Technology: Page 9

  • An image of three mobile pictures that showcase in-seat ordering from Uber Eats.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Uber Eats
    Image attribution tooltip

    Uber Eats expands in-seat delivery to Oracle Park in San Francisco

    After seeing significant demand for in-seat ordering at Yankee Stadium, Uber Eats has brought the feature to the San Francisco Giants’ home turf. 

    By • Aug. 3, 2023
  • Jared Isaacman standing in a corporate office.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Shift4
    Image attribution tooltip

    Shift4 shrinks workforce

    The payments company cut 150 employees in the second quarter, executives said Thursday during an earnings conference call.

    By Caitlin Mullen • Aug. 3, 2023
  • A man and a woman dressed as a chef look at a tablet. Explore the Trendline➔
    Image attribution tooltip
    Wavebreakmedia via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip
    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
  • Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by MrBeast Burger/Virtual Dining Concepts
    Image attribution tooltip

    MrBeast sues Virtual Dining Concepts, aims to kill his virtual brand

    Beast Investments claims VDC’s rapid expansion of MrBeast Burger resulted in poor customer experiences and food quality, but VDC alleges the complaint is “riddled with false statements.”

    By • Aug. 2, 2023
  • White Castle
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of White Castle
    Image attribution tooltip

    White Castle to roll out voice AI to over 100 drive-thrus

    The chain is automating its drive-thru order taking in partnership with SoundHound, which claims its tech can process orders within 60 seconds.

    By • Aug. 2, 2023
  • An image of Sweetgreen's rewards program on a smartphone.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Sweetgreen
    Image attribution tooltip

    Sweetgreen will extend loyalty program to its dining rooms

    The value of offering in-store rewards will be “super accretive,” CEO Jonathan Neman said, because most of the chain’s customers are first acquired through its restaurants.

    By • Aug. 1, 2023
  • A picture of a chef in a kitchen looking down at a calculator.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Vladimir Vladimirov via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Readers Respond: Virtual brand sales are too low to justify complexity

    Across the board, Restaurant Dive readers didn’t expect virtual brands to grow this year, and some are considering cutting them to improve operations.

    By • July 31, 2023
  • A worker takes a bowl of processed avocados from a prototype of Vebu's Autocado.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Chipotle
    Image attribution tooltip

    Chipotle wants to improve speed with grills, robots

    The fast casual chain is trialing automated kitchen equipment that can trim prep time in half, in some cases, as it looks to improve accuracy and throughput.

    By • July 28, 2023
  • An image of a Beto Guajardo, who is wearing a suit and tie.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Blaze Pizza
    Image attribution tooltip
    Q&A // Meet the exec

    Blaze Pizza CEO: We want an experience that can’t ‘be replicated by machines’

    Beto Guajardo, now six months into his tenure at the build-your-own pizza chain, is focused on growing its footprint, making offerings more affordable and improving the diner experience.

    By • July 25, 2023
  • Opening small business. Happy arab woman in apron near bar counter holding digital tablet and looking at camera.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Prostock-Studio via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip
    Sponsored by Fourth

    How to make demand forecasting your competitive advantage

    Learn how to take control of your labor budgets, empower frontline managers and eliminate staffing inefficiencies with AI-powered forecasting.

    By Christian Berthelsen, Chief Technology Officer, Fourth • July 24, 2023
  • Brinker International launched its second virtual brand, Maggiano's Italian Classics, in 2021.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Retrieved from Maggiano's Italian Classics on August 18, 2021
    Image attribution tooltip

    Friday Feedback: How are you thinking about virtual brands?

    Restaurant Dive wants to know if you are using delivery-only brands as part of your operations.

    By • July 21, 2023
  • A photograph of Ming-Tai Huh.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Square
    Image attribution tooltip

    Square’s new GM for restaurants targets bigger operators with new tech

    Ming-Tai Huh shares how his position as a restaurant operator and a tech executive has given him a singular view of the restaurant industry’s challenges.

    By • July 20, 2023
  • Toast Inc. point of sale device
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Toast Inc.
    Image attribution tooltip

    Toast axes 99-cent fee

    The restaurant payments company said Wednesday it would remove the customer-paid order processing fee by the end of this week.

    By Caitlin Mullen • July 19, 2023
  • A table with a laptop that has features from DoorDash.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by DoorDash
    Image attribution tooltip

    DoorDash teams with ItsaCheckmate, Deliverect for easier restaurant signups

    Restaurant partners can sign up for DoorDash’s marketplace through some POS systems, allowing them to join the platform in days rather than weeks. 

    By • July 19, 2023
  • A portrait photo of Paul Tuscano, KFC U.S.'s incoming chief digital officer.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of KFC
    Image attribution tooltip

    KFC US adds chief digital officer role

    Paul Tuscano joins KFC from Marriott as the company’s focus on digital ordering and experiences grows.

    By • July 14, 2023
  • Donatos pizza
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of PR Newswire
    Image attribution tooltip

    Donatos Pizza to deploy pizza vending machine

    The chain will deploy its first automated pizza kiosk in partnership with Appetronix in Columbus, Ohio, at an unspecified time in the future.

    By • July 14, 2023
  • The new Saladworks in-store restaurant, in a Cincinnati Kroger
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Saladworks
    Image attribution tooltip

    Woworks adds 7 virtual brands across its restaurant chains

    The Saladworks parent seeks to open new revenue streams for its franchisees via new concepts like Soup Works and Stack’d Sandwiches, despite volatility in the virtual brand segment. 

    By • July 13, 2023
  • Woman standing behind counter and cash register serves ice cream cone.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Lynne Marek
    Image attribution tooltip

    Will Toast get burned by 99-cent fee?

    The restaurant payments software company’s rivals needled Toast over the addition of a fee to be paid by consumers.

    By Caitlin Mullen • July 12, 2023
  • A worker takes a bowl of processed avocados from a prototype of Vebu's Autocado.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Chipotle
    Image attribution tooltip

    Chipotle pilots avocado robot that could halve guacamole prep time

    The Autocado, a robot designed by Vebu at Chipotle’s Cultivate Center, can hold 25 pounds of avocados at a time and cuts, cores and scoops the fruits.

    By • July 12, 2023
  • An image of Dawn Gillis, CIO of Golden Corral
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Golden Corral
    Image attribution tooltip

    Golden Corral appoints 7-Eleven vet as CIO

    Dawn Gillis, who also worked at Freebirds and Torchy’s Tacos, will oversee the buffet chain’s digital growth strategy and modernize its tech stack.

    By • July 7, 2023
  • Blue and purple Taco Bell sauce packets are inscribed with messages against a metaverse-themed backdrop.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Retrieved from Taco Bell Corp. on August 25, 2022
    Image attribution tooltip

    Yum Brands inks AI-powered customer data partnership

    Treasure Data will collect first-, second- and third-party data for the restaurant company to create “a single view of a customer across multiple brands.”

    By • July 6, 2023
  • An image of DoorDash rewards for stores
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by DoorDash
    Image attribution tooltip

    DoorDash enhances merchant platform with store rewards

    The latest additions for merchants also include personalized growth recommendation and and enhanced Storefront features. 

    By • June 28, 2023
  • DoorDash screenshots
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by DoorDash
    Image attribution tooltip

    DoorDash launches biggest app update in its history

    New consumer features include a universal search bar, multiple carts, bottom navigation tabs and the ability to use SNAP/EBT online payments for groceries.

    By • June 28, 2023
  • Atosa Catering Equipment's prototype fry machine at the National Restaurant Association show on May 22, 2023.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Aneurin Canham-Clyne/Restaurant Dive
    Image attribution tooltip

    Deloitte: Customer acceptance of restaurant automation on the rise

    Diners are becoming more comfortable with smart kitchen and dining room solutions, which could help operators deploy such tech without hurting sales.

    By • June 27, 2023
  • Toast Inc. point of sale device
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Toast Inc.
    Image attribution tooltip

    Toast adds 99-cent customer online ordering fee

    The fee, which will be paid by guests making orders of $10 or higher, will help fund Toast’s product investments and innovation. 

    By • June 23, 2023
  • Domino's Pinpoint Delivery
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Domino's Pizza
    Image attribution tooltip

    Domino’s delivers anywhere on the map with latest tech innovation

    Pinpoint Delivery leverages Google Maps to evolve the chain's groundbreaking Hotspots feature and will be promoted via an integrated campaign.

    By Chris Kelly • June 20, 2023