Are Restaurants Getting Tired of Tech? - with Guest Host Bernadette Heier
About this episode
Welcome to The Digital Restaurant! Carl is joined by Bernadette Heier, Managing Editor from Food on Demand, marking the first time a professional broadcaster joins the show.
[00:01:07] Planes, (Trains?) & Automobiles – A New Kind of Off-Premise? Shake Shack is expanding its partnership with Delta Airlines, bringing its brand to first-class passengers. As restaurants seek new ways to expand off-premise, is the future in the skies—or even on freeways?
[00:03:04] Dashboard Dining: The Rise of In-Car Ordering – SoundHound AI partners with Chrysler, Hyundai, and Kia to bring voice ordering into vehicles. while the team explores how Mavi shares insights into how personalized ordering could reshape the drive-thru experience.
[00:04:29] Is Tech Fatigue Real? Some operators are reassessing their technology investments. McDonald’s pulls back on voice AI, and Chipotle’s Autocado robot returns to the lab. Are restaurants overwhelmed, or is the industry just demanding stronger ROI?
[00:10:15] Wonder Acquires a Media Powerhouse – Wonder, fresh off acquiring Grubhub, now buys Tastemade. With 160 million social followers, this move could redefine how food content drives sales.
[00:13:07] Starbucks Rethinks Store Design – As mobile pickup surges, Starbucks looks to rebalance digital and in-store orders. What can the industry learn from their approach?
[00:19:24] Agentic AI in Restaurants – Yum Brands is testing AI-powered restaurant managers through its Byte AI Restaurant Coach, signaling a shift toward automated decision-making in fast food.
[00:22:32] Food On Demand Conference Preview – Bernadette shares why Food on Demand (May 5-7 in Las Vegas) is the must-attend event for off-premise and restaurant technology leaders.
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#Restaurants #OffPremise #AI #DriveThru #TechFatigue #FoodOnDemand #Wonder #Starbucks #ShakeShack
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