Tech talk: the future of restaurants

By Jessica Brill How is today’s technology helping to shape and improve the foodservice industry? As inflation and labour shortages continue to challenge businesses, innovation can play an important role in helping to alleviate some of the stresses that come with managing those persistent challenges. We consulted five industry experts from various leading foodservice sectors, […]

Preparing for the future of AI in restaurants

By Mo Chaar Restaurants across the country are facing a triple-threat of challenges: inflationary costs, labour shortages, and pandemic debt – and many are struggling to stay afloat. According to Restaurants Canada, only half of restaurants are profitable, with one-quarter of its members worried they won’t survive another year. While a portion of the hospitality […]

Restaurateurs embrace technology ahead of a looming recession

By Mo Chaar The challenges for Canadian restaurateurs from the last few years continue as we face a possible recession. Inflation has increased costs across the board, placing financial pressure on restaurant guests and operators alike. As a result, restaurateurs face heightened pressures of meeting customer expectations, finding labour, implementing cost-effective ways to meet changing […]

4 common mistakes to avoid when building a loyalty program tech stack

By Mo Chaar Customer loyalty is key for Canadian consumers, who are among the world’s most frequent users of a loyalty program. Over half of Canadians make reward-earning purchases several times a week, and a recent Givex survey found that 56 per cent of Canadians say loyalty programs make them more likely to dine out […]

The pandemic’s main lessons for restaurants? Flexibility and preparation

By Mo Chaar If COVID-19 has shown restaurants anything, it’s that we live in an unpredictable world. In large part, the industry was unprepared for the pandemic, which had ramifications for every aspect of running a restaurant, from the health and safety of guests to staffing challenges. After two years that saw the industry grappling […]

Prices are rising, but technology can help restaurants stay ahead

By Mo Chaar Canada’s inflation is at its highest level in over three decades and the price of food is skyrocketing, but this news does not mean that restaurants have to suffer. Technology has helped restaurants survive some of the most challenging times in recent history, and this time is no different. Restaurants can use […]

Restaurant takeaways: what we learned from takeout

By Mo Chaar Closures and restrictions during the pandemic left many restaurants in dire straits in 2020 as they fought to retain customers and reach new audiences. In many cities, the fact that offering takeout and delivery was the only means of service forced restaurants to pivot quickly and develop new and creative ways to […]

Restaurant technology: What to invest in & what to skip

By Mo Chaar The restaurant industry is an ever-changing technological landscape. The pandemic has shifted guest expectations and restaurants are now required to be tech-savvy and offer online ordering, pay-at-the-table functions, third-party delivery, and more. However, with restaurants already struggling in the current climate, most businesses don’t have the financial resources to invest in expensive […]

Optimizing third-party integrations: How restaurants can save money

By Mo Chaar Varying stages of lockdowns across the country have restaurants nationwide optimizing online ordering and delivery in an effort to maintain service despite ongoing dining bans. While the restaurant industry has relied heavily on these services during the pandemic, after a year of primarily takeout and delivery, restaurants are feeling the weight of […]

Outlasting the pandemic: How tech is helping restaurants evolve

By Mo Chaar As restaurants grapple with ongoing closures throughout the pandemic, it’s clear that dining as we know it might never be the same. Bans on indoor dining in provinces like British Columbia have been detrimental as businesses watch Ontario’s restaurant industry with bated breath, which has already been set back more than $100 […]