Waitr teams with Olo to streamline POS systems

The partnership could strengthen restaurant loyalty by simplifying operations and providing solutions to order errors and delays, a growing trend in the competitive delivery space. 

By Rosie Bradbury • Aug. 7, 2019

Jack in the Box lets Snapchat users turn virtual burgers into reality

An AR experience gives customers a chance to win prizes, including seeing their virtual burger creations added to the chain's menu.

By Robert Williams • Aug. 6, 2019

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

Aramark buys college food delivery service Good Uncle

Growing competition from third-party aggregators is pushing college foodservice providers into offering delivery and pickup. 

By Julie Littman • Aug. 6, 2019

Tabletop tech speeds up service and boosts profits, study says

Research into the impact of POS technology at a casual dining chain found that it bridged gaps in waiter performance without impacting staff numbers.

By Rosie Bradbury • Aug. 5, 2019

Chipotle rolls out AI for phone orders

The chain has tested artificial intelligence-generated voice assistants for mobile orders since 2018, and plans to expand the system to all 2,500 stores by the end of the year.

By Alicia Kelso • July 31, 2019

Sweetgreen's new store layout eliminates assembly line

The new store, which will open in New York City this fall, also swaps out chalkboard menus for digital displays and lets customers order from kiosks or staff with iPads.

By Lauren Manning • July 30, 2019

McDonald's revs up personalization rollout to 8K drive-thrus

Within two weeks, the chain expects Dynamic Yield software will be available at over half of its U.S. units and fully implemented by the end of the year. 

By Julie Littman • July 26, 2019

Starbucks' digital strategy is working. Now it wants to dive deeper

With $6.8 billion in revenue during the last quarter and its stock price at an all-time high, the coffee chain is already banking on its tech initiatives.

By Roberto Torres • July 26, 2019

Pizza Hut pilots self-service pickup cubbies

The pizza segment's tech capabilities escalate as Pizza Hut streamlines operations with a feature that syncs with its app, website and phone orders.

By Lauren Manning • July 24, 2019

OpenTable moves into delivery with new app feature

The reservation platform partnered with Uber Eats, Caviar and Grubhub to offer the service to over 8,000 restaurants in 90 metro areas in the U.S. 

By Julie Littman • July 24, 2019

McDonald's departing global CMO will be replaced by 2 new SVPs

Two current employees will fill the newly created roles of global marketing SVP and marketing technology SVP after Silvia Lagnado's departure. 

By Barry Levine • July 23, 2019

Starbucks to license exclusive technology with new partnership

Brightloom, formerly eatsa, will create an all-in-one platform, which will include the coffee giant's mobile and loyalty technology, that will be available to the wider industry.

By Julie Littman • July 23, 2019

Deliveroo will now buy and deliver ingredients to restaurants

The U.K.-based company claims its program, where it procures food supplies on behalf of multiple eateries, can save small operators up to 40%.  

By Julie Littman • July 19, 2019

Postmates adds emoji searches for World Emoji Day

Customers can combine the "taco" and "bell" emoji to look up Taco Bell, or the "hamburger" and "crown" to get Burger King.

By Robert Williams • July 18, 2019

69% of restaurants use multiple technologies, but many want all-in-one system

Despite reporting having numerous vendors for tasks like POS and labor, many expressed the need to consolidate for efficiency in a recent Toast survey.

By Alicia Kelso • July 18, 2019

Under pressure, Domino's ups the ante on tech

Squeezed by third-party aggregators, the pizza chain is launching a nationwide e-bike program and adding GPS tracking to improve delivery.  

By Julie Littman • Updated Aug. 13, 2019

Self-service kiosk market to reach $30.8B

A number of QSR players like McDonald's are adopting the technology, but the value proposition remains unclear.

By Lauren Manning • July 17, 2019

Just Eat adds restaurant hygiene ratings to app

The feature is Just Eat's latest push to improve food safety, which has included dropping restaurants with a zero rating and investing over $1 million to help eateries improve scores. 

By Lauren Manning • July 16, 2019

Domino's Australia improves pizza quality scores with AI

The DOM Pizza Checker, which was deployed in Australia and New Zealand in May, increased quality scores by 15% in its first month. 

By Alicia Kelso • July 16, 2019

Food 4 Less, Smart Foodservice join the food delivery fight

Smart Foodservice's partnership with Shipt will deliver ingredients to restaurants and benefit operators, but other grocery delivery partnerships could threaten off-premise restaurant growth.

By Lauren Manning • July 15, 2019

Domino's pilots cashless payments in Australia

The test comes after a number of restaurants embraced the model only to reverse, like Sweetgreen, after the public complained the system discriminates against specific customers.

By Lauren Manning • July 11, 2019

Grubhub 'cybersquatting' outcry signals changing delivery landscape

Accusations of hidden fees and buying domains without permission highlight a need for clearer communication between third-party providers and restaurants.

By Julie Littman • July 11, 2019

Fast casuals rev up drive-thru, mobile pickup plans

Chains like Chipotle, Cava and Blaze Pizza are testing drive-up windows but may soon find it more difficult to find ideal locations.

By Julie Littman • July 10, 2019

23% of US smartphone users will use a food delivery app by 2023

Consumers will increasingly turn to third-party apps to place food orders as DoorDash, Grubhub and Uber Eats vie for the top spot, according to an eMarketer report. 

By Lauren Manning • July 9, 2019

Welcome to the drive-thru, AI will take your order

McDonald's and Sonic Drive-In are among the fast food chains testing out voice-automation and AI as part of an industrywide push to modernize.

By Julie Littman • July 8, 2019