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Welcome to this week’s episode of The Digital Restaurant Podcast! Carl is joined by special guest Olga Lopategui, a leading expert in restaurant loyalty and digital engagement, to break down the latest innovations shaping the restaurant industry.

⏱ [01:07] – Just Salad Gets $200M Investment

• What makes Just Salad’s tech stack unique?
• How will this funding impact digital transformation in restaurants?
• Will they use the investment for expansion, technology, or both?
  
  

⏱ [04:42] – Just Eat Takeaway’s Acquisition by Process

• What does this mean for global food delivery consolidation?
• How does it compare to previous acquisitions like Grubhub?
• Could DoorDash face challenges in global expansion?
  
  

⏱ [09:09] – The Digital Guest Experience & UX Innovation

• How should restaurant UI/UX evolve for better ordering?
• Why should apps customize the interface for individual users?
• What lessons can restaurants learn from brands like Taco Bell’s Veggie Mode?
  
  

⏱ [14:19] – What Are Digital Twins & Why Do They Matter?

• How do digital twins work in the restaurant industry?
• Can virtual simulations replace traditional prototype testing?
• How might predictive maintenance reduce restaurant downtime?
  
  Additional Paper here
  
  

⏱ [19:53] – Dutch Bros, Panda Express & Domino’s on Mobile Ordering

• How did Dutch Bros perfect their mobile app launch?
• What improvements are Panda and Domino’s making?
• Why is mobile ordering crucial for customer loyalty and convenience?

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Carl welcomes guest host Cijoy Olickal, a restaurant tech expert, to break down key industry trends.

🔹 2025 Restaurant Industry Outlook – $1.5T in sales, shifting consumer habits, tech’s impact on profitability, and labor challenges. Articles One, Two, and Three
🔹 Yum! Brands' Tech Strategy – Is building a proprietary tech stack the right move for a global franchise? Articles One and Two
🔹 Wonder’s Expansion – Mark Lore’s meal kit & marketplace strategy—how does it compare to DoorDash and Uber Eats? Articles One, Two, and Three
🔹 CPK’s Vending Machines – Can automated pizza machines change the game for restaurant growth? Article One
🔹 DoorDash’s Power Shift – With advertising revenue booming, is DoorDash now a marketing giant first, a delivery service second? Articles One, Two, and

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🚀 The Digital Restaurant Podcast - 100th Episode Special! 🎉

Welcome to a milestone episode of The Digital Restaurant! This is our 100th episode, and while it's a moment of celebration, it also comes with a bittersweet note—Meredith is off to Seattle to take on an exciting EVP role at Starbucks. We’ll miss her insights, but the show must go on!

In this episode, Carl Orsbourn takes the mic solo to explore the next evolution of restaurant and retail tech: moving beyond SaaS into holistic reasoning and AI-driven orchestration.

Key Topics Discussed:

✅ The Downside of SaaS & Siloed Systems
SaaS unlocked incredible capabilities for restaurants and retailers, but it also created fragmented systems that hinder efficiency. APIs were meant to solve this, yet they often fail to integrate seamlessly.

✅ The Need for Data Unification
APIs, when implemented, are usually linear and siloed. Carl explains why data unification is essential—moving from fragmented systems to a connected web of insights.

✅ AI Agents & Chain of Thought Reasoning
Businesses can’t rely on isolated software. The future lies in AI-driven models that adapt and learn. Carl explores Chain of Thought (CoT) Reasoning, which threads insights across departments, bridging silos and improving decision-making.

✅ What Amazon’s 2002 API Mandate Teaches Us
Carl discusses Jeff Bezos’ API mandate, which forced Amazon to break down silos and create an interconnected platform. This move helped Amazon become an AI-driven powerhouse—a model businesses should consider.

✅ Real-World Use Cases
AI-driven orchestration can transform demand forecasting, merchandising, supply chains, and personalization. Imagine:

• Localized marketing & staffing auto-adjusted in real-time.
• Retail shelving resets triggered by AI-detected sales patterns.
• Hotels personalizing guest experiences dynamically.

✅ The Urgency of Fixing Data Quality First
Carl shares a key quote from Invisible’s CEO:
"When great AI meets bad data, the data always wins."
With only 8% of AI models making it to production, clean data, model training, and continuous learning are essential.

🔮 The Future: From SaaS to Model-Driven Innovation
Companies waiting for SaaS integrations will be left behind. The winners will be those shifting toward AI agents that dynamically align decisions with business goals.

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On today's episode of The Digital Restaurant, we dive into bold predictions for the year ahead, including the rise of Indian cuisine in delivery, the growing role of automated restaurant technology, and speculation on potential acquisitions and IPOs in the year ahead. We also reflect on last year’s forecasts to see how they held up. 

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🔔 Subscribe to The Digital Restaurant Podcast and follow us on YouTube for more episodes that combine the love of food with the latest in technology. Your next restaurant tech adventure starts here!

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This episode of The Digital Restaurant features Tony Illes, founder of Tony Delivers, a new food delivery service disrupting the Seattle market. The conversation delves into the impact of Seattle’s “Pay Up” legislation, which has reshaped the food delivery landscape, reducing delivery volumes for platforms like DoorDash and Uber Eats. Tony shares his journey from a side hustle as a delivery driver to creating a business aimed at empowering drivers and improving customer experiences.

Key Discussion Points:

 • Origins of Tony Delivers: Tony describes his entrepreneurial journey, inspired by dissatisfaction with existing platforms and conversations with friends. He highlights the importance of empowering drivers to run independent businesses.

 • Impact of Pay Up Legislation: The ordinance significantly reduced delivery volumes, driving up prices and prompting customers to shift to pickup.

 • Empowerment Model: Tony Delivers aims to give drivers autonomy, allowing them to innovate and deliver via any means they choose. It contrasts with traditional platforms that control economic terms.

 • Challenges and Growth: Tony outlines his app development, challenges in competing with established marketplaces, and his vision to disrupt the delivery model by cutting overhead and focusing on fairness.

 • Future Goals: Tony aspires to redefine the delivery ecosystem, integrating logistics beyond food delivery, and fostering trust among customers, drivers, and restaurants.

The episode highlights Tony’s unique approach to the delivery space, emphasizing autonomy and fairness over profit maximization, and positions him as a rising innovator in a highly competitive industry.

Support Tony through his GoFund me page here: https://gofund.me/74e92b46

Support the show

🔔 Subscribe to The Digital Restaurant Podcast and follow us on YouTube for more episodes that combine the love of food with the latest in technology. Your next restaurant tech adventure starts here!

📖 Get your copy of the Delivering the Digital Restaurant books at www.theDigital.Restaurant

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In this festive episode, Carl and Meredith explore five transformative trends in the restaurant industry as we wrap up 2024. They kick things off by discussing how personalization is finally becoming a reality for big brands like McDonald’s and Yum! Brands, leveraging data to craft tailored offers for customers. The conversation then moves to the latest Toast Trend Report, revealing intriguing shifts in dining habits, such as the growing popularity of early-week and same-day reservations, reshaping how restaurants plan and operate.

The discussion continues with DoorDash's proactive efforts to tackle fake Dasher accounts, a move with wide-ranging implications for delivery costs and gig economy efficiency. They also highlight Fresho, an Australian startup revolutionizing the wholesale food supply chain with a $17M funding boost. Finally, the hosts examine how smart technology is integrating with restaurant operations, from POS-connected kitchen equipment to predictive maintenance tools. This episode is packed with insights into how innovation is driving change across the industry.

Support the show

🔔 Subscribe to The Digital Restaurant Podcast and follow us on YouTube for more episodes that combine the love of food with the latest in technology. Your next restaurant tech adventure starts here!

📖 Get your copy of the Delivering the Digital Restaurant books at www.theDigital.Restaurant

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In this episode of The Digital Restaurant, Carl and Meredith dive into the hottest topics shaping the future of the restaurant industry. From Touch Bistro’s bold 2025 State of Restaurants Report to the resurgence of ghost kitchens, the conversation explores how technology and innovation are redefining dining trends. The duo breaks down why AI adoption is critical for restaurants of all sizes and examines the latest advancements in electric kitchen technology, including the intriguing concept of battery-powered stoves. Wrapping up the episode, they explore how Google Maps’ AI-driven enhancements are revolutionizing restaurant discovery and customer engagement.

Packed with insights and actionable takeaways, this discussion is a must-watch for restaurant operators, tech enthusiasts, and anyone curious about the future of dining. Don’t forget to share your thoughts in the comments—whether it’s about ghost kitchens, AI tools, or your views on the electrification of kitchens. Subscribe for more episodes packed with expert insights, and check out the links in the description to dive deeper into the topics discussed!

Timestamp:
0:00 Introduction
02:00 Touch Bistro Restaurants 2025
09:00 Will Ghost Kitchens Make a Comeback? Or Evolove into Software?
12:00 Are Restaurants Ready to Lead with AI?
19:00 Should your next stove have a battery?
22:00 Google Shatters Expectations for Restaurant Discovery
26:00 Closing remarks

Articles mentioned:
1. Touch Bistro Restaurants 2025 https://bit.ly/3LGeVWs

2. Will Ghost Kitchens Make a Comeback? Or Evolve into Software https://bit.ly/3FwLn42
UrbanPiper Aims 10x Growth in US Market: https://bit.ly/3YjvGV8

3. Are Restaurants Ready to Lead with AI?https://bit.ly/3Fa7kbW
How Yum Brands Serves Up Digital Innovation: https://bit.ly/3LY8bpK
Even Mom-and-Pops Are Investing in Artificial Intelligence: https://bit.ly/3YGoeOf

4. Should Your Next Stove Have a Battery? https://bit.ly/3M7s3O2

5. Google Maps Will Use AI to Answer Questions About New Restaurants: https://bit.ly/3M75Qpd

Support the show

🔔 Subscribe to The Digital Restaurant Podcast and follow us on YouTube for more episodes that combine the love of food with the latest in technology. Your next restaurant tech adventure starts here!

📖 Get your copy of the Delivering the Digital Restaurant books at www.theDigital.Restaurant

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In this episode of the Digital Restaurant Podcast, we dive into several key industry trends and developments. We discuss Wonder's surprising acquisition of Grubhub at a steep 91% discount, exploring how this deal could bolster Wonder's vision of a "super app" for mealtime. The conversation shifts to the growing impact of Ozempic on the restaurant industry, with discussions around how reduced appetites might affect dining behaviors and prompt restaurants to rethink menu offerings. We also tackle the challenges CFOs face in financing restaurant tech, as the industry grapples with the high costs and benefits of tech investments. We touch on the rising trend of self-ordering kiosks, exemplified by chains like Bojangles and Shake Shack, and the potential for loyalty integration. Finally, we explore Serve's acquisition of Vebu, marking a potential shift toward a consolidation of automation technologies in the restaurant space

Timestamp:
00:01:14 Wondering why Wonder grabbed Grubhub?
00:05:44 What does Ozempic mean for restaurants?
00:09:4 RFDC Highlights: Financing Technology
00:13:52 More evidence to show that kiosks were the tech to have in 2024
00:17:03 Serve Buys Autocado

Articles mentioned in the video:
Wonder Grabbing Grubhub
Wonder Acquiring Grubhub - Restaurant Business Online
https://bit.ly/3sbsD4f

Wonder Buys Grubhub for a Stunning Discount - IB Times
https://bit.ly/45n1q6h

Wonder Grabs Grubhub: WSJ
https://bit.ly/45n57X4
-
What Ozempic Means for Restaurants
Ozempic's Impact on Restaurants - Franchise Times
https://bit.ly/45n0SoI
-
Financing Technology in Restaurants
Restaurant CFOs Embrace Technology - Franchise Times
https://bit.ly/45lFy6I
-
Kiosks as a Key Tech Trend in 2024
Bojangles and Grubbrr Installing Kiosks - Restaurant Dive
https://bit.ly/45mf9l4
-
Serve Robotics Buys Vebu (Autocado)
Serve Robotics Buys Vebu - Restaurant Dive
https://bit.ly/45n5aM2

Support the show

🔔 Subscribe to The Digital Restaurant Podcast and follow us on YouTube for more episodes that combine the love of food with the latest in technology. Your next restaurant tech adventure starts here!

📖 Get your copy of the Delivering the Digital Restaurant books at www.theDigital.Restaurant

🎤 Have Carl come and speak at your company conference! Learn more at www.theDigital.Restaurant

🎙️📰Please subscribe to our newsletter and connect with Carl's Delivering the Digital Restaurant page on LinkedIn for their twice-a-month newsletter.

Send us a text

Support the show

🔔 Subscribe to The Digital Restaurant Podcast and follow us on YouTube for more episodes that combine the love of food with the latest in technology. Your next restaurant tech adventure starts here!

📖 Get your copy of the Delivering the Digital Restaurant books at www.theDigital.Restaurant

🎤 Have Carl come and speak at your company conference! Learn more at www.theDigital.Restaurant

🎙️📰Please subscribe to our newsletter and connect with Carl's Delivering the Digital Restaurant page on LinkedIn for their twice-a-month newsletter.

Send us a text

Articles mentioned in the video:

1. DoorDash and Toast are quietly becoming Shopify
2. Related Article: DoorDash Debuts Commerce Platform, Mobile App Support for Merchants
   
   
3. Instacart is likewise wrapping around its B&M clients
   Related Articles: Instacart focuses on diversifying tech, brand partners to fuel growth
   Instacart adds games, personalized coupons to its smart carts

4. Supply chain AI supporting Wendy's & Chipotle
Related Article: Supply chain AI supporting Wendy's
5. Lists - finally!

Support the show

🔔 Subscribe to The Digital Restaurant Podcast and follow us on YouTube for more episodes that combine the love of food with the latest in technology. Your next restaurant tech adventure starts here!

📖 Get your copy of the Delivering the Digital Restaurant books at www.theDigital.Restaurant

🎤 Have Carl come and speak at your company conference! Learn more at www.theDigital.Restaurant

🎙️📰Please subscribe to our newsletter and connect with Carl's Delivering the Digital Restaurant page on LinkedIn for their twice-a-month newsletter.