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Can technology enhance your dining experience, or is it slowly eroding the personal touch that makes dining special? Join us as we dissect Pete Wells' provocative retirement essay and engage in a lively debate between Meredith and Carl on whether technological innovations like kiosks and mobile ordering are a blessing or a curse for the hospitality and restaurant industry. While Wells laments the loss of personal interaction, Meredith counters with compelling arguments on the efficiency and satisfaction that technology brings to fast food and casual dining. Drawing insights from our book "Delivering the Digital Restaurant," we delve into the generational shift towards digital preferences and how modern diners are redefining the dining landscape.

Beyond the dining room, we delve into the financial dynamics between restaurants and delivery platforms like DoorDash and Uber. Learn how restaurants might be inadvertently funding these platforms through merchant-funded promotions and the broader implications of this trend. We also explore the groundbreaking potential of reinforcement learning in AI, revealing how it can elevate customer experiences, streamline operations, and drive future growth. Amidst mixed economic forecasts, there's a tech-driven transformation underway in the restaurant sector—tune in to discover how these advancements are reshaping your dining experience and the industry as a whole.

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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!

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

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How would your restaurant handle a massive global outage affecting millions of devices and services? On this episode of the Digital Restaurant, we dissect the recent CrowdStrike crisis, shedding light on how it exposed critical vulnerabilities across various industries, including restaurants. Learn how businesses like Starbucks took a proactive approach to turn a negative situation into a customer win by offering free coffee during the outages. We'll equip you with actionable strategies to prepare for IT failures, ensure vendor and system redundancy, and maintain robust communication to support your customers during such disruptions.

Next, we dive into California's Prop 22 and its significant impact on gig workers and companies like Uber, Lyft, and DoorDash. Discover the legislative complexities and what this means for the future of the gig economy. We also spotlight Bojangles' cutting-edge AI, Bo Linder, revolutionizing drive-thru service, and explore its potential future applications. Finally, we examine New York's Restaurant Reservation Anti-Piracy Act and its implications for the dining industry. Hear about the measures being implemented by restaurants and reservation platforms to combat unauthorized reservation sales and what this could mean for your next dining experience. Don't miss this comprehensive discussion that ties back to our book series, Delivering the Digital Restaurant.

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.

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What if a new law could make your favorite takeout significantly more expensive? Join us on this week's The Digital Restaurant as we unravel the profound impacts of Seattle's new delivery driver wage laws on local eateries. You'll uncover how a $26.40 minimum wage and additional mileage fees have led platforms like DoorDash and Uber Eats to impose a $5 surcharge, slashing delivery demand by half. We explore how restaurants like Bok Bok Fried Chicken and Biscuits are tackling these challenges head-on by creating their own delivery services to manage costs and enhance customer experiences. Plus, we dive into the broader implications of similar laws across the U.S., revealing the uncomfortable truth about consumer benefits from low driver wages.

Peek behind the curtain of restaurant management as we weigh the benefits of employing W-2 hourly drivers versus 1099 gig workers. Learn why maintaining visibility on third-party marketplaces remains crucial, even when handling deliveries in-house. We also introduce you to the exciting world of dashboard dining through Maviio's On my Way platform, which promises to revolutionize pickup orders. Finally, see how Kura Sushi leverages cutting-edge automation to stay competitive amidst soaring labor costs and shifting consumer behaviors. Discover how effective marketing can make all the difference in communicating their value proposition without resorting to heavy discounts. Don't miss this insightful episode that navigates the future of restaurant delivery and the technologies shaping it.

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

What if the restaurant industry isn't just facing a temporary downturn, but a fundamental shift in how it operates? Join us on this thought-provoking episode of The Digital Restaurant as we scrutinize Technomic's bearish forecast for 2024, digging into the reasons behind sluggish traffic and rising price sensitivity among consumers. Discover how cutting-edge technology helps us track these trends in real-time yet surprisingly hasn't managed to slash operational costs. We also bring you fresh insights from Inciso's latest report, capturing the thoughts of IT and digital e-commerce professionals across various restaurant segments on the future of the industry.

In the second part of our episode, we turn the spotlight on McDonald's recent pause in its partnership with IBM for voice AI in drive-thrus. Could this signal a shift in how fast food giants approach technology? We share personal experiences and insights about voice AI, comparing McDonald's approach with Taco Bell's successful implementation. Additionally, we explore the strategic use of music in restaurants, examining how different tempos influence customer behavior and reinforce brand identity with real-world examples from industry leaders like McDonald's and Starbucks. Don't miss this engaging conversation that ties together technology, consumer behavior, and the evolving landscape of the restaurant world.

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.

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What happens when two industry giants like Amazon and Grubhub join forces? This episode unpacks the latest integration that allows Amazon customers to order directly from Grubhub via Amazon's platform. We'll explore the ripple effects this move could have on competitors like DoorDash and Uber Eats, and speculate on further collaborations that might completely reshape the food delivery landscape. Amazon's increased stake in Grubhub is a game-changer, and we dissect the benefits for restaurants and Prime members, as well as consider the ever-growing importance of subscription services in today's market. 

Consumer insights researcher Lisa Miller joins us to shed light on the declining trend of delivery services, especially in the full-service restaurant sector, attributing this drop to rising fees and quality issues. We also discuss the potential shift from QR codes to NFC technology for a smoother dining experience and delve into the skepticism surrounding lab-grown meat. Survey findings from YouGov show a significant hesitation among consumers to embrace lab-grown meat, and we analyze how education, branding, and positive messaging can shift public opinion. Tune in for a comprehensive look at the future of restaurant technology and evolving consumer preferences.

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.

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Discover the future of eating out without stepping foot outside your door as Meredith and I slice into the digital dining revolution. We kick off with the surprisingly sophisticated world of pizza trackers, examining whether these real-time updates truly enhance customer satisfaction or if they're just a tech gimmick. But it's not all about the tracking – we also sink our teeth into the heated debate surrounding junk fees in the restaurant industry. How will new legislation impact those extra charges tacked onto your meal by delivery platforms? And what's cooking at McDonald's with their digital marketing fund? We serve up fresh insights as we tour the National Restaurant Show, revealing a trend toward tech that delivers tangible results over a mere flash in the pan.

As we continue to simmer on the topic, we scrutinize the precision and customer value of pizza delivery systems through the lens of YouTuber Sam Reid's deep-dive investigation. Can you trust the name on your pizza box? We'll share how these tools are connecting customers to the in-restaurant experience from the comfort of their couch, despite occasional system gaming. And as consumer behavior shifts under the weight of rising delivery fees, we explore McDonald's smoldering strategy to stoke the fires of customer loyalty through personalized digital experiences. Tune in for a hearty portion of food for thought as we dissect how these trends might reshape your dining habits and the restaurant industry at large.

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.

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Join us in this insightful episode of The Digital Restaurant Podcast from the Food on Demand Conference at the Bellagio in Las Vegas. Dive into the discussions with industry experts like Andrew Custage from Medallia and Deena DePhillips from Red Robin, as they explore pivotal topics ranging from the impacts of delivery versus pickup pricing to the crucial decisions between building versus buying technology. Don’t miss Travis Kalanick's rare appearance at a conference stage, sharing visionary thoughts on the future of meal delivery and automation. Tap into the complexities and strategies behind restaurant technology, third-party platforms, and more. Whether you’re an industry veteran or a curious newcomer, this episode offers valuable perspectives on the evolving landscape of restaurant technology.

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.

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Discover the future of dining with us as we unravel the latest technological marvels transforming the restaurant industry. You'll get an insider's look at how digital advancements like kiosk ordering and mobile pickups are reshaping the customer journey, yet sometimes leave us tapping our feet with longer wait times. Hold onto your forks for our special sit-down with Irvi Patel from GoToFoods and Maria Rivera from Small Sliders at the Food on Demand conference, where we'll slice into the rise of delivery-only models and ghost kitchens.

Grab your headphones and prepare to be served a hearty discussion on the self-service revolution. We analyze the impact of apps from culinary giants such as Panera and Chipotle on customer satisfaction and scrutinize how they're performing against the charm of traditional eateries. Get ready for a taste of AI in drive-thrus and the innovative spin on pickup lockers, as we pepper in the challenges and successes that accompany these technological treats. Plus, we'll stir the pot with Grubhub's latest partnership with Hilton, dishing out what it means for your next in-room dining experience.

Finally, we simmer down to the hot-button issue of tipping in America. Hear about Domino's crafty coupon strategy designed to sweeten the deal for both patrons and drivers. We'll pour over the historical context of gratuities, the modern twists POS systems have added to this long-standing practice, and how industry heavyweights like Texas Roadhouse and Starbucks are adapting. It's a full menu of insights that'll leave you with food for thought, so tuck in and join the conversation!

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

Discover the future of restaurant delivery and technology in our latest episode, where Meredith and I dissect Deliveroo's earnings, the shift towards first-party pickup channels, and how senators are scrutinizing junk fees. If you're in the restaurant business or just a food delivery aficionado, this discussion is packed with insights on consumer behavior, the UK versus US financial transparency, and whether pandemic-driven changes are here to stay. 

Join us as we navigate the dynamic interplay between customer data trends and restaurant technology. We'll explore why operators are craving end-to-end tech solutions and how this demand is transforming customer interactions, from digital kiosks to personalized ordering experiences. Don't miss out on our analysis of investment trends within the industry and the critical need for transparency in digital transactions, a hot topic amongst policymakers. Tune in for an enriching conversation at the forefront of the restaurant industry's tech evolution.

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.