In this episode of Data Delicacies, host Arun Kumar sits down with Jason Valentine, Strategy Officer at Botrista, to explore the latest trends reshaping hospitality and technology. With years of experience and a finger on the pulse of the industry, Jason shares insights from his extensive travels and offers a front-row seat to the transformative changes impacting multiple sectors. Whether you're in hospitality, tech, or just love learning about innovation, this episode delivers an engaging and insightful conversation you won't want to miss.

Key Takeaways -

1. The Efficency of Automation - Botrista’s drinkbot revolutionizes beverage operations by offering a wide variety of drinks, like smoothies, cocktails, and Boba tea, all within just 4 ½ square feet. It replaces 12 traditional machines, allowing restaurants to expand their offerings without additional space or labor. This automation boosts efficiency, ensures consistency, and drives sales growth for partner brands.
2. The Bar for Automation and Robotics - The success of any automation depends on employee acceptance and usability. Jason’s visits to multiple locations showed that Botrista’s drinkbot excels in ease of use and quality, earning positive feedback from staff. Automation that prioritizes user satisfaction is essential for long-term adoption and scalability.
3. Making Automation at Scale - Botrista refined its drinkbot by balancing automation with practical scalability, adding a simple manual step to overcome early challenges. This adjustment kept the technology efficient and economically viable for widespread adoption. Successful automation must combine innovation with operational feasibility to scale effectively.

Episode Links

• Connect with Jason Valentine on LinkedIn
• Visit Botrista Online
• Follow Botrista on Facebook
• Subscribe to Botrista on YouTube
• Follow Botrista on Instagram
• Connect with Botrista on LinkedIn

ABOUT JASON VALENTINE

Chief Strategy Officer Jason Valentine brings more than 25 years of experience in the restaurant industry, including leadership on both Franchisee and Franchisor sides. Most recently, he was President of the national brand Zoup! Eatery and completed a successful acquisition plan. Valentine has been listed on Restaurant Business News' Power 20 list and has been a featured speaker at the Restaurant Leadership Conference and the Fast Casual Executive Summit.

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
• Listen to Data Delicacies on Apple
• Visit Incentivio Online
• Connect with Incentivio on LinkedIn
• Follow Incentivio on Instagram
• Connect with Arun on LinkedIn

Produced by Incentivio & Cali BBQ Media