Technology: Page 8

  • An image of Domino's and Microsoft headquarters.
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    Courtesy of Domino's/Microsoft
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    Domino’s, Microsoft partner to bring AI to restaurants, online ordering

    The two companies will work together to create technology with Azure OpenAI to help managers handle inventory, staff scheduling and customer experience, with the first iteration of the generative AI set to roll out by March.

    By • Oct. 3, 2023
  • 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, Hyphen begin testing automated makeline

    The technology-enabled makeline for salads and bowls could help Chipotle free up labor, as about 65% of its digital orders are for these meals, but questions remain about the machine’s food safety.

    By • Oct. 3, 2023
  • 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
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    Permission granted by Esper
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    Sponsored by Esper

    New data: How restaurant companies manage device technology

    Four ways restaurants are using modern solutions to manage their devices and one way they are way behind.

    Oct. 2, 2023
  • Chef looking at list
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    Hispanolistic via Getty Images
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    Sponsored by CoverWallet

    Cyber hackers see your restaurant’s data as a buffet — here are 10 ways to stop them

    Cyber threats are becoming increasingly prominent in restaurants. This article reveals 10 crucial steps eateries must take to protect their secrets, data and profits in an ever-evolving cyber battleground.

    By Dan Wahl, Senior Manager of Restaurant Insurance Solutions at CoverWallet • Oct. 2, 2023
  • Promotional images of phone screens showing Sweetgreen's app.
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    Courtesy of Sweetgreen
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    Sweetgreen adds in-store loyalty offer

    This rewards expansion could grow frequency among Sweetgreen customers, 50% of whom order on-premise.

    By • Sept. 26, 2023
  • A stack of uncooked Impossible Burger patties separated by wax paper on a yellow background
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    Courtesy of Impossible Foods
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    Slumping demand forces 2 California plant-based startups to close

    Hooray Foods and Nowadays, which both had restaurant clients, join a growing list of companies in the category that have gone out of business or scaled back their growth plans.

    By Elizabeth Flood • Sept. 25, 2023
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    iStock / Gabriel Trujillo

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    Sponsored by PayiQ

    Labor shortages and unattended technologies are changing the loyalty landscape

    Labor shortages and unattended tech are on the rise, causing restaurants to rethink loyalty.

    Sept. 25, 2023
  • A hand receives a White Castle bag from another hand coming from outside the door
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    Courtesy of White Castle
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    White Castle adds in-app delivery with Uber Direct

    Menu items are available for the same price as dine-in, and customers pay a flat fee of $4.99 for delivery. 

    By • Sept. 21, 2023
  • Screenshots of Uber Eats' AI assistant tool
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    Courtesy of Uber
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    Uber adding AI tool and ‘virtual sales aisle’ to its app

    The planned updates to Uber Eats also include the addition of SNAP and healthcare benefits payments starting next year.

    By Catherine Douglas Moran • Sept. 20, 2023
  • A person is in a car and is in the process of ordering Panera using a phone
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    Courtesy of Panera Bread
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    Panera loyalty members can pre-program meals on app, order with swipe

    The order option is the chain’s latest tech enhancement launched this year, including Amazon Alexa ordering and an Amazon One palm scanner test. 

    By • Sept. 20, 2023
  • A portrait photo of Kitchen United CEO Atul Sood.
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    Courtesy of Kitchen United
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    Kitchen United promotes Atul Sood to CEO

    The ghost kitchen company remains focused on building a sustainable business model for decades to come, Sood said. 

    By • Sept. 18, 2023
  • Donatos pizza
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    Courtesy of PR Newswire
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    Why Donatos sees opportunity in automated vending machines

    The pizza chain’s forthcoming prototype is just one example of how this technology can be an innovative grab-and-go option, but challenges over the perception of quality persist.

    By Danielle McLean • Sept. 18, 2023
  • A Flytrex drone can carry up to 6.6 pounds and make five-mile round trips, according to the company’s website.
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    Permission granted by Flytrex
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    Papa Johns, Little Caesars take to the skies with Flytrex autonomous delivery

    Chains participating in the rollout will send orders to drones via a dropdown wire.

    By • Sept. 14, 2023
  • A Chick-fil-A restaurant is seen on July 05, 2022 in Houston, Texas.
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    Brandon Bell via Getty Images
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    Chick-fil-A tests robot servers

    A few of the chain's restaurants are using bots to deliver food to tables while staff still refill beverages and clean tables.

    By • Sept. 8, 2023
  • Casey's
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    Retrieved from Casey's.
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    Casey’s expands automated ordering technology

    The system, which the retailer has been testing for the past year, answers incoming phone calls, processes new orders and connects to Casey’s loyalty platform.

    By Brett Dworski • Sept. 8, 2023
  • A computer with a screen of Grubhub's restaurant portal
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    Permission granted by Grubhub
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    Grubhub enhances customer insights with order frequency data

    Operators can view how often certain customers order from them and take action like running promotions to bolster return visits. 

    By • Sept. 7, 2023
  • Whataburger Digital Kitchen, the chain's first digital-only unit, opened in Austin in September.
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    Courtesy of Whataburger
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    Whataburger opens first off-premise-only unit

    Whataburger's digital kitchen, which debuted in Austin this week, features external ordering kiosks, pickup lockers and a mobile pickup lane.

    By • Updated Sept. 7, 2023
  • Toast Inc. point of sale device
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    Courtesy of Toast Inc.
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    Toast CEO resigns

    Chris Comparato, who has been CEO since 2015, told the restaurant payments company’s board on Friday that he’ll exit his leadership posts on Jan. 1.

    By Caitlin Mullen • Sept. 5, 2023
  • Screenshots of the Amazon Just Walk Out integration with Grubhub's app.
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    Permission granted by Grubhub
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    Grubhub, Amazon team up on automated campus c-store

    Students at the Loyola University Maryland store will scan a QR code in the food delivery app to enter the frictionless shop and pay for items.

    By Jessica Loder • Aug. 31, 2023
  • An image of a kitchen counter with DoorDash orders ready for pickup.
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    Permission granted by DoorDash
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    DoorDash adds automated phone ordering for restaurants

    The system will answer all phone calls, offer recommendations for customers to add to orders and process orders through the restaurants’ point of sales. 

    By • Aug. 28, 2023
  • A Primanti Bros. sandwich sits on a restaurant tabletop with a diner in the background
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    Permission granted by Primanti Bros.
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    Opinion

    Why AI is a key ingredient for success at Primanti Bros.

    The chain is simplifying and speeding up office processes by outsourcing tasks like sales and labor reporting to robotic process automation bots, writes Caitlin Stritmatter, director of financial planning and analysis at Primanti Bros.

    By Caitlin Stritmatter • Aug. 21, 2023
  • A Checkers restaurant with metallic and red trim and a red truck waiting for an order.
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    The image by Phillip Pessar is licensed under CC BY 2.0
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    Checkers and Rally’s deploys Spanish-speaking drive-thru AI

    The restaurant chain has installed Hi Auto’s bilingual technology at 350 restaurants after a two-month beta test at five units. 

    By • Aug. 18, 2023
  • Woman standing behind counter and cash register serves ice cream cone.
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    Permission granted by Lynne Marek
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    Toast CEO: Lessons learned from fee flub

    Chris Comparato said on an earnings call the company will be more thoughtful about how it increases prices after facing backlash over a 99-cent customer-paid fee it later scrapped.

    By Caitlin Mullen • Aug. 10, 2023
  • A Grubhub courier. Grubhub and Sonesta will offer delivery to 120 extended stay hotels.
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    The image by Elvert Barnes is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
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    Grubhub, Sonesta bring delivery to 120 hotels

    Customers at Sonesta’s Extended Stay and Simply Suites locations can order through the delivery platform’s app or through QR codes displayed by the hotel.

    By • Aug. 10, 2023
  • An image of a woman ordering at a drive-thru speaker box.
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    MartinPrescott via Getty Images
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    Friday Feedback: How are you thinking about automation?

    Restaurant Dive wants to know if you are investing in technology like kitchen robotics or voice artificial intelligence at the drive-thru. 

    By • Aug. 4, 2023