Restaurant AI

In this episode of the Restaurant AI Podcast, host Matt Wampler, Co-Founder and CEO of ClearCOGS, sits down with Avi Goren, Co-Founder and CEO of Marqii — a leading platform helping restaurants manage their digital presence and reputation. Together, they unpack how AI and automation are reshaping discoverability in hospitality, from SEO and generative search to the role of accurate listings, reviews, and menus across every online channel.

Avi shares insights from Marqii’s latest research showing where AI chatbots like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity pull restaurant data, why consistency across listings still drives local SEO, and how AI-powered review responses can enhance guest engagement without losing the human touch. The conversation explores open vs. closed systems, the future of restaurant tech consolidation, and why true digital hospitality means blending technology with authenticity.

Throughout, Avi emphasizes that while AI can streamline and scale a brand’s online presence, great restaurants — and great technology partners — always lead with hospitality.

Episode Links:

Visit Marqii online: https://www.marqii.com/

Connect with Avi on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/avigoren

Visit ClearCOGS online: https://www.clearcogs.com/

Connect with Matt on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewjwampler

00:00 Intro

01:18 Welcome, Avi Goren!

02:10 The Foundations of Being Found Online

05:15 The Problem with Inconsistent Menus Across Platforms

07:10 Marqii’s Role in Unifying Digital Presence

08:18 “Best” Searches and Review Scores in Google

09:55 Using Reviews to Improve Search Visibility

10:55 How Generative AI Search (ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity) Works

10:31 What AI Chatbots Pull From: Listings vs. Websites vs. Reviews

12:15 Why Listings and Websites Still Matter Most

14:51 Inputs and Outputs: Social Media vs. Foundational SEO

17:45 What AI Weighs More Than Traditional SEO

20:02 Open vs. Closed Search Systems Explained

20:36 Social Media Strategy: The Lottery Ticket Analogy

22:09 Authenticity, Reviews, and Real Restaurant Success

23:11 Can AI Help Us Find Hidden Gems Like Small BBQ Spots?

26:16 How to Influence Reviews Without “Faking” It

27:44 Why You Should Mention LTOs in Review Replies

29:14 How Marqii Uses Claude AI to Automate Review Responses

33:24 Writing Prompts and Maintaining Brand Voice

34:48 How Marqii Scales Customization for 20,000+ Restaurants

38:09 Will Real Human Touch Still Matter in a Digital World?

42:52 How COVID Changed Restaurant Tech Priorities

46:33 Why Open APIs and Integrations Are the Future

48:20 Collaboration Over Competition in Restaurant Tech

49:27 What Drove Marqii’s Growth to 20,000 Restaurants

53:25 The Turning Point: From Three Employees to 55+

54:53 Rebuilding Marqii’s Product for Customization

55:55 Staying Focused on Hospitality, Not Just Tech

57:52 What Keeps Avi Up at Night: Staying Ahead of the Industry

58:56 Where the Puck Is Going: Marqii’s Roadmap

59:30 AI Analytics, Data Insights & the Future of Discoverability

1:00:45 Closing Thoughts: Human Hospitality in a Digital Age

Show notes and full episode: https://www.clearcogs.com/podcasts/how-restaurants-get-found-online-in-2025-ai-local-seo-and-the-death-of-traditional-search/

In this episode of the Restaurant AI Podcast, hosts Matt Wampler, Co-Founder and CEO of ClearCOGS, sits down with professional racing driver and entrepreneur Jacob “Jake” Williamson, Co-Founder of GP Lab Motorsport and owner of multiple businesses spanning motorsports, catering, and more. Together, they explore the fascinating overlap between data-driven decision-making and instinct — from how predictive analytics shape Formula racing to how gut feel still defines performance behind the wheel.

Jake shares how simulators, telemetry, and AI eye-tracking are transforming driver training and how lessons from the racetrack apply to running small businesses. The conversation dives into the evolution of motorsport accessibility, the power of content and storytelling in modern team building, and what AI-driven coaching could look like in the near future.

Throughout, Jake emphasizes that while technology can predict, measure, and refine performance, true excellence still comes from human intuition, preparation, and the relentless drive to push beyond what the data says is possible.

Episode Links:

00:00 Intro

01:41 Welcome, Jacob Williamson!

02:00 F1 as predictive analytics

04:38 Talent vs training

07:22 Risk taking, simulators and AI vision training

13:00 How data prepares drivers

16:52 Driver skill vs car quality

20:30 Analyzing data in real-time

22:33 Transition from race car driver to business owner

25:57 GP Lab Motorsports

30:34 Sponsorships, media and the Drive to Survive effect

34:05 From flying to racing

36:38 Social media strategy for racing teams

39:07 Making motorsports accessible

43:54 AI and the future of food service

48:00 Mental capacity training and proactive thinking

50:34 Analytics vs instinct on the track

53:28 AI's influence on workflows

56:13 AI's impact on the future of racing

57:55 Democratizing talent discovery

59:51 The draw of racing

1:08:03 What to know about sponsoring a race car

1:11:32 Outro

Show notes and full episode: https://www.clearcogs.com/podcasts/pro-racing-driver-reveals-how-ai-and-data-analytics-are-revolutionizing-motorsports-and-what-restaurants-can-learn/

In this episode of the Restaurant AI Podcast, hosts Matt Wampler, Co-Founder and CEO of ClearCOGS, and Erin Levzow, an award-winning marketing innovator whose career spans brands like Wingstop, Del Taco, and the Museum of Ice Cream, dive deep into how AI and data are redefining restaurant marketing.

From her start in Las Vegas casinos to leading marketing for national restaurant brands, Erin shares how hospitality’s most competitive environments taught her to think like a technologist. She explains how restaurants can move beyond segmentation to true one-to-one marketing, where every guest interaction is informed by behavior, timing, and intent.

The discussion unpacks the rise of AI-powered multivariable testing, the importance of storytelling and emotional intelligence in modern marketing, and how women in leadership bring fresh perspective to brand strategy. Erin and Matt also explore the ethics of automation, the future of voice AI in drive-thrus, and why every modern CMO must be part data scientist, part storyteller.

Throughout, Erin emphasizes one key message: technology will keep changing but continuous learning, authenticity, and empathy will always drive the most meaningful connections between brands and guests.

00:00 Intro

01:30 Welcome, Erin Levzow!

02:00 Marketing - Then and now

07:55 The future of marketing

09:50 Marketing as a franchisee

12:17 Maximizing the capabilities of restaurant marketing

14:20 Personalization

15:39 AI in restaurant marketing

17:32 AI for multivariable testing

20:26 Know the story you’re telling

23:35 Women in marketing

24:55 The new generation of marketers

26:22 The Mecca of marketing

29:38 “The jam study”

32:00 The danger of turning AI loose

37:40 AI's impact on the restaurant industry

42:00 AI's Role in Marketing and Customer Interaction

47:20 Tech consolidation

50:55 Data-focused approach and future-thinking

52:20 Byte-Sized & Bossy podcast

1:01:00 Advice for aspiring female executives

1:03:35 Authenticity in the workplace

1:08:34 Why aren't there more women founders?

1:10:30 Manifesting confidence

1:12:50 Take the risk

1:16:14 Outro

Show notes and full episode: https://www.clearcogs.com/podcasts/data-ai-and-women-leading-change-restaurant-technology-done-right/

In this episode of the Restaurant AI Podcast, hosts Matt Wampler, Co-Founder and CEO of ClearCOGS, and Erin Levzow, a trailblazing marketing leader in hospitality and tech, explore how AI and technology are reshaping restaurant marketing.

They dive into the growing trend of tech consolidation, the evolution of AI’s role in marketing, and why personalization is now non-negotiable for brands that want to stand out. Erin shares how women in leadership bring unique perspectives to modern marketing and how data-driven insights are helping restaurants catch up to analytics standards seen in other industries.

The conversation also tackles the push-and-pull between corporate and franchisee marketing, the rise of AI-powered multivariable testing, and the importance of ethical decision-making as AI becomes more embedded in marketing strategy. Throughout, Matt and Erin emphasize that continuous learning is the only way to stay ahead in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.

Episode Links: 

00:00 Intro

01:30 AI's impact on the restaurant industry

07:00 AI's Role in Marketing and Customer Interaction

11:30 Tech consolidation

14:48 Data-focused approach and future-thinking

17:10 Bite-Sized & Bossy podcast

In this episode of the Restaurant AI Podcast, Matt Wampler, Co-Founder and CEO of ClearCOGS, sits down with Phil Crawford, Global Head of Food and Beverage at Adyen. Known for his leadership at Shake Shack and CKE before moving into fintech, Phil shares why he made the jump from running restaurant tech to rethinking payments on a global scale.

00:00 Intro

01:55 Welcome, Phil Crawford

04:42 How payments have changed

09:41 How data affects customer retention

13:36 Aligning digital, marketing and IT teams

18:47 Viewing AI as a large organization vs an emerging brand

23:40 AI can write code more efficiently than humans

24:45 Planning your tech stack for an uncertain future

28:55 Maturity of the concept is more important than the size

32:13 Outcomes-based pricing

39:22 The third & fourth waves of AI

49:20 Restaurant brands entering technology space

53:20 Biggest strategic technology mistake

56:25 Utilizing Ai as opportunistic vs strategic

1:02:11 Advice AI strategy

1:03:53 Personal AI tips

1:05:15 Outro

Show notes and full episode: https://www.clearcogs.com/podcasts/from-restaurant-cto-to-payments-innovation-ai-strategy-tech-stack-evolution-and-the-future-of-hospitality-technology/

In this episode of the Restaurant AI Podcast, Matt Wampler, Co-Founder and CEO of ClearCOGS, sits down with Bill Lindsey, Partner and Co-Founder of COGS-Well. Bill’s journey started as a dishwasher at Farrell’s Ice Cream and took him through the Las Vegas Strip—where he learned operations on casino floors, lived through federal raids at the Stardust, and watched “learned intelligence” evolve into the systems we now call AI.

Show notes and full episode: https://www.clearcogs.com/podcasts/why-restaurant-ai-is-failing-and-where-its-actually-workingwhat-dealing-craps-in-vegas-taught-me-about-restaurant-technologywhy-restaurant-ai-is-failing-and-where-its-actually-working/

In this episode of the Restaurant AI Podcast, Matt Wampler, Co-Founder and CEO of ClearCOGS, sits down with Joe Guszkowski, Senior Editor at Restaurant Business. With years of experience reporting on the industry’s biggest shifts, Joe offers a journalist’s perspective on how artificial intelligence is reshaping restaurants—from the back office to the front of house.

He unpacks where AI is making a real difference today, the challenges operators face in separating hype from practical value, and why thoughtful adoption will be key to long-term success. Joe also discusses the human side of AI: how technology can enhance creativity, empower teams, and allow restaurants to better tell their own stories in a crowded marketplace.

This conversation is both a reality check and a roadmap—showing how operators, technologists, and storytellers can work together to ensure AI strengthens the restaurant experience rather than diluting it.

Episode Links:

00:00 Intro

01:30 Restaurant Business' new podcast series on AI

05:00 The people behind the technology

07:00 Democratizing AI

13:41 Restaurant technology is fashion

16:07 AI technology is iterative

20:45 The AI drive-thru

24:40 Restaurant technology moves too slow

30:40 Predictive analytics

33:38 Embracing AI technology in restaurants

37:33 How AI gets implemented

42:00 The benefits of AI to restaurant owners

48:18 Creating a more sustainable industry

51:08 Franchisor benefits from higher prices

53:00 The next 5-10 years

57:38 AI capabilities

1:00:40 Restaurant reporting

1:02:51 The business of restaurants

1:06:11 Outro

Show notes and full episode: https://www.clearcogs.com/podcasts/why-restaurant-ai-is-failing-and-where-its-actually-working/

In this episode of the Restaurant AI Podcast, Matt Wampler, Co-Founder and CEO of ClearCOGS, welcomes Troy Hooper, CEO of Hot Palette America and Pepper Lunch. With a career spanning three decades across kitchens, consulting, and global brand leadership, Troy offers a masterclass in how to scale an international concept without losing its soul.

He shares the lessons learned from guiding Pepper Lunch’s North American expansion, where authenticity is the North Star, franchisees are true partners in innovation, and technology is leveraged to strengthen—not replace—the human connection. From rethinking loyalty beyond points, to using data-driven engagement that still “acts like a human,” Troy reveals how Pepper Lunch is combining modern tools with timeless hospitality values.

Pepper Lunch’s story illustrates a broader blueprint for the industry: scale rooted in cultural integrity, collaboration as a growth engine, and guest experiences designed to surprise and endure.

Episode Links:

00:00 Intro

01:26 Welcome Troy Hooper

04:09 Troy's background and pivoting to the restaurant industry

13:33 The purpose of restaurant turnarounds

14:40 Restaurants struggling to stay current

15:40 Hunger for development

17:04 The franchise system

19:10 What makes a good consultant

25:35 The value of social media to the consulting world

30:17 Restaurants are. a family

32:37 Signing the right operator

35:33 Pepper Lunch

44:27 People crave authenticity

46:45 Restaurant kiosks and technology

53:05 The truth about loyalty programs

57:52 Every stakeholder has a voice

1:03:16 Innovative restaurant technology

1:05:48 First thing we bring you is a smile

1:08:15 The role of AI in restaurant hospitality

1:23:10 Outro

Show notes and full episode: https://www.clearcogs.com/podcasts/pepper-lunch-ceo-ai-and-authentic-hospitality-in-japanese-fast-casual/

In this episode of the Restaurant AI Podcast, Matt Wampler, Co-Founder and CEO of ClearCOGS, sits down with Campbell Brown, Co-Founder and CEO of PredictHQ, to explore how artificial intelligence and real-world event data are transforming restaurant forecasting and operations.

- Follow PredictHQ on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/predicthq

- Connect with Matt on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewjwampler

- Visit ClearCOGS: https://www.clearcogs.com/

01:41 Welcome, Campbell Brown!

02:00 The Taylor Swift Effect

04:00 The major categories of PredictHQ

05:02 The origin of PredictHQ

09:21 PredictHQ's first customer

11:00 Taking on Google early on

12:55 Getting the right data is a battle itself

14:15 Retail forecasting

17:00 Explaining the business of foresight

18:30 One-off events and their impact

21:20 The benefits of foresight for the restaurant industry

22:20 Operationalizing data forecasting

24:54 Getting customers the right data

28:13 Prescriptive analytics

31:10 What it takes to build PredictHQ

33:46 The new events impacting demand

34:29 Weird events that impact demand

35:50 How much of demand can be explained

37:40 The operator's impact

40:15 PredictHQ vs LLM's

45:09 The difficulty in gathering data

46:52 Implementing data forecasting from the customer side

48:23 External features

50:34 Utilization and management

53:57 The future of PredictHQ

55:37 Real world AI

1:00:04 Why data forecasting is inevitable

1:01:54 Outro

Show notes and full episode: https://www.clearcogs.com/podcasts/how-events-generate-5-5m-in-restaurant-sales-the-taylor-swift-effect-real-world-forecasting/

In this episode of the Restaurant AI Podcast, Matt Wampler, CEO and Co-Founder of ClearCOGS, sits down with Carl Orsbourn, Co-Author of Delivering the Digital Restaurant, Host, The Digital Restaurant Podcast, SVP, Invisible AI, to explore how artificial intelligence and digital transformation are reshaping the restaurant industry.

Show notes and full episode: https://www.clearcogs.com/podcasts/why-85-of-restaurant-ai-projects-fail-and-how-to-beat-the-odds/