The Restaurant Technology Guys Podcast brought to you by Custom Business Solutions

00:00 Introduction and Guest Background00:58 Elias' Journey into Restaurant Technology01:51 The Value of Catering in Foodservice02:47 Challenges Unique to Catering Business03:47 Catering Menu Design and Customer Expectations05:10 B2B vs B2C Catering Dynamics06:36 Allergen Management and Food Safety07:43 Menu Structuring for Different Catering Types08:31 Bundling and Upselling Strategies09:33 Margins and Profitability in Catering10:15 Systematizing Catering Operations11:35 Digital Tools for Catering Management12:18 Enhancing Guest Experience and Satisfaction13:17 The Power of Follow-Up and Customer Loyalty14:18 Using Data and AI for Customer Insights15:12 Rally Catering’s System and Business Logic16:08 Operational Efficiency and Error Reduction17:12 Case Study: Rachel’s Catering Business18:08 The Role of Technology in Scaling Catering19:04 Repeat Business and Customer Retention19:52 Streamlining the Intake Process20:55 Pricing, Upselling, and Packaging21:52 Automation and Business Logic Layer22:53 Operational Challenges and Solutions23:41 Real-Time Order Management and Flexibility24:38 Ensuring Quality and Consistency25:42 Creating a Memorable Guest Experience26:27 The Importance of Presentation and Details27:22 Building Customer Loyalty Through Follow-Up28:24 Final Thoughts and Resources

In this episode of the Restaurant Technology Guys podcast, Jeremy Julian interviews Steven Klein, co-founder of a tech company focused on solving challenges in the restaurant industry. They discuss the importance of enhancing customer experience through AI, the challenges of abandoned carts in online ordering, and the transition from third-party to first-party orders. Steven shares insights on how AI can help understand customer intent and streamline the ordering process, ultimately improving sales and customer loyalty. The conversation also touches on case studies of successful implementations and the future direction of restaurant technology.00:00 Introduction to Restaurant Technology and Guest Background01:48 Identifying Challenges in Restaurant Ordering Systems05:30 The Role of AI in Enhancing Customer Experience11:09 Understanding Customer Intent and Order Customization17:07 The Importance of First-Party Orders and Customer Loyalty22:57 Case Studies and Success Stories in Restaurant Tech28:32 Future Directions and Engagement Opportunities

00:00 Introduction to Atmosphere TV and Its Mission03:29 Content Strategy and Audience Engagement06:25 The Evolution of Atmosphere's Offerings09:22 The Role of Digital Signage in Business12:15 Live Sports and Real-Time Content14:59 Advertising and Driving Customer Behavior17:36 Installation and User Experience21:38 The Impact of AI on Advertising24:06 Conclusion and How to Get Started with Atmosphere TV

00:00 Introduction and Guest Background06:36 What is Loop AI?09:07 The Necessity of Delivery in Restaurants15:32 How Loop AI Helps Restaurants Optimize Delivery21:37 Data-Driven Decision Making with Loop AI31:31 The Future of Loop AI and AI in Restaurants

00:00 Introduction to Identity Resolution in Restaurants01:22 The Journey to Data-Driven Marketing03:26 Challenges in Capturing Customer Data05:16 Understanding the Identity Graph07:51 The Importance of Customer Insights10:56 Data Silos and Their Impact12:48 Making Data Actionable15:50 Deep Dive into Identity Resolution19:22 Bridging the Gap in Customer Engagement20:55 Personalized Marketing Strategies23:05 Data Privacy and Security24:50 Differentiating from Loyalty Programs26:05 Engagement and Implementation with Bridge28:02 The Role of AI in Data Utilization29:30 How to Engage with Bridge

00:00 Introduction to Cost Reduction in Restaurants03:02 Understanding Spend Management and AI Solutions05:39 The Importance of Anomaly Detection in Cost Savings08:32 Overcoming Common Objections in Cost Management11:20 Identifying Hidden Costs and Vendor Relationships14:19 Engagement Process with Clients16:55 Exploring Non-Core Costs and Their Impact19:33 The Role of Waste Management in Cost Reduction22:28 Client Engagement and Onboarding Process25:17 Benchmarking and Data Privacy in Cost Management28:05 Conclusion and Future of Spend Intelligence

00:00 Introduction to Rita's and Lawrence's Background02:54 The Unique Offerings of Rita's05:35 Signature Flavors and Product Quality08:50 Innovative Location Strategies for Growth11:23 Franchisee Success and Sales Growth14:24 Supply Chain and Product Consistency17:12 Community Engagement and Marketing Strategies20:21 Year-Round Appeal of Rita's23:03 Franchise Opportunities and Incentives26:18 Conclusion and Future Growth Plans

In this episode, Jeremy Julian sits down with Kiplen Welsh, President of Via 313, to explore the incredible journey of building a rapidly expanding restaurant brand rooted in Detroit-style pizza. They discuss strategic growth, innovative menu development, off-premise excellence, and the value of thoughtful partnerships in scaling a restaurant business sustainably.00:00 - Welcome to the Restaurant Technology Guys podcast00:41 - Introduction of Kip Welsh and Via 313’s origin story01:54 - Background of Kip’s career in casual dining03:01 - Overview of Detroit-style pizza and brand concept04:25 - Detroit style pizza history and what sets it apart05:54 - The trailer beginnings and early challenges07:06 - Growth milestones and multiple locations in Texas and Utah08:50 - Partnership with Savory Restaurant Fund and brand protection09:22 - Rapid expansion and future pipeline through 202610:11 - Why Detroit-style pizza is gaining more recognition11:47 - Unique flavor profile and competitive landscape12:23 - How Detroit-style pizza creates a different culinary experience14:23 - On-premise vs. off-premise strategy and travelability of product15:44 - Packaging innovations for delivery and takeout success16:17 - Digital ordering, third-party partnerships, and mini brick-and-mortar models17:55 - The potential of food trucks for market testing and expansion18:39 - Balancing growth with quality and responsible operations19:50 - Creative menu development and guest-driven innovation21:30 - Launching limited-time offers and new flavor experiments23:38 - Future menu strategies, including salads and desserts24:36 - Importance of staying inventive and not relying solely on staples25:37 - Personal favorite menu items and flavor combinations27:19 - The partnership with Savory Fund: how it fosters responsible growth28:57 - How to maintain brand integrity while scaling33:02 - Connecting with customers through loyalty programs and marketing36:54 - Exciting new initiatives like the food truck launch and market expansion38:16 - The value of sustainable, responsible growth over rapid, unchecked expansion39:09 - Closing remarks and encouragement for restaurant owners to consider strategic partnerships

00:00 Introduction to Costa Vida and Alan Beck02:44 Costa Vida's Unique Approach to Mexican Cuisine05:33 The Importance of Operational Buy-In for Off-Premise Success08:16 Strategies for Successful Catering Operations11:04 Innovations in Off-Premise Dining and Delivery16:36 The Role of Packaging in Food Delivery20:24 Competitive Analysis and Learning from Others23:01 Personal Favorites and Customer Engagement

00:00 Introduction to Restaurant Technology and Ken's Background03:39 Understanding Winbrands and Its Evolution07:55 Commonalities Across Industries: Insights from IT12:37 Navigating Change Management in IT16:30 Addressing Shadow IT: Definitions and Challenges19:42 Building Relationships to Manage Shadow IT24:02 Collaborative Problem Solving Across Departments