November 25, 2025

Rising Tides Live – Solving the ‘Last Mile’ Problem in Restaurant Tech

50 minutes

Jason E. Brooks steps in this week for Shawn Walchef as he leads a deep conversation about one of the most overlooked challenges in hospitality tech: the last mile. A keynote speaker, longtime operator, and industry veteran, Jason breaks down why tools that look perfect in a demo often struggle once they hit the chaos of real operations. He explores the gap between idea and execution, the friction points that derail adoption, and the misunderstandings that operators and tech builders often have about each other.

Interview Takeaways:

The Last Mile Determines Success – Most tech looks perfect in a demo, but real adoption happens in the walk-in, the expo line, and the Saturday night rush. The gap between idea and execution is where tools either thrive or die.

Operators and Tech Builders Need Shared Understanding – Both sides experience frustration. Operators face chaos and turnover, while builders know their product solves a real problem. Bridging the misunderstandings between them is essential for consistent use.

Adoption Requires Ongoing Support, Not Just Onboarding – The first 30 to 90 days matter most. Training, follow-up, small friction fixes, and regular check-ins are what turn a solution from “new tool” into “part of the workflow.”

Episode Links:

Cali BBQ Media: https://content.calibbq.media/

Join Our Next Show: https://betheshow.media/rising-tides/

Shawn Walchef on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shawnpwalchef/

Jason E. Brooks: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-e-brooks/

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