For a long time, technology innovation in the restaurant industry was the preserve of large foodservice companies with the budget and staff to build robust technology stacks. But with omnichannel capabilities and a strong digital presence becoming key ingredients for even small, emerging brands, remaining a mom-and-pop restaurant stuck in the analog age may not be sustainable. there is no.
For many operators who don’t have a CDO or CIO on staff, it may be attractive to stick with one or two technology vendors that offer a wide range of tools. What are the two leading companies’ latest investments in digital foodservice technology?Branded mobile app tools. DoorDash and Toast announced the release of new DIY mobile app features this month. This allows carriers to plug in their brand colors and logos (or, in DoorDash’s case, design needs and operational goals) and spit out a first-party app. Very little experience required.
DoorDash and Toast are both aiming new tools at emerging carriers, helping to even the odds between small and large brands competing for virtual real estate on consumers’ phones. I’m doing it.
In other news this month, Olo laid off more employees, drive-thru automation company Presto put itself up for sale, and Serve Robots developed a robot-to-drone delivery solution.
Tech Tracker brings together what’s happening in the restaurant industry’s technology space, including news from restaurants, vendors, digital platforms, and third-party delivery companies. Here’s a breakdown of what you need to know and why.
DoorDash and Toast both launch DIY mobile app tools
Earlier this month, Toast announced a new suite of mobile-first innovations, including branded mobile app features. This allows carriers to launch their own customizable white label iOS/Android apps. Previously, Toast only had this functionality available through third-party delivery integrations.
Through Toast, operators can customize the app by selecting branded images, colors, and logos, and choose to add push notifications and promotions. This allows operators to create basic apps without the need for coding or other technical experience, and is available in the Toast Digital Storefront suite.
“Our research found that 75% of guests surveyed said they were interested in using a restaurant white label app,” a Toast representative told NRN. “Guests are connecting what a restaurant stands for and the experience it provides, both on-site and online. As a result, more and more restaurants are looking to enhance the experience they offer before, during and after a guest visit. ”
DoorDash takes these capabilities a step further by offering a la carte mobile app building solutions through its new DoorDash Commerce platform. Once an operator signs up for this feature, DoorDash will hold a series of consultation meetings with the operator to learn more about the operator’s branding, sales goals, and timelines. Operators can also control the overall design of the app and add customizable loyalty programs. A mockup of the app is then sent to the operator and, if approved, published on the iOS and Android app stores.
“DoorDash customizes app launches to fit each seller’s specific needs and preferences,” a company spokesperson told NRN. “For example, some sellers prefer to be actively involved in the design process, while others rely on our expertise to handle most aspects of app creation. DoorDash is where sellers are. We work closely with each seller to ensure that the app meets each seller’s expectations before release.”
The mobile app uses DoorDash’s online ordering solution and starts at a standard fee-free + 2.9% commission, a spokesperson confirmed.
Presto financier puts automation company up for sale
Foodservice AI and automation company Presto is putting itself up for sale, its lenders led by Metropolitan Partners Group announced late last month. Metropolitan, in conjunction with sales agent Rock Creek Advisors, announced a capital injection to support Presto through the sale process.
“This process will enable our business to emerge as a stronger and more agile organization,” Presto CEO Gee Lefebvre said in a statement. We would like to thank our lenders, customers, vendors and employees for their continued support as we move through this process. Presto has no plans to make any changes to its employee base or operations and is committed to maintaining current service levels. ”
Presto recently improved the accuracy of its voice AI and plans to expand to an additional 750 quick service restaurants soon.
Oro announces second job cuts in 15 months
Olo recently announced it would lay off 9% of its workforce in an effort to cut costs as the technology company scales and grows. The last time Olo announced a round of layoffs was in June 2023, when the company made the decision to cut 11% of its workforce.
Unlike many foodservice technology competitors, Olo started turning a profit in recent quarters as second-quarter sales grew 27% year-over-year, but CEO Noah Glass said the company He acknowledged that there was still a need to “drive efficiency.”
“By balancing growth and costs, and by focusing our efforts, we will be even more successful in our future endeavors,” Glass said in a letter to employees about the layoffs. .
Serve Robotics and Wing partner on robot-to-drone solutions
Sidewalk delivery robot company Serve Robotics and on-demand drone provider Wing Aviation LLC announce a partnership to bring a robot-to-drone solution to last-mile delivery services, delivering robots when customers are nearby; When available, drones will be available for delivery services. they are further away.
The algorithm is designed to differentiate between potential robot orders (within a few miles) or drone deliveries (longer distances).
“If a robot is making a delivery and the order is coming in six miles away, we’re not going to make the delivery with the robot,” Saab CEO Ali Kashani told The Nation’s Restaurant News. told. “Or if a drone picks up a delivery and it’s in an inaccessible location because there’s no land to land on and grab the goods, you can’t use the drone. Powerful, but even better together.”
Both robots and drones don’t have to deal with parking or traffic jams, making them faster and more efficient for operators than traditional delivery services.
Thanx launches integration center
Royalty software company Thanx has announced a new enterprise integration center called Thanx Connex. This allows operators to connect many of the different tools in their technology stack to quickly access data without having to use extraction processes or rely on third-party services to retrieve each piece of data. You will be able to access it. Technological tools that speak the same language.
Thanx Connex facilitates the sharing of data from these technology tools into a centralized data warehouse, reducing the need for data engineers to help store and analyze disparate data from multiple sources.
“As restaurants continue to digitize and optimize their IT systems and operations, integration is essential,” Emily Rugaber, vice president of marketing at Thanx, told NRN. “As technology leaders add more niche and best-in-class partners, the complexity of integrating these systems becomes critical.Effective integration increases data accessibility and operational efficiency, helping restaurants You can now make informed decisions and streamline your workflow.”
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