Summer is winding down, and school is back in session after summer break. While the kids were getting ready to go back to school last month, restaurant operators were making headlines with their tech initiatives. For the month of August, the five most read restaurant stories on Hospitality Technology center on how operators are driving consumer convenience -- through mobile ordering, delivery and third-party integrations. And with restaurants coast to coast struggling to fill vacant positions, operators are harnessing the power of technology to gain operational efficiencies and to keep their current team members engaged.
5. To-Go Orders Dominate Applebee's Off-Premise Sales
By the end of the year, Applebee’s will offer delivery from 1,500 locations. And the operator has been frank about its plans to pass along delivery fees straight to the consumer. For years, Applebee’s has offered To Go, a free service where customers can order digitally and then pick up at the location of their choice.
4. Data Drives Shake Shack’s Delivery Decision
It’s all about the data. After using several third-party delivery services for two years, Shake Shack will expand its relationship with Grubhub nationwide. The partnership will allow Shake Shack to retain its customer data.
3. Shift Happens: 3 Ways Tech is Revolutionizing the Restaurant Workforce
Finding staff is hard. Finding skilled staff is even harder. This feature from the August issue of Hospitality Technology shares how restaurants are using tech to onboard, train and retain employees.
2. Dunkin' to Expand Mobile Order-Ahead Features
Today’s consumer doesn’t want to wait, not even for their morning coffee. Dunkin’s mobile order ahead is catching on like wildfire, and is accounting for 25% of sales in some urban locations. The brand is adding features to make its app, including mobile payment and loyalty program, even more user friendly.
1. Mobile Ordering, Third-Party Delivery Integration Top Wendy’s To-Do List
Wendy’s is fast at work adding mobile ordering and third-party delivery integration by the end of the year. The QSR has been working with DoorDash for 2017 and says the POS integration will not only drive order accuracy but also operational efficiencies and reduce headaches for staff, drivers and customers alike.
