Technology

Generation Next

Five ways to harness the power of social media

26-Apr-2024 By Nick Fountain

Nick Fountain, head of marketing and communications at burger brand Fat Hippo, reveals how restaurants can harness the power of social media.

What restaurant technology is making a difference in 2024?

26-Mar-2024 By Restaurant

Restaurant is producing a report looking at what technologies are helping keep those in the sector competitive.

McDonald’s hit by ‘technology outage’

15-Mar-2024 By James McAllister

McDonald’s has confirmed that a ‘technology outage’ that impacted its UK restaurants has been resolved.

The Lowdown: DineMe

01-Mar-2024 By Retaurant

An app that connects people through a shared love of food has launched. Will daters have the appetite for it?

Access Hospitality acquires Wireless Social

01-Feb-2024 By James McAllister

Technology specialist Access Hospitality has acquired wi-fi, analytics and marketing solutions provider Wireless Social.

Resy to close UK business this year

22-Jan-2024 By James McAllister

Online booking platform Resy is to close its UK arm later this year in order to concentrate on its wider international business.

Azzurri, The Ivy, Stonegate, Pizza Express, Rosa’s Thai, and Pizza Pilgrims to speak at next month's Hostech

11-Jan-2024 By Restaurant

Companies including Azzurri Group, Stonegate Group, The Ivy Collection, Pizza Express, Caravan, Rosa’s Thai, Gail’s, and Pizza Pilgrims will speak at next month’s hospitality technology conference Hostech.

Ask the experts: delivery

12-Dec-2023 By Restaurant

Everything you need to know about managing online orders, including integration, how the pandemic changed the delivery game and the new tech coming down the track.

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How to drive brand loyalty in hospitality while avoiding discounts and promotions

06-Dec-2023 By Olivia FitzGerald

The chief sales and marketing officer at Zonal on why loyalty schemes don't necessarily require restaurant brands to drop their prices.

Ask the Experts: ordering systems

17-Oct-2023 By Restaurant

Everything you need to know about ordering technology, including the benefits of digital menu, demand pricing and how the pandemic shook up the space.

Operators turn to tech to combat staff retention

19-Sep-2023 By James McAllister

Nearly half of hospitality operators are utilising tech to improve staffing challenges such as retention and churn, according to the latest Business Confidence Survey from CGA by NIQ and Fourth.

Ask the Experts: payments

18-Sep-2023 By Restaurant

The inside track on the fast-moving payments space, including new ways to pay, SoftPOS, and the possibility of fully-contactless payments in hospitality.

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People vs tech – striking the right balance

23-Aug-2023 By Olivia FitzGerald

The chief sales and marketing officer at leading hospitality technology company Zonal discusses some new research into consumer attitudes to in-restaurant technology.

Access Group acquires ResDiary

14-Jul-2023 By James McAllister

Access Hospitality, part of the Access Group, has acquired booking and table management platform ResDiary for an undisclosed sum.

Six ways AI is shaping the restaurant industry

12-Jul-2023 By Glenn Tait

The product director at hospitality technology company Zonal on how artificial intelligence can help operators create better experiences for their customers without taking over the experience.

Digital platform Toast makes its London debut

05-May-2023 By Restaurant

Restaurant digital platform Toast is to roll out its technology in the UK, starting with the greater London area.

Cost pressures force closure of UK's first 'robot-themed' restaurant

14-Mar-2023 By James McAllister

Robotazia, dubbed the UK's first 'robot-themed' restaurant, has permanently closed its doors because of rising cost pressures.

Shing Tat Chung: “Restaurants are analogue, but there is a big appetite for digitalisation”

03-Feb-2023 By Joe Lutrario

BAO co-founder Shing Tat Chung and HATO creative director Kenjiro Kirton on the metaverse, gamification and their sophisticated new restaurant app.

Boparan, Itsu, and Burger King among speakers at next month's Hostech conference

25-Jan-2023 By Restaurant

Speakers from leading restaurant brands including Itsu, Burger King, Boparan Restaurant Group, Mollies, Gail's Bakery, BrewDog, and Big Table Group will speak at next month's technology conference Hostech.

BAO looks to game-ify the restaurant experience with new app

18-Jan-2023 By Joe Lutrario

Taiwanese restaurant group BAO has launched a new app that will ‘pioneer the digital restaurant experience’ as it looks to bridge the gap between on and offline.

Hostech conference to be held in February 2023

14-Dec-2022 By Restaurant

Hospitality technology conference Hostech will return next year with speakers from companies including BAO, Burger King, Mollies, and Wonderland Restaurants.

How I Got Here: Zhong Xu

30-Nov-2022 By James McAllister

The CEO of food delivery management solution business Deliverect on the ever-changing world of restaurant tech, growing up in Shanghai, and travels in South Africa.

SSP to trail robot servers at Belfast's Sip & Stone Restaurant

19-Oct-2022 By Restaurant

SSP Group has become the latest hospitality business to trial robot servers at its venues.

Zonal acquires digital loyalty company Airship

06-Oct-2022 By Restaurant

Hospitality technology provider Zonal has bought CRM and digital loyalty company Airship for an undisclosed sum.

The spirit and passion of Southeast Asia is alive and kicking at Ka Pao

23-Aug-2022 By QSR Automations

The managing director of Scoop Restaurants Group on the key role QSR Automations plays in consistently delivering exceptional quality plates of food and a memorable dining experience at his Southeast Asian brand Ka Pao.

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The future of hospitality tech. This time it’s personal.

29-Jul-2022 By OrderPay

With the cost of literally everything skyrocketing, it’s a good time to look at how tech is helping hospitality venues across the UK do more with what they already have.

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Coca-Cola integrates its smart robotics for the ultimate drive-thru experience

26-Jul-2022 By QSR Automations

QSR Automations has helped Coca-Cola pilot a machine that looks set to disrupt the market for back-of-house drinks dispensers.

Itsu Richmond to reopen after fire

21-Jul-2022 By Restaurant

Itsu will finally reopen its Richmond restaurant after a fire forced it to close for almost a year.

Vita Mojo raises £25m to fund expansion

30-Jun-2022 By Restaurant

Restaurant software company Vita Mojo has raised $30m (£24.7m) of funding to help it expand into new markets.

How technology can help attract and retain talent in hospitality

22-Jun-2022 By QSR Automations

Smart front and back-of-house tech can digitise much of the customer experience, relieve stress on staff and reduce the number of employees needed for each service.

McDonald’s invests £250m in restaurant remodelling

16-May-2022 By Finn Scott-Delany

McDonald’s UK&I will invest over £250m over the next four years to redesign parts of its restaurant estate to suit the rise of omnichannel ordering.

Turtle Bay: “Over the last two years TikTok has completely transformed our business”

11-May-2022 By Restaurant

The meteoric rise of social media over the past few has transformed restaurants, helping build brand awareness, customer loyalty and even with recruitment, according to those in the industry.

Reef Technology approaches 100 delivery-only UK locations

06-May-2022 By Finn Scott-Delany

Reef Technology has launched partnerships with YouTube sensations The Sidemen and MrBeast to nearly 100 delivery-only locations in the UK.

Enhanced CMA powers announced to help cut fake reviews

20-Apr-2022 By Restaurant

The Government has announced plans to improve consumer protections, including reforms to boost competition and to make it illegal to post or host fake reviews.

Hostech

Hostech to shine a light on the future of social media

08-Apr-2022 By Restaurant

While social media continues to be a cost-effective way of targeting consumers, it is increasingly being used by restaurant businesses as a tool to recruit prospective employees.

Comment: Are you ready to get personal?

28-Mar-2022 By Olivia Fitzgerald

Personalisation has been shown to be a valuable revenue booster, but are hospitality businesses making the most of the opportunity?

REEF Technology joins next month's Hostech lineup

21-Mar-2022 By Restaurant

REEF Technology has joined the line-up for the forthcoming technology conference Hostech.

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LOKE integrates with Deliverect

14-Mar-2022 By LOKE and Deliverect

All-in-one personalisation engine LOKE has partnered with integration specialist Deliverect.

Pret A Manger, McDonald’s, KFC and Itsu to speak at this year's Hostech conference

14-Mar-2022 By BigHospitalitty

Pret A Manger, McDonald’s, KFC, Tortilla, and Itsu will deliver keynote sessions at technology-focused conference Hostech, which returns on 27 April 27.

Rise of the machines - Boparan trials service robots

07-Mar-2022 By James McAllister

Boparan Restaurant Group (BRG) is to trial the use of two service robots in one of its restaurants, with a view to expanding their use across its wider estate.

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Taking a bow to BAO

28-Feb-2022 By QSR Automations

The operations director of BAO on his group's philosophy and how QSR Automations' ConnectSmart Kitchen has helped enhance the guest experience.

Consumers want more tech in hospitality, research shows

03-Feb-2022 By James McAllister

New technology including voice ordering, virtual reality and sophisticated chatbots could be in the future for restaurants, according to new research.

Deliverect raises $150m to fund expansion

25-Jan-2022 By Restaurant

Online food ordering app Deliverect has secured more than $150m (£111m) in Series D funding to further its expansion.

Teenagers predict a cashless future for eating out sector

14-Jan-2022 By Restaurant

More than half of teenagers believe they won’t use cash to pay in restaurants or shops when they are an adult, according to new research.

McDonald’s pilots new customer rewards scheme

13-Jan-2022 By Restaurant

McDonald’s is launching a rewards scheme that will enable customers to collect points on their purchases and redeem them against menu items or make a charity donation.

Making a name for yourself – how businesses can successfully manage their online reputations

09-Dec-2021 By Restaurant

A business’ reputation has never been more important, and in today’s digital world it can be made or destroyed online.

Sponsored by Goodtill

Back to business: how to reopen on the front foot

07-May-2021 By Restaurant

As restaurants and pubs begin to wake from enforced hibernation, here’s some things businesses should consider to help them get back to business

Two fifths of consumers say technology improves their hospitality experiences

29-Apr-2021 By Restaurant

Having accepted the need for technology in hospitality during the pandemic, consumers have discovered just how much tech improves their hospitality journey, according to the latest GO Technology report.

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Digital dynamism: staying connected with diners in a contactless era

28-Apr-2021 By Restaurant

More personalised marketing, slicker service and greater efficiencies are just some of the benefits of the new era of digital order and pay

Victor Lugger: "We want to be PayPal for bricks and mortar"

15-Apr-2021 By Joe Lutrario

Big Mamma Group co-founder Victor Lugger is looking to shake up how customers pay the bill following a €20m (£17.3m) seed-funding round for his QR-code based mobile payments start-up Sunday.