Promoting Sustainability in Restaurants Through Innovative Technologies

This episode of the Restaurant Technology Guys podcast features Diana from Restaurant Technologies Inc., where she serves as the general counsel and oversees the company's environmental, social, and governance initiatives, focusing on sustainability. She discusses the origins and mission of Restaurant Technologies Inc., distinguished from the podcast itself despite name similarities, and highlights their main products: the Total Oil Management system and the AutoMist system. These innovations aim to automate kitchen operations, improve safety, and significantly contribute to environmental sustainability by recycling used cooking oil into biodiesel and reducing waste. Diana emphasizes the substantial environmental impact of their services, including significant reductions in landfill waste, emissions, and resource consumption. The podcast touches on future goals for increased sustainability and how restaurants can engage with their technology to reduce operating costs while contributing to a healthier planet.

00:00 Welcome and Introduction to the Guest
00:29 Getting to Know Diana: From New Jersey to Restaurant Technologies
01:46 Exploring Restaurant Technologies Inc.'s Innovative Solutions
04:22 The Sustainability Journey: Transforming Used Cooking Oil
10:51 Impressive Sustainability Achievements and Future Goals
19:49 How Restaurants Can Join the Sustainability Movement
22:18 Closing Thoughts and Gratitude

Innovations Unveiled at the National Restaurant Association Show 2024

This episode of the Restaurant Technology Guys Podcast features Lisa Malikow, overseer of the National Restaurant Association Show, the largest food service event in the Western Hemisphere. Lisa discusses the event's scope, including its coverage of 900 product categories, the Kitchen Innovation awards, and exciting new products and technologies set to debut in 2024. Highlights include advancements in sustainability, remarkable kitchen equipment like the Chef Top with built-in AI, and innovations like the alpha cloud patty quality assistant. The show, scheduled for May 18-21 in Chicago, promises insights into back-of-house advancements, featuring educational sessions and a showroom of award-winning equipment. This episode emphasizes the importance of the show for anyone in the food service industry, from seeing cutting-edge tech to learning about sustainability practices and labor solutions.

00:00 Welcome to the Restaurant Technology Guys Podcast
00:12 Introducing Lisa Malikow and the National Restaurant Association Show
02:37 Exploring the Kitchen Innovation Awards
05:30 Deep Dive into Award-Winning Innovations
07:03 Sustainability and Innovation in the Restaurant Industry
29:45 The Future of Restaurant Technology and How to Get Involved
33:41 Closing Remarks and Show Details

In this episode of the Restaurant Technology Guys podcast, host Jeremy welcomes Rick Elliott, a co-founder of Conductor, a startup in the restaurant tech space. Rick shares his journey from working on oil rigs to becoming a tech entrepreneur, emphasizing the role of hard work and innovation. He elaborates on his early days co-founding Brink, a pioneering cloud-based point of sale solution for restaurants, and discusses the acquisition of Brink by PAR. Rick explains his vision for Conductor, aiming to enhance the guest experience by improving kitchen orchestration and communication. He touches on the importance of setting accurate expectations for order readiness and plans to leverage technology, including APIs and AI, to predict and communicate order times more effectively. The conversation also covers how Conductor aims to revolutionize the way restaurants manage orders and engage with customers, ultimately making operations more efficient and enhancing the dining experience.

00:00 Welcome to the Restaurant Technology Guys Podcast
00:25 Meet Rick Elliott: A Journey from Oil Rigs to Restaurant Tech Innovator
01:24 The Birth and Growth of Brink POS: Pioneering Cloud-Based Solutions
08:52 From Brink to Conductor: The Next Chapter in Restaurant Tech
09:02 Introducing Conductor: Revolutionizing the Restaurant Guest Experience
21:06 The Future of Restaurant Tech: Integrations, AI, and Lean Manufacturing Principles
30:09 Stay Connected with Conductor and Wrap-Up

This episode of the Restaurant Technology Guys podcast features Jon, a longtime friend of the host and CEO/co-founder of Tabski, a digital commerce platform for restaurants. Jon shares his journey from starting in B2B sales and entering the restaurant tech space, to launching and pivoting Tabski amidst challenges like COVID-19. Tabski aims to improve guest experience and operational efficiency through features like multi-vendor ordering and omni-channel integration, addressing the evolving needs of food halls and busy restaurants. Jon emphasizes the importance of consumer-first design in creating a connected commerce platform, highlighting the shift towards a digital-first approach in the restaurant industry.

00:00 Welcome & Guest Introduction
00:24 Jon's Journey: From Payment Side to Restaurant Tech Innovator
01:04 The Birth and Evolution of Tapski
09:13 Exploring the ISO Model and Its Impact on Restaurants
15:05 Introducing Tapski: A New Era of Restaurant Technology
25:36 The Future of Ordering: Flexibility and Consumer Control
29:05 Conclusion & How to Connect with Tapski

 Evolving Restaurant Operations through Advanced Technology Solutions

In this episode of the Restaurant Technology Guys podcast, the host welcomes back Vishal, the CEO and founder of It's a Checkmate, to discuss advancements in restaurant technology. Vishal elaborates on how his company integrates digital ordering channels with POS systems to streamline operations for restaurants. He emphasizes the growing complexity and variety of digital ordering, from kiosks to social media, and how It's a Checkmate manages this integration seamlessly for both large brands and small establishments. He highlights successful collaborations with major brands like Wendy's and Five Guys, and discusses the importance of offering a consistent ordering experience across all digital platforms. The episode also explores menu management, capacity management, first-party ordering solutions, and the potential of voice ordering. Additionally, Vishal shares insights on the profitability and challenges of third-party platforms and the importance of being where the customers are, showcasing the dynamic and evolving landscape of restaurant technology solutions.

00:00 Welcome to the Restaurant Technology Guys Podcast
00:18 Introducing Repeat Guest Vishal from It's a Checkmate
01:05 Exploring the Explosion of Digital Ordering Channels
02:11 The Future of Digital Ordering and Its Impact on Operations
04:31 Innovative Solutions for Complex Digital Ordering Challenges
06:10 The Importance of Being Where Your Customers Are
10:37 Integrating Digital Orders into Restaurant Operations
12:36 Addressing Capacity Management and Customer Expectations
16:57 The Evolution of Menu Management in a Digital World
26:18 The Role of Voice Ordering in the Future of Restaurants
33:30 How to Connect with It's a Checkmate for Solutions
36:22 Closing Thoughts and Gratitude

One Big Island in Space: Revolutionizing the Coffee Industry with Farm Direct Coffee

The podcast features Restaurant Technologies Group hosting Michelle and Robert Fish, co-founders of One Big Island in Space and Biggby Coffee. Michelle and Robert share their passion for supporting coffee farmers directly and promoting environmentally friendly farming methods. They speak about their missions to build long-term relationships with mid-sized farmers across the globe, ensuring fair treatment of workers, sustainable farming practices, and community investment. They discuss the intricacies of the coffee industry, the predatory practices it often harbors, and the efforts needed to navigate the enormously complex supply chain. They aim to shift their coffee supply to 100% farm-direct by 2028, aiming to support people in building a life they love, while also preserving the planet. They believe consumers could empower such change if educated about the impacts of their coffee choices.

00:00 Introduction to the Restaurant Technology Guys Podcast
00:31 Guest Introduction: Michelle and Robert Fish
01:08 The Journey of Biggby Coffee
01:25 The Threats to Coffee Production
02:28 The Creation of One Big Island in Space
02:49 The Direct Trade Model and its Impact
04:20 The Importance of Ethical Farming Practices
04:50 The Global Reach of Coffee Production
05:24 The History and Atmosphere of Biggby Coffee Cafes
08:28 The Inception of One Big Island in Space
08:47 The Importance of Core Values in Business
13:04 The Reality of Coffee Production
25:10 The Future of One Big Island in Space
29:42 Conclusion and How to Support the Mission

In this episode of the 'Restaurant Technology Guys' podcast, the host and guest David Greschler, Co-Founder and CEO of Nomad Go, discuss the transformative role of Nomad Go's technology in restaurant inventory management. Nomad Go uses computer vision, spatial intelligence, and augmented reality to audit and count inventory in real time with up to 99% accuracy, revolutionizing traditional inventory methods. The technology caters for complexities such as substitutions, batch recipes, and storage issues, ultimately aiming to improve accuracy, save time, reduce wastage and increase profit for restaurants.

00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction
00:31 Guest Background and Company Overview
02:22 The Problem with Traditional Inventory Management
09:16 Introducing Nomad Go's Solution
09:40 How Nomad Go Works
13:20 Addressing Substitutions and Partial Cases
17:47 The Future of Inventory Management
19:24 The Importance of Accurate Inventory in Restaurants
19:36 How We Improve Prep Lists with Scientific Precision
20:38 Dealing with Pre-Produced Items in Inventory
21:38 The Challenges of Receiving Products
23:56 The Role of Technology in Inventory Management
24:35 Making Inventory Fun with Augmented Reality
25:26 The Future of Inventory with Nomad Go
27:31 Resolving Inventory Variances
31:09 The Future of Supply Chain and Distribution
32:41 The Vision for Nomad Go
34:50 Getting Connected with Nomad Go

In this podcast episode of Restaurant Technology Guys, the guest Tal Clark, CEO of Instant Financial, discusses the important aspects of fintech and wage access in the restaurant industry. With Tal's two-decade experience in the financial technology space, he describes the role of Instant Financial in facilitating digital payments, increasing accessibility, and making transactions cost-effective. The conversation includes an in-depth discussion about the necessity and benefits of earned wage access and direct access to tips for restaurant staff. Acknowledging the increasingly cashless society, they also discuss the challenges with traditional banking and the rise of alternative financial institutions. Tal also highlights the Instant's efforts to lower the barriers for pay access, including those who are underbanked.

00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction
00:28 Guest's Background and Journey in FinTech
01:31 Understanding FinTech and Its Impact
02:37 Challenges in Restaurant Industry and Earned Wages
03:10 Importance of Instant Access to Earned Wages
09:06 The Shift to Digital Payments and Tips
12:17 The Cost of Using Cash in Restaurants
16:04 The Rise of Alternative Banking and Its Impact
19:23 How Instant Works: Earned Wages and Tips
27:17 Getting Started with Instant
28:07 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

The podcast episode hosts Scot Turner, founder of Auden Hospitality, a global advisory business based in the UK that assists hoteliers in improving their food and beverage operations. Turner discusses the importance of restaurant technology in hotels and its potential to enhance both revenues and guest experiences. He suggests that hotels should make their restaurant operations separate from the rest and learn from independent restaurants. They should focus on digital experiences as much as physical ones and calls for greater personalization and automation in customer service. Turner also advocates for the implementation of QR ordering and the installation of digital menu boards to enhance customer engagement. Other topics discussed include user generated content and its role in increasing brand visibility, the impact of foodie and Instagram culture, the shift in F&B operations in hotels over the years, and the opportunity to modernize F&B in hotels to match guest expectations.

00:02 Introduction and Guest Introduction
01:56 The Evolution of F&B in Hotels
03:12 The Shift in Hotel Dining Trends
03:58 The Importance of Innovation in Hotel Dining
07:05 The Impact of Social Media on Hotel Dining
12:48 The Importance of Creating Memorable Dining Experiences
16:08 The Role of Local Community in Hotel Dining
17:30 The Pros and Cons of Partnering with Local Brands
21:37 The Challenges and Rewards of Longstanding Relationships
21:50 The Importance of Tech in the Guest Experience
22:58 The Impact of Modern Food Delivery Services
23:29 The Digital Experience in the Restaurant Industry
24:22 The Power of QR Codes and Digital Ordering
25:16 The Role of Tech in Enhancing Guest Experience
29:08 The Future of Tech in the Hotel Industry
31:09 The Importance of Personalization in Guest Experience
38:32 The Role of Tech in Non-Traditional Food Service
43:39 The Future of Tech in the Restaurant Industry

In this enlightening conversation, Matt Wampler, a former Jimmy John's franchisee and a crucial player at Clear Cogs, talks about the role of modern technology in the restaurant industry. He discusses the power of data-driven decisions and the challenges of integrating AI in restaurant operations. The conversation also reveals how Clear Cogs has been partnering with Point of Sale (POS) companies, including freshly announced partnership with Toast, enhancing the accessibility of AI for all restaurant operators. Emphasizes on the importance of having actionable data and how Clear Cogs utilizes AI in food cost management, labor management, and more. The discussion also sheds light on ClearCogs' commitment to help restaurants improve their operations and become more profitable.

00:00 Introduction and Welcome
00:09 Guest Introduction: Matt from Clear Cogs
00:37 The Journey from Restaurant Operator to Tech Innovator
01:10 Understanding ClearCogs: Solving Restaurant Problems with Tech
01:46 The Power of Data in Restaurant Operations
02:28 The Impact of Food Costs and Waste on Restaurant Operations
08:40 The Role of AI in Restaurant Operations
13:57 The Importance of Trust in Implementing Tech Solutions
16:20 The Future of AI in Restaurant Operations
20:02 The Role of ClearCogs in Labor Management
22:53 The Importance of Data Management in Restaurant Operations
28:36 ClearCogs' Partnership with Toast and Future Plans
36:56 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Revolutionizing Restaurant Loyalty Programs: A Conversation with Hang CEO Matt Smolin

In this episode of the 'Restaurant Technology Guys' podcast, the hosts discuss the changing dynamics of loyalty programs with Matt Smolin, the co-founder and CEO of Hang, a next-generation loyalty software. Smolin delves into the story of his journey from working in finance to co-founding a successful startup. He also emphasizes the importance of personalization in loyalty programs and the need for brands to understand their customers' lifetime value. Mullen shares success stories from Hang's partnership with Boba Guys, reflecting on how a more engaging and understandable loyalty experience can drastically increase customer retention and spend. The conversation concludes with ways for listeners to get in touch with Hang and learn more about their solutions.