— By Eric Symon — Keeping restaurants connected to enhance the customer experience. One of the biggest challenges that restaurant owners face is implementing technological advancements to stay current with customer demands. According to a recent survey conducted by Panasonic, 100% of foodservice operators found that the COVID-19 pandemic intensified their sense of urgency to adopt transformational technology. As the industry experiences challenges with labor and an increase in customer preferences for touchless options, adopting such technologies is even more important. Additionally, today’s customer has new priorities whether …
software/technology
57% of consumers believe restaurant employees have more control over their experience than the brand itself. Chicago — Labor demand is continuing to outstrip labor supply by a wider margin despite record job openings. The hospitality industry is just one industry taking hard hits, with some restaurants reporting temporarily closing or cutting hours due to the labor shortage. But just as restaurants look to robotics, apps and digital tools to fill the voids in the frontline workforce, consumers are pressing pause, expressing their desire for more human experiences. Big Red …
Newton, Mass. — Paytronix Systems, Inc., an advanced digital guest experience platform, has partnered with Kansas City restaurant management group KC Hopps to leverage its Paytronix Order & Delivery to open two takeout-only establishments bearing the name Stroud’s Express. The new restaurants are located in Lee’s Summit, Mo., and Mission, Kan. When COVID-19 restrictions shut down indoor dining rooms, KC Hopps took advantage of Paytronix Order & Delivery to start a new brand, Stroud’s Express. An offshoot of the original Stroud’s, a Kansas City institution since 1933, the Express locations …
Atlanta — Krystal Restaurants LLC, the original quick-service restaurant chain in the South, recently named Steve Patel its new vice president of information technology. Patel will lead information technology for the brand and its nearly 300 restaurants. He is a seasoned IT professional with more than 22 years of experience. “Steve’s extensive experience and proven results in IT paired with his innovative and strategic mindset makes him a valuable asset for our organization as we look to expand our brand with systems that will improve services and processes for our …
— By Ara Aslanian — How to reopen your restaurant free of cyber concerns. Despite an apocalyptic prediction last year, only 14% of restaurants closed permanently during the pandemic. After a dark winter of to-go-only orders or limited capacity, restaurants are finally seeing the light and preparing for the coming summertime boom as the dining restrictions lift across the country. However, while restaurants are rushing back to full operation, many are doing so without running a thorough IT upgrade and cybersecurity check. The pandemic has seen a surge in …
Kansas City, Mo. — Service Management Group (SMG), a global customer, patient and employee experience management partner to more than 500 brands, has partnered with quick-service restaurant franchise Taco John’s. The Mexican QSR brand chose SMG for its differentiated software with a service (SwaS) offering, deep industry expertise and robust integration capabilities. Spurred by record-breaking sales and rapid growth, Taco John’s needed an enterprise experience management solution that would allow it to capture guest feedback at nearly 400 restaurants and uncover customer insights throughout the customer journey. The brand partnered …
Chicago — Chicago-based restaurant tech company 86 Repairs has closed an additional $5.3 million from investors including TDF Ventures, Gordon Food Service (GFS), MATH Venture Partners, Revolution and Cleveland Avenue. The new financing brings the company’s funding in this round to $7.3 million, and total capital raised to $8.8 million to date. Disrupting the $26 billion restaurant equipment repair and maintenance (R&M) industry, 86 Repairs automates the end-to-end repair and maintenance process for restaurants and provides actionable insights to improve back-of-house operations. The end result is significant time and cost …
Columbus, Ohio — Big Lots, Inc. has appointed Gurmeet Singh as executive vice president, chief technology officer of Big Lots, effective July 12, 2021. He succeeds Stew Wenerstrom, who will be officially retiring in October following a transition period. Singh will report directly to Bruce Thorn, president and chief executive officer of Big Lots. Singh has more than 30 years of experience in information technology. Most recently, he was the group chief digital officer at the Al Futtaim Group in Dubai, leading all technology, data and digital efforts for the …
Richardson, Texas — Fossil Group, Inc. continues to build on its industry-leading transformation to a digital-first retailer with the appointment of Holly Briedis to the company’s executive leadership team as executive vice president, chief digital officer. “The digital footprint of consumers continues to grow, and brands leaning into this evolution are the ones driving growth,” says Kosta Kartsotis, Fossil Group’s chairman and CEO. “Holly’s extensive leadership and expertise in driving customer-centered digital transformations for retail brands during her time with McKinsey & Company will help Fossil Group cement itself as …
Cincinnati — The Point of Sale Cloud, an easy-to-use, fully integrated cloud platform for multi-unit restaurants, recently launched as a new competitive advantage for the restaurant industry. The Point of Sale Cloud allows restaurants to take control of their technology while streamlining the way restaurateurs manage all aspects of their business including customer facing transactions and back-of-the-house operations. As a response to the challenges faced by the restaurant industry during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Point of Sale Cloud assists restaurants in deploying their own guest service experience for dine-in, delivery …