while improving customer services. 

    By • July 25, 2024
  • An image of a man smiling and looking off to the side. He has a headset microphone on his right ear.
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    Courtesy of Zaxby's
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    Zaxbys creates e-commerce division, adds chief digital officer

    Chris Kung, who joins the fast food chain after four years at Dollar General, will oversee the company’s new e-commerce and loyalty team. 

    By • July 24, 2024
  • Casey's
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    Retrieved from Casey's.
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    C-stores see higher loyalty retention than QSRs, data shows

    However, they sign up new members much more slowly than quick- and full-service restaurants, according to data from Paytronix.

    By Jessica Loder • July 24, 2024
  • A building with white and brown siding with two black cars at a drive-thru. Signage says Bojangles
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    Permission granted by Bojangles
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    Bojangles to deploy voice AI at hundreds of drive-thrus

    The chicken chain is positioning itself as an aggressive early-adopter of drive-thru voice AI, and says Hi Auto’s tool is more than 95% accurate.

    By • July 23, 2024
  • A Starbucks disposable coffee cup next to a Mercedes-Benz key
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    Courtesy of Mercedes-Benz
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    Coffee and EV charging: Mercedes-Benz partners with Starbucks

    The collaboration will add DC fast chargers at 100 retail locations along the 1,400-mile Interstate 5 corridor.

    By Haley Cawthon • July 22, 2024
  • An individual is pictured from the back, slightly blurred. The phone depics the Burger King game.
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    Courtesy of Burger King
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    Why Burger King is all-in on gamification

    A full pipeline of new and unique in-app games drives engagement for the brand, according to Preston Nix, director of loyalty and CRM. 

    By Amanda Baltazar • July 18, 2024
  • Tender Greens and Tocaya merged in 2021 to become One Table Restaurant Group.
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    Permission granted by One Table Restaurant Group
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    One Table Restaurant Brands files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protections

    Fees on third-party orders and rising debt costs meant a partial recovery from 2020 was not enough to allow the parent company of Tender Greens and Tacaya to repay its creditors.

    By • July 18, 2024
  • Beef O' Brady's restaurant
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    Permission granted by Beef O' Brady's
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    Beef ‘O’ Brady’s launches SoundHound’s automated phone ordering system

    After launching in over 30 corporate locations, the technology, which claims to be “highly accurate,” is now available to over 100 franchised units.

    By • July 17, 2024
  • A sign advertising a digital ordering app is displayed at a McDonald's.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Mobile apps drive fast food satisfaction — so long as service is speedy

    High-quality mobile apps can be central to the fast food experience if they enable improvements across the entire customer journey.

    By Bryan Wassel • July 15, 2024
  • An image of a woman ordering at a drive-thru speaker box.
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    MartinPrescott via Getty Images
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    ConverseNow buys competitor Valyant AI

    The companies expect the business combination will help speed up the deployment of voice AI at the drive-thru. 

    By • July 9, 2024
  • A view of a Wendy's restaurant on May 12, 2021 in Pinole, California.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Wendy’s inks deal with solar company to cut restaurant emissions

    The collaboration with Ampion Renewable Energy will help provide renewable electricity to local utility grids and decrease restaurants’ reliance on fossil fuels.

    By Zoya Mirza • July 1, 2024
  • The exterior of a Panera Bread restaurant.
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    Justin Sullivan / Staff via Getty Images
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    Panera faces potential class-action lawsuit over data breach involving employee information

    Corporate files were accessed during a security incident in March, but workers weren’t informed about sensitive data being exposed until June, the lawsuit claims.

    By Carolyn Crist • June 28, 2024
  • American Express promotional signage
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    Bryan Bedder / Stringer via Getty Images
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    Amex banks on spending at high-end restaurants

    Analysts say American Express wants to cash in on the restaurant industry’s success and give customers admission to premium experiences.

    By Patrick Cooley • June 27, 2024
  • Person using a point of sale software system at a restaurant
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    Moyo Studio via Getty Images
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    Amex to buy Tock for $400M

    American Express said it will buy the reservation platform from website builder Squarespace to buttress its dining digital services.

    By Patrick Cooley • June 24, 2024
  • A jet pilot crashes into a restaurant as part of a Carl's Jr campaign
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    Courtesy of Carl's Jr
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    How Carl’s Jr. is driving in-store visits with AI-fueled CTV advertising

    The QSR paired contextual targeting data with IRIS.TV’s private marketplace to engage young men with shared interests like anime and gaming.

    By Aaron Baar • June 21, 2024
  • Voice recognition with smart phone
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    metamorworks via Getty Images
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    SoundHound AI acquires ordering platform Allset

    Allset, a platform designed specifically for pickup orders, will help SoundHound speed up its goal of developing a multi-channel, voice-ordering system.

    By • June 20, 2024
  • An image of a sign post with yellow print that says drive-thru
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    Joe Raedle via Getty Images
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    McDonald’s ends IBM drive-thru voice order test

    The fast food chain still sees a future for automated order taking at the drive-thru and expects to make a decision about the tech by year’s end.

    By • June 17, 2024
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    Courtesy of CKE
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    CKE appoints Papa Johns vet as chief technology and growth officer

    Justin Falciola will oversee information technology, digital strategy and operations and help deploy new technologies as the company invests in digital channels. 

    By • June 12, 2024
  • A couple look at cupcakes displayed in a case. A man is pointing at one of the cupcakes.
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    doble-d via Getty Images
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    Restaurant openings up 6%, but momentum slowing

    Sweets and snack concepts had the most openings with new dessert stores up 52%, followed by shaved ice outlets up 22%, according to a Yelp report. 

    By • June 5, 2024
  • A customer pays using a Clover device
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    Permission granted by Fiserv
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    ‘They feel like they got tricked’: How tipping requests can hurt customer relationships

    Consumers are being asked to tip more often and for more services than they were in the past. It’s leaving them with a bad taste in their mouths.

    By Lisa Scherzer • June 3, 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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    Taco John’s rolls out drive-thru AI test with Presto

    Following the completion of a pilot phase, the Mexican chain will expand the technology to franchised locations later this year. 

    By • June 3, 2024
  • A smartphone with Amazon screenshot of its Gruhbub platform.
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    Courtesy of Amazon/Grubhub
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    Amazon adds Grubhub restaurant delivery to platform

    Prime subscribers will have access to an ongoing Grubhub+ membership, too.

    By • May 30, 2024
  • Three smart phone screens with CosMc's branding
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    Permission granted by CosMc's
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    CosMc’s launches loyalty app

    The McDonald’s spinoff launched an app despite having only four locations, in a possible show of the burger giant's confidence in its new brand.

    By • May 28, 2024