Data Delicacies

In this episode of Data Delicacies, hosted by Arun Kumar of Incentivio, Erica Anderman, Co-Founder and Chief Revenue Officer of Foodini discussed the critical role that data plays in creating inclusive dining experiences for individuals with food allergies and dietary restrictions. As the prevalence of food allergies rises and restaurant menus become increasingly complex, Erica shares insights on how leveraging data can empower both consumers and restaurants to navigate these challenges effectively. Join us as we delve into the innovative solutions being developed to enhance transparency and accessibility in the dining industry, and learn how understanding customer needs can lead to better service and customer loyalty.

Key Takeaways:

1. Emerging Trends in Food Allergies: Food allergies are increasingly common, affecting at least one in three Americans, especially among younger generations. This trend forces restaurants to adapt their menus to accommodate a wider variety of dietary needs. Addressing these needs proactively can enhance customer satisfaction and loyalty, while simplifying how restaurants manage complex menu information.
2. Empowering Inclusive Dining: Foodini aims to provide people with dietary restrictions accurate information to make informed dining choices. However, most restaurants lack structured allergen data. By partnering with restaurants, Foodini extracts data from allergen matrices and inventory systems, using AI to provide detailed menu information. This helps both consumers make better choices and restaurants stay on top of dietary trends.
3. The Urgency for Technological Solutions: Improved transparency around food allergies is crucial as outdated methods, like word of mouth, are unreliable and uncomfortable for diners. Foodini leverages technology to provide accurate data, empowering individuals to make safe choices without awkward conversations. This push towards better information not only benefits diners but also helps restaurants cater to health-conscious customers.

Episode Links

• Connect with Erica Anderman on LinkedIn
• Visit Foodini Online
• Connect with Foodini on LinkedIn
• Follow Foodini on Facebook
• Follow Foodini on Instagram
• Follow Foodini on Tik Tok

ABOUT ERICA ANDERMAN

Erica Anderman is a leading expert in the hospitality industry, with over 15 years of experience in go-to-market and revenue strategy. She is also a founding team member at SinglePlatform (acq by Tripadvisor), Slice, and Seated, and lead the go-to-market teams at Odeko.

Erica's deep understanding of the hospitality industry and her experience building innovative solutions for restaurants and consumers make her a valuable asset to the Foodini team. She is passionate about using technology to solve real-world problems, and she is excited about the potential of Foodini to make dining out safer and more enjoyable for everyone.

ABOUT DATA DELICACIES

Data Delicacies is a weekly podcast that dives deep into the world of technology and data as it pertains to restaurants. Host Arun Kumar interviews some of the best and brightest in the industry about all things hospitality tech, artificial intelligence, and machine learning.

• Listen to Data Delicacies on Spotify
• Visit Incentivio Online
• Follow Incentivio on Instagram

Produced by Incentivio & Cali BBQ Media

In this insightful episode of Data Delicacies, host Arun Kumar welcomes Nick Laidlaw, Chief Technology Officer of Voicify, for a deep dive into the evolving world of voice AI technology. With the restaurant industry at the forefront of voice AI adoption, Nick reveals how Voicify is blending AI innovation with structured controls to enhance customer interactions while maintaining precision and reliability. Join Arun and Nick as they discuss how voice AI is transforming industries, the unique challenges in deploying AI responsibly, and the future of conversational technologies. Tune in to hear how Voicify is leading the way in making voice AI smarter, safer, and more effective.

Key Takeaways

1. Working Together for Better Voice Technology: Voicify's approach combines human-designed rules with AI capabilities to manage restaurant menus effectively. Instead of letting AI work autonomously, Voicify uses generative AI selectively to resolve unclear situations, while keeping the rest tightly controlled. This balance ensures both accuracy and a better customer experience.
2. Restaurants Lead the Way in Voice AI Adoption: Restaurants are at the forefront of adopting voice AI to solve urgent challenges, unlike slower-moving sectors like healthcare. Nick explains how restaurants’ willingness to innovate has allowed them to push the boundaries of voice AI, turning the industry into a testing ground for these technologies.
3. Keeping Voice AI Focused and Reliable: Voicify keeps its AI models tightly focused on restaurant-specific scenarios, ensuring they remain helpful and accurate. By setting clear boundaries, the AI avoids trying to answer unrelated questions, reducing mistakes and maintaining trust with customers. This controlled approach keeps interactions on track and reliable.

Episode Links

Visit Voicify online

Connect with Nick Laidlaw on Linked In

Follow Nick Laidlaw on X

ABOUT NICK LAIDLAW—

Nick Laidlaw is co-founder and CTO for Voicify. He is part of a rare breed of technical executives who still knows how to work in the trenches while inspiring team members around him. He brings over twenty years of hands-on development and leadership experience in the marketing and advertising industry. Prior to Voicify, Nick was co-founder and CTO of Agency Oasis, a national digital advertising agency focused on web solutions. He helped to grow the agency over 16 years until it was acquired in 2016.

ABOUT DATA DELICACIES—

Data Delicacies is a weekly podcast that dives deep into the world of technology and data as it pertains to restaurants. Host Arun Kumar interviews some of the best and brightest in the industry about all things hospitality tech, artificial intelligence, and machine learning.

Listen to Data Delicacies on Spotify:

Visit Incentivio Online

Follow Incentivio on Instagram

Produced by Incentivio & Cali BBQ Media - https://www.incentivio.com/ | https://betheshow.media

In a recent episode of Data Delicacies, hosted by Arun Kumar of Incentivio, Jeremy Theisen, Chief Revenue Officer of Hang, provided insightful commentary on the evolving landscape of restaurant marketing, particularly the role of AI and loyalty programs in driving customer engagement. Theisen highlighted the challenges many brands face in utilizing the abundance of data available for customer retention, suggesting that AI could bridge the gap between tools and actionable insights, allowing brands to operate smarter with fewer resources.

Advancing AI in Restaurant Marketing

With an abundance of tools available to capture data for customer attraction and retention, it is important to assess the need for skilled personnel to effectively utilize that data. Many brands struggle with maximizing these tools, opting to assign the task of managing complex loyalty campaigns to junior marketers. Jeremy Theisen believes the key to growth lies in continually expanding the database, and integrating AI-driven tools could bridge the gap, providing smarter insights and strategies without the need for large, highly experienced teams.

Loyalty Programs as Revenue Generators

Jeremy Theisen says when loyalty programs are operating correctly, vendors should have transparent conversations with brands about the true costs of implementing loyalty programs, including the required personnel, and the potential outcomes. He notes that loyalty programs are often viewed in a negative light, limiting their potential, leaving untapped potential for loyalty programs to be leveraged as key revenue generators.

Emerging Tech Trends in Loyalty

Customer engagement plays an important role in the success of any business. As business evolves, Jeremy Theisen foresees revenue recapture tools as an incoming wave within the loyalty space that will help businesses understand where gaps may exist and who should be tapped within the company to address them.

ABOUT JEREMY THEISEN—

With over 20 years of experience in the restaurant industry, Jeremy Theisen has built a reputation for driving growth, optimizing revenue, and leveraging cutting-edge technology to enhance operations. As the Chief Revenue Officer at Hang, Jeremy excels in creating dynamic, high-performing teams and fostering a vibrant company culture. His expertise in blending innovation with strategic leadership has helped numerous brands navigate the complexities of modern customer engagement and loyalty, positioning them for long-term success.

ABOUT DATA DELICACIES—

Data Delicacies is a weekly podcast that dives deep into the world of technology and data as it pertains to restaurants. Host Arun Kumar interviews some of the best and brightest in the industry about all things hospitality tech, artificial intelligence, and machine learning.

Data Delicacies on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/29ExS0n9X3Z3FyK4HuSPKH

Incentivio Online - https://www.incentivio.com/

Incentivio Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/incentivio/

Produced by Incentivio & Cali BBQ Media - https://www.incentivio.com/ | https://betheshow.media

Preston Junger, co-founder of Nift Restaurants and Mile Square Labs, joined Arun Kumar on Data Delicacies, powered by Incentivio, to share his expertise on the changing dynamics of technology, customer relationships, and the growing influence of AI in the hospitality industry.

Evolving Customer Connection -The increased implementation of technology in business can decrease the customer connections created by human interaction. Preston Junger believes that technology is an addition to business, but operators must be intentional in taking advantage of opportunities for customer connection and maintaining that relationship.

AI in Hospitality - AI integration has become nearly a necessity for current businesses. However, even with the increased digital presence, AI is still in the beginning stages as companies and customers continue to see what works best and AI companies continue to evolve into new, more efficient tools. Preston Junger believes that eventually, AI tools with staying power will surface and become a staple in the hospitality industry.

The Value of First Party Data - Data collection is vital to business, but Preston Junger says that having the control of the first party data, or data collected directly from the customer, is extremely important. First party data, according to Junger, helps businesses manage, prioritize, and build on customer engagement.

#podcast #interview #technology 

Episode Links

Connect with Preston Junger on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/prestonjunger/

Visit Preston Junger Website: https://preston-junger.mystrikingly.com/?

Follow Preston Junger on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pjunger/?hl=en

Visit Nift Online: https://www.gonift.com/

Visit Miles Square Labs Online: https://milesquarelabs.com/

ABOUT PRESTON JUNGER

With over two decades of experience in scaling high-growth companies, Preston Junger is recognized for turning early-stage ventures into market leaders. His career highlights include launching Yelp's first NYC office, growing revenue from $2MM to $700MM annually, and expanding teams from 80 to 4,000 employees. Preston has also secured significant investments, including an $80MM Series C led by SoftBank in 2022. 

Known for his strategic vision and innovation, Preston excels in enterprise sales, business development, and talent acquisition. He combines his expertise with a global perspective, making him a key player in international expansion and startup growth. Outside of work, Preston enjoys sports, travel, and staying up-to-date with emerging technologies.

Subscribe to Incentivio on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2Moho25817IAptekSS1NQJwx2AFLRBpW

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Serial entrepreneur Troy Hooper shared his insights on how businesses can improve customer acquisition, maximize the value of their tech tools, and better communicate their brand’s value on the latest episode of Data Delicacies hosted by Arun Kumar.

With a background in developing successful hospitality brands, Hooper brings a wealth of knowledge on creating lasting relationships with customers and running efficient operations. 

Key Takeaways

1. Building Community is Customer Acquisition - Customer acquisition can be a difficult, expensive process for businesses. For Troy Hooper, the acquisition can come from building a community and a fan base to both create a customer pool and foster customer retention.
2. Simplification and Collaboration - With so many tech options in business space, it can become a task to figure out a tech stack that performs harmoniously. Luckily, Troy Hooper believes that things are trending in a direction of universal fits between tech options. However, according to Hooper, it is important to simplify the operation to maximize the value of the tools being used for their optimal purposes.
3. How to Explain What You Do - Ask more than you tell. Troy Hooper points to that as the foundational approach to finding solutions for customer issues. To Troy, it is important to find the person who is most capable of discussing the companies value and it is the company’s responsibility to listen and find solutions specific to customer needs.

Episode Links

• Follow Troy Hooper on Instagram
• Follow Troy Hooper on TikTok
• Connect with Troy Hooper on LinkedIn
• Visit Pepper Lunch Website
• Follow Pepper Lunch Instagram

ABOUT TROY HOOPER

Troy Hooper is a dynamic leader with a passion for connecting with those he mentors, inspiring them to surpass their own expectations. His career is guided by a commitment to balancing the needs of his team, the guest experience, and business profitability. Hooper's professional accomplishments span diverse sectors, from elevating properties to a Platinum Club of America 5-Star Rating and AAA 4-Diamond status, to managing complex hospitality operations including fine dining, casual venues, and large-scale events. He has overseen property remodels, implemented successful membership drives, and managed Caribbean-based operations. A lifelong water enthusiast, Troy is also a Master Dive Instructor and USCG Captain, often found photographing underwater marvels.

ABOUT DATA DELICACIES

Data Delicacies is a weekly podcast that dives deep into the world of technology and data as it pertains to restaurants. Host Arun Kumar interviews some of the best and brightest in the industry about all things hospitality tech, artificial intelligence, and machine learning.

On a recent episode of Data Delicacies by Incentivio, hosted by Arun Kumar, i40 Group CMO Brandon Overstreet shared invaluable insights into the evolving role of data in the restaurant industry. Overstreet, known for his data-driven approach, discussed how restaurants can harness data not just to understand the present, but to predict the future and optimize growth strategies.

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Using Data to Predict the Future - Brandon Overstreet is an advocate for data and acquiring as much data as possible. Overstreet believes that data is not only a picture of what is happening in a restaurant, but a look into the future and a way to analyze costs.

Breaking through the Glass Ceiling of Stagnation - As the world changes and technology evolves, Brandon Overstreet believes that many database platforms are antiquated and insufficient for customer loyalty programs. To maintain growth, specifically financially, Overstreet believes companies need to work hard to find the next best company on the rise to work with.

Courageous Data Integration - Brandon Overstreet is a fan of the courageous pursuit of data. Then, having restaurants integrate that data into their business. However, Overstreet says it's best to use partners within the data cycle, and not try to go at it alone due to the amount of data there is to measure

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Episode Links:

• I40 Group Online
• Brandon Overstreet LinkedIn

ABOUT BRANDON OVERSTREET

Brandon Overstreet is an accomplished Chief Marketing Officer and Brand Strategist with over two decades of experience driving growth and innovation across a wide range of industries. He excels in crafting and implementing comprehensive marketing plans that boost brand visibility, engage consumers, and build loyal customer bases, all contributing to strong business results. His expertise in understanding consumer behavior, technology, and market dynamics allows him to design campaigns that connect with key audiences. Overstreet has a strong track record of transforming both static and emerging marketing departments into top-performing teams, fostering an environment of creative thinking, data-driven strategy, and accountability. His leadership has been pivotal in launching new products, rejuvenating established brands, and delivering substantial revenue growth. With a passion for data-informed marketing, Overstreet consistently pushes for innovation and stays ahead of industry trends. He holds a film degree from the University of Southern California.

ABOUT DATA DELICACIES—

Data Delicacies is a weekly podcast that dives deep into the world of technology and data as it pertains to restaurants. Host Arun Kumar interviews some of the best and brightest in the industry about all things hospitality tech, artificial intelligence, and machine learning.

Incentivio

• Subscribe to Incentivio on YouTube
• Subscribe to Data Delicacies on Spotify
• Subscribe to Data Delicacies onApple Podcasts
• Visit Incentivio Website
• Follow Incentivio on Instagram

Incentivio Co-Founder and COO, Sash Dias joins Arun Kumar on Data Delicacies to discuss the importance of clean data, how personalization is the next chapter for AI and the ways that Incentivio leverages data to create healthier businesses. 

1. The importance of having “clean” data - One of the first things that Sash and his fellow co-founders at Incentivio learned when starting the business is the importance of having clean, usable data. This data-driven approach helps restaurants increase guest retention, optimize operations, and personalize marketing, leveling the playing field with larger chains.
2. Is Personalization the Next Chapter in the AI Revolution? - AI has unlocked an incredible new world of possibilities for business owners and what that means for the future of marketing, Sash highlighted the importance of personalization at scale.
3. How Incentivio Helps Businesses Improve Through Data - Incentivio has followed the same north star for the last 10 years and that is to help businesses develop a data-driven approach to building a healthier, better business. 

• Connect with Sash Dias on LinkedIn
• Visit Incentivio website

About Sash Dias

Sash Dias has over 20 years of experience in the technology sector. Sash began their career in 1999 as a Systems Analyst at John Keells Computer Services pvt Ltd. In 2002, they became a Program Manager at Virtusa. In 2007, they joined Nadastra as a Program Manager, where they implemented a Program Management Office for a $16bn property management company and managed the ramp up of an operations center in Asia for a Fortune 500 company. In 2008, they moved to Aeturnum as the VP Engineering & Client Services and later as the Director Engineering & Client Services. In 2016, they became the Co Founder & Chief Operating Officer at Incentivio.

ABOUT DATA DELICACIES—

Data Delicacies is a weekly podcast that dives deep into the world of technology and data as it pertains to restaurants. Host Arun Kumar interviews some of the best and brightest in the industry about all things hospitality tech, artificial intelligence, and machine learning.

• Subscribe to Incentivio on YouTube
• Subscribe to Data Delicacies on Spotify
• Subscribe to Data Delicacies on Apple Podcasts
• Visit Incentivio Website
• Follow Incentivio on Instagram

Data Delicacies is produced by Incentivio in partnership with Cali BBQ Media

On the latest episode of Data Delicacies powered by Incentivio and hosted by Arun Kumar, Bryan Rutcofsky, co-founder and CRO of Marqii, shared valuable insights on the evolving digital landscape for businesses, particularly within the restaurant and hospitality industries. 

Takeaways:

1. Customer Feedback Matters - For Bryan Rutcofsky, customer feedback is a key cog to the decision making process of consumers. Marqii is able to dig deep into that data and give actionable steps to the establishments to address what is being said, positive or negative.
2. AI Power Personal Responses - Answering customer feedback is necessary, but can be tedious. Instead of programming canned, generic answers, Marquii is able to use AI to help businesses create genuine, specific responses to customers.
3. Being “Crawlable” - Being searchable and crawlable is important to a business in today’s digital landscape. In order for business to accomplish this, Rutcofsky says three things matter, location, relevance, and prominence.

Episode Links:

• Visit Marqii Website
• Follow Marqii on Instagram
• Subscribe to Marqii on YouTube
• Follow Marqii on LinkedIn
• Connect with Bryan Rutcofsky on LinkedIn

About Bryan Rutcofsky

Bryan Rutcofsky led sales at Yext from 2007 to 2017, beginning as VP of Sales for SMB and rising to SVP of Sales for Mid-market and Partnerships. During his tenure, he expanded the sales team to 140 members and helped generate nearly $100 million in revenue. Following his success at Yext, Bryan co-founded Marqii, where he now serves as CRO, providing software solutions for managing listings, menus, and reviews for the hospitality industry.

About Data Delicacies

Data Delicacies is a weekly podcast that dives deep into the world of technology and data as it pertains to restaurants. Host Arun Kumar interviews some of the best and brightest in the industry about all things hospitality tech, artificial intelligence, and machine learning.

• Subscribe to Incentivio on YouTube
• Subscribe to Data Delicacies on Spotify
• Subscribe to Data Delicacies onApple Podcasts
• Visit Incentivio Website
• Follow Incentivio on Instagram

Data Delicacies is produced by Cali BBQ Media and Incentivio

On this episode of the Data Delicacies podcast powered by Incentivio, co-founder of Stream, an online menu management platform, Brett Berman, sat down with host Arun Kumar to discuss the origins of Stream, the significance of customer loyalty, and the emerging role of AI in the restaurant industry. 

Stream Origin Story - Brett Berman knew he had to pivot on the backside of the pandemic shut down. Using the resources he had, he and his team quickly went to work to help restaurants differentiate themselves and created Stream. 

Creating Loyalty - For Brett Berman, loyalty is based on the customer experience. The better the experience, the higher chance of creating loyalty, but it is important for restaurants to have a way for customers to leave that feedback.

AI Usage in Restaurants - Artificial Intelligence is being used in almost all walks of life, and increasingly so in restaurants. However, Brett Berman believes that we are still in the very early stages of AI and machine learning and the possibilities of where AI can be applied are endless.

Episode Links:

Stream Online

Brett Berman LinkedIn

ABOUT STREAM

Stream is revolutionizing an industry dominated by manual processes by building scalable, automated solutions. It offers self-service tools that empower restaurants to manage their online menus and seamlessly integrate orders directly into their POS systems. Whether it's a small family-owned business or a multi-billion-dollar tech company, Stream's mission is to equip them with the technology, intuitive UI/UX, and innovative strategies needed to run their businesses more efficiently.

ABOUT DATA DELICACIES—

Data Delicacies is a weekly podcast that dives deep into the world of technology and data as it pertains to restaurants. Host Arun Kumar interviews some of the best and brightest in the industry about all things hospitality tech, artificial intelligence, and machine learning.

Data Delicacies on Spotify

Incentivio Online

Incentivio Instagram

Produced by Incentivio & Cali BBQ Media - https://www.incentivio.com/ | https://betheshow.media

Bill Lindsey, co-founder of COGS-well, shared valuable insights into how COGS-well helps restaurants optimize production, rebuild customer loyalty, and maintain a strong focus on hospitality on the latest episode of the Data Delicacies podcast powered by Incentivio.

Key Takeaways

Optimizing Production Efficiency - COGS-well optimizes production by using historical data to predict the future of company costs. In doing so, Lindsey says they help lower costs for their restaurant partners.

Rebuilding Customer Loyalty - There are valuable lessons that restaurants could have learned from the Pandemic. Now, post-pandemic, restaurants need to find ways to reengage customers and rebuild customer loyalty, which, when done correctly, Bill Lindsey says is absolute gold.

A Hospitality Business, Not a Tech Business - Bill Lindsey still believes in the value of hospitality. For him, it is important for COGS-well to treat their customers as well as the customer would treat their customers so that no disconnects are present.

Episode Links

• Bill Lindsey on Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bill-lindsey775/
• COGS-well Online: https://www.cogs-well.com/
• COGS-well on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cogs-well-llc/

About Data Delicacies

Data Delicacies is a weekly podcast that dives deep into the world of technology and data as it pertains to restaurants. Host Arun Kumar interviews some of the best and brightest in the industry about all things hospitality tech, artificial intelligence, and machine learning.

Data Delicacies on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/29ExS0n9X3Z3FyK4HuSPKH

Incentivio Online - https://www.incentivio.com/

Incentivio Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/incentivio/

Produced by Incentivio & Cali BBQ Media - https://www.incentivio.com/ | https://betheshow.media