How Technology is Transforming Food Ordering

I think a very visible observation at this year's Restaurant Show was logical tech instead of theoretical. There was less "glimpses into the future" and more "proof of concept." Here's one of those in action: For two and a half years, Wingstop has worked on a new Smart Kitchen that forecasts demand in 15-minute increments, telling the store how many wings to drop. The system takes into account more than 300 variables tailored to each unit, like weather, sales trends, and sports. It also features digital touch-screen displays at every work station instead of paper chits and an order-ready screen at the front so consumers can keep up with their order. Another feature: there are now sticker print outs that identify what flavors are in each package. At restaurants where the technology has been installed, wait times have been cut in half to about 10 minutes, and there have been notable improvements in guest satisfaction, accuracy, consistency, and employee turnover. In the delivery channel, Wingstop has been able to show up in under 30 minutes. Why is this important? Shorter wait times allow the brand to become a greater consideration. Instead of serving as a destination—with an average frequency of just three times per quarter and once a month—the quicker service could entice guests to visit more often, especially during on-the-go periods like the afternoon daypart. The Wingstop Smart Kitchen is in 400 restaurants and the chain hopes to complete the rollout by the end of the year. Again, real-time innovation in the back of the house. That seems to be the battleground right now. More here: https://lnkd.in/eMHMUkmZ

I have spent much time recently discussing innovations in the food service sector, like mobile ordering, robotics & automation, and ghost kitchens. This innovation is being driven by customer demand for more convenient food options. Therefore, I was interested to read Heather Haddon’s article “Drones and ‘Game Film’: Inside Chick-fil-A’s Quest to Make Fast Food Faster” in the The Wall Street Journal. For years, Chick-fil-A Restaurants' popularity has resulted in long lines of cars, causing major congestion at some locations, frustrating customers and nearby residents, businesses and municipal leaders. Heather provided an overview of how Chick-fil-A is using data analytics and video analyses, like professional sports teams, dispatching specialist teams from its headquarters to its more than 3,000 restaurants to study the minutiae of parking-lot traffic patterns and how employees hand off orders. By integrating data from security cameras in the kitchen and drones outside the restaurant, Chick-fil-A was able to see that more workers were needed to reduce the burden on existing employees working the drive-through and the Wi-Fi used by parking-lot order-takers needed to be extended further from the store. By using visual data, Chick-fil-A was able to identify bottlenecks, as well as test and analyze different solutions, enabling the company to be at the forefront of fast-food drive-through science, and adjust to changing consumer patterns. One of the biggest takeaways from this work is that Chick-fil-A realized it had underestimated how many different challenges it faced. Chick-fil-A is the same company that in 2024 opened a multi-story, drive-through only restaurant in Georgia. This new restaurant design can handle three times as many drive-through cars as its other restaurants and includes lanes just for customers who order through the chain's app. The kitchen is two times larger than a typical Chick-fil-A restaurant kitchen and utilizes a food conveyor system to deliver a meal every six seconds, according to Chick-fil-A. This food conveyor system is an example of how the use of automation & robotics is changing the FoodTech sector. With an almost unlimited amount of data available from security cameras, sensors and other devices throughout the facilities and the growing power of AI and machine learning (ML), we should expect that other quick service restaurants will follow a similar strategy to optimize operations, to reduce costs and improve the consumer experience. https://lnkd.in/gsF6YeyH #ai; #robotics; #automation; #innovation; #technology; #restaurants; #foodtech; #food EcoTech Capital Cy Obert

Toast, Uber Eats, and DoorDash are all betting on AI, and restaurant operators should pay attention. AI isn’t coming to restaurants. It’s already here. At the 2025 National Restaurant Association Show, the most talked-about tech all had one thing in common: AI at the core. Here’s what stood out: 1. Toast launched Toast IQ, an AI-powered POS for front-of-house operations. It includes Menu Upsell for real-time upgrade suggestions, Digital Chits that highlight guest preferences, and Shifts at a Glance for quick updates on specials and stock levels. 2. Uber Eats and OpenTable are teaming up to streamline reservations and delivery into a single experience. Guests can browse a menu, book a table, or place an order from one app. For staff, that means fewer no-shows and fewer systems to manage during busy hours. 3. DoorDash rolled out AI vision technology to reduce fraud and improve order accuracy. It monitors prep and packing stations in real time, flags inconsistencies, and helps ensure the right food reaches the right guest. These tools are transforming the guest experience with smarter ordering, better flow, and fewer missed steps on the floor. But as front-of-house becomes more automated, it’s clear that back-of-house still has catching up to do. Hiring, onboarding, scheduling, and team communication are still largely manual. That’s where the next wave of restaurant innovation is heading. Because AI isn’t just about what the guest sees. It’s about helping operators run stronger, more efficient teams, from the front to the back of house.

In China, the traditional cafeteria is undergoing a transformation that's setting a new standard for innovation in the food service industry. Using technologies, some cafeterias have integrated AI to autonomously calculate the cost of meals. This method leverages object detection algorithms, allowing the tech to identify and price meal components efficiently without human intervention. 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐈𝐭 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐬 The system captures images of the trays as they pass through the checkout area. Each item on the tray is recognized and evaluated by the AI, which then calculates the total cost based on current menu prices in the system. This technology not only speeds up the checkout process but also reduces errors associated with manual billing. 💡 Such advancements are set to redefine the dining experience by minimizing wait times and streamlining operations, potentially setting a benchmark for cafeterias worldwide. Additionally, the data collected by these systems can provide valuable insights into consumer behavior and preferences, enabling businesses to optimize their offerings and improve service. 🔗 What do you think about the integration of AI in daily operations like cafeteria services? Could this be the future of the dining industry? #innovation #technology #future #management #startups