The Digital Restaurant

Carl Orsbourn
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The Digital Restaurant

The latest on technology affecting the restaurant industry - for better and for worse.

  1. Who wins the Super App Race? - with Guest Host Alayna Sullivan

    12 MAY

    Who wins the Super App Race? - with Guest Host Alayna Sullivan

    Send us a text In this week’s episode of The Digital Restaurant, Carl is joined by Alayna Sullivan, Senior Director of Corporate Comms at Olo, fresh from Food on Demand. Together, they cover five big stories shaping the restaurant and off-premise landscape, including DoorDash’s mega acquisitions, Chipotle's new catering pilot with Olo, and the rising footprint of Wonder. Timestamps: 00:01:30 – Chipotle x Olo Catering Partnership Chipotle pilots Olo’s Catering Plus with promising early featuresAverage catering check size = $350+  🗨️ “We are going to see more and more improvements when it comes to the digital interface for catering.” — Carl00:05:00 – DoorDash Acquires Deliveroo & SevenRooms $5B+ in acquisitions as DoorDash shifts toward platform dominanceSevenRooms' CRM tools broaden DoorDash’s value prop  🗨️ “DoorDash is betting the next wave of restaurant tech is about owning the guest journey.” — Carl00:10:20 – Huddle House’s Off-Premise Reboot Three new footprints designed for off-premise and drive-thruEven breakfast gets a modern makeover  🗨️ “This is a blueprint for aging brands to boost frequency and convenience.” — Alayna00:13:20 – Black Box Data: Industry Outlook Traffic down, oversaturation looming, value now a critical consumer trigger  🗨️ “When joy is greater than fear, economic growth begins.” — Lisa Miller (via Carl)00:21:35 – Wonder Raises $600M, Hits $7B Valuation Rapid expansion plans, full-stack food experience, and smart acquisitions  🗨️ “Wonder is playing in spaces like ghost kitchens that haven’t worked for others—yet investors are all in.” — Alayna👉 Follow, rate & review wherever you listen, and don’t forget to subscribe on YouTube! Support the show 🔔 Subscribe to The Digital Restaurant Podcast and follow us on YouTube for more episodes that combine the love of food with the latest in technology. Your next restaurant tech adventure starts here! 📖 Get your copy of the Delivering the Digital Restaurant books at www.theDigital.Restaurant 🎤 Have Carl come and speak at your company conference! Learn more at www.theDigital.Restaurant 🎙️📰Please subscribe to our newsletter and connect with Carl's Delivering the Digital Restaurant page on LinkedIn for their twice-a-month newsletter.

    27 min
  2. From Smart Kitchens to Smart Menus with Guest Host Jason Berkowtiz

    28 APR

    From Smart Kitchens to Smart Menus with Guest Host Jason Berkowtiz

    Send us a text This week on The Digital Restaurant, Carl and guest co-host Jason Berkowitz dive into: Qu's move toward smart kitchens with integrated IoT systems (0m 50s)A sharp reflection on the restaurant "disruptors" that weren't — from Zume Pizza to Ghost Kitchens (4m 35)Why Chipotle's negative sales aren't just about the economy — and how training and tech are key to recovery (11m 05)A fascinating new look at menu personalization trends with EveryBite data (17m10)How technology can — and should — help restaurants become more sustainable (23m 20)Support the show 🔔 Subscribe to The Digital Restaurant Podcast and follow us on YouTube for more episodes that combine the love of food with the latest in technology. Your next restaurant tech adventure starts here! 📖 Get your copy of the Delivering the Digital Restaurant books at www.theDigital.Restaurant 🎤 Have Carl come and speak at your company conference! Learn more at www.theDigital.Restaurant 🎙️📰Please subscribe to our newsletter and connect with Carl's Delivering the Digital Restaurant page on LinkedIn for their twice-a-month newsletter.

    30 min
  3. How will Tariffs affect Restaurants? - with Guest Host Deborah Matteliano from AWS

    14 APR

    How will Tariffs affect Restaurants? - with Guest Host Deborah Matteliano from AWS

    Send us a text This week, Carl is joined by Deborah Matteliano, the Global Head of Restaurants at AWS, for a wide-ranging conversation that covers everything from tariffs and avocados to AI strategy, Seamless’s surprising comeback, and the limits of restaurant robotics. Drawing from her experience at Uber Eats and now at Amazon, Deborah offers sharp insights on how data, delivery, and design are reshaping the restaurant landscape. Topics include: 1m 15: How Chipotle’s avocado strategy is shielding it from tariff turbulence9m: Why Grubhub's Revival of Seamless Could Be Wonder's Secret Weapon16m 55: The real reason Kernel scrapped its robots22m 20: The DoorDash + Domino’s partnership.30m: Boston's permit requirements on the delivery companies.If you're serious about restaurant tech and the off-premise channel, this one’s a must-listen. Support the show 🔔 Subscribe to The Digital Restaurant Podcast and follow us on YouTube for more episodes that combine the love of food with the latest in technology. Your next restaurant tech adventure starts here! 📖 Get your copy of the Delivering the Digital Restaurant books at www.theDigital.Restaurant 🎤 Have Carl come and speak at your company conference! Learn more at www.theDigital.Restaurant 🎙️📰Please subscribe to our newsletter and connect with Carl's Delivering the Digital Restaurant page on LinkedIn for their twice-a-month newsletter.

    26 min
  4. Is Bolt Coming for Uber in America? - with Guest Host Yaro Tsyhanenko

    31 MAR

    Is Bolt Coming for Uber in America? - with Guest Host Yaro Tsyhanenko

    Send us a text This week on The Digital Restaurant, Carl is joined by Yaro Tsyhanenko, founder of PickPad, to break down the headlines shaping restaurants and tech: ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 – Intro: Meet guest host Yaro, CEO of PickPad 01:00 – Why did Yum Brands partner with Nvidia? 05:37 – What does Qu’s State of Digital 2025 Report reveal? 13:06 – Why did Starbucks acquire Empower Delivery? 18:47 – Are loyalty programs evolving or stuck in the past? 26:02 – Could Bolt disrupt Uber and DoorDash in North America? 30:00 – What is PickPad, and how is it improving restaurant pickup? 🔥 Topics covered: Yum’s push into site-level AIWhy loyalty without data is just a discountHow fast casuals are quietly overtaking QSRs in digitalEmpower Delivery’s big leap into StarbucksBolt’s entry into Canada — and what it signals for North AmericaA smart startup (PickPad) fixing off-prem chaos with sensors + MLSupport the show 🔔 Subscribe to The Digital Restaurant Podcast and follow us on YouTube for more episodes that combine the love of food with the latest in technology. Your next restaurant tech adventure starts here! 📖 Get your copy of the Delivering the Digital Restaurant books at www.theDigital.Restaurant 🎤 Have Carl come and speak at your company conference! Learn more at www.theDigital.Restaurant 🎙️📰Please subscribe to our newsletter and connect with Carl's Delivering the Digital Restaurant page on LinkedIn for their twice-a-month newsletter.

    25 min
  5. Are Restaurants Getting Tired of Tech? - with Guest Host Bernadette Heier

    17 MAR

    Are Restaurants Getting Tired of Tech? - with Guest Host Bernadette Heier

    Send us a text Welcome to The Digital Restaurant! Carl is joined by Bernadette Heier, Managing Editor from Food on Demand, marking the first time a professional broadcaster joins the show. [00:01:07] Planes, (Trains?) & Automobiles – A New Kind of Off-Premise? Shake Shack is expanding its partnership with Delta Airlines, bringing its brand to first-class passengers. As restaurants seek new ways to expand off-premise, is the future in the skies—or even on freeways? [00:03:04] Dashboard Dining: The Rise of In-Car Ordering – SoundHound AI partners with Chrysler, Hyundai, and Kia to bring voice ordering into vehicles. while the team explores how Mavi shares insights into how personalized ordering could reshape the drive-thru experience. [00:04:29] Is Tech Fatigue Real? Some operators are reassessing their technology investments. McDonald’s pulls back on voice AI, and Chipotle’s Autocado robot returns to the lab. Are restaurants overwhelmed, or is the industry just demanding stronger ROI? [00:10:15] Wonder Acquires a Media Powerhouse – Wonder, fresh off acquiring Grubhub, now buys Tastemade. With 160 million social followers, this move could redefine how food content drives sales. [00:13:07] Starbucks Rethinks Store Design – As mobile pickup surges, Starbucks looks to rebalance digital and in-store orders. What can the industry learn from their approach? [00:19:24] Agentic AI in Restaurants – Yum Brands is testing AI-powered restaurant managers through its Byte AI Restaurant Coach, signaling a shift toward automated decision-making in fast food. [00:22:32] Food On Demand Conference Preview – Bernadette shares why Food on Demand (May 5-7 in Las Vegas) is the must-attend event for off-premise and restaurant technology leaders. 🔊 Listen now to stay ahead in restaurant innovation! #Restaurants #OffPremise #AI #DriveThru #TechFatigue #FoodOnDemand #Wonder #Starbucks #ShakeShack Support the show 🔔 Subscribe to The Digital Restaurant Podcast and follow us on YouTube for more episodes that combine the love of food with the latest in technology. Your next restaurant tech adventure starts here! 📖 Get your copy of the Delivering the Digital Restaurant books at www.theDigital.Restaurant 🎤 Have Carl come and speak at your company conference! Learn more at www.theDigital.Restaurant 🎙️📰Please subscribe to our newsletter and connect with Carl's Delivering the Digital Restaurant page on LinkedIn for their twice-a-month newsletter.

    25 min
  6. Just Eat, Just Sold - The Global Marketplace Consolidation Continues

    3 MAR

    Just Eat, Just Sold - The Global Marketplace Consolidation Continues

    Send us a text Welcome to this week’s episode of The Digital Restaurant Podcast! Carl is joined by special guest Olga Lopategui, a leading expert in restaurant loyalty and digital engagement, to break down the latest innovations shaping the restaurant industry. ⏱ [01:07] – Just Salad Gets $200M Investment What makes Just Salad’s tech stack unique?How will this funding impact digital transformation in restaurants?Will they use the investment for expansion, technology, or both? ⏱ [04:42] – Just Eat Takeaway’s Acquisition by Process What does this mean for global food delivery consolidation?How does it compare to previous acquisitions like Grubhub?Could DoorDash face challenges in global expansion? ⏱ [09:09] – The Digital Guest Experience & UX Innovation How should restaurant UI/UX evolve for better ordering?Why should apps customize the interface for individual users?What lessons can restaurants learn from brands like Taco Bell’s Veggie Mode? ⏱ [14:19] – What Are Digital Twins & Why Do They Matter? How do digital twins work in the restaurant industry?Can virtual simulations replace traditional prototype testing?How might predictive maintenance reduce restaurant downtime? Additional Paper here ⏱ [19:53] – Dutch Bros, Panda Express & Domino’s on Mobile Ordering How did Dutch Bros perfect their mobile app launch?What improvements are Panda and Domino’s making?Why is mobile ordering crucial for customer loyalty and convenience?Support the show 🔔 Subscribe to The Digital Restaurant Podcast and follow us on YouTube for more episodes that combine the love of food with the latest in technology. Your next restaurant tech adventure starts here! 📖 Get your copy of the Delivering the Digital Restaurant books at www.theDigital.Restaurant 🎤 Have Carl come and speak at your company conference! Learn more at www.theDigital.Restaurant 🎙️📰Please subscribe to our newsletter and connect with Carl's Delivering the Digital Restaurant page on LinkedIn for their twice-a-month newsletter.

    26 min
  7. Why does Yum want to own the tech stack - with guest host Cijoy Olickal

    17 FEB

    Why does Yum want to own the tech stack - with guest host Cijoy Olickal

    Send us a text Carl welcomes guest host Cijoy Olickal, a restaurant tech expert, to break down key industry trends. 🔹 2025 Restaurant Industry Outlook – $1.5T in sales, shifting consumer habits, tech’s impact on profitability, and labor challenges. Articles One, Two, and Three 🔹 Yum! Brands' Tech Strategy – Is building a proprietary tech stack the right move for a global franchise? Articles One and Two 🔹 Wonder’s Expansion – Mark Lore’s meal kit & marketplace strategy—how does it compare to DoorDash and Uber Eats? Articles One, Two, and Three 🔹 CPK’s Vending Machines – Can automated pizza machines change the game for restaurant growth? Article One 🔹 DoorDash’s Power Shift – With advertising revenue booming, is DoorDash now a marketing giant first, a delivery service second? Articles One, Two, and Support the show 🔔 Subscribe to The Digital Restaurant Podcast and follow us on YouTube for more episodes that combine the love of food with the latest in technology. Your next restaurant tech adventure starts here! 📖 Get your copy of the Delivering the Digital Restaurant books at www.theDigital.Restaurant 🎤 Have Carl come and speak at your company conference! Learn more at www.theDigital.Restaurant 🎙️📰Please subscribe to our newsletter and connect with Carl's Delivering the Digital Restaurant page on LinkedIn for their twice-a-month newsletter.

    34 min
  8. Our 100th episode, one host down but Chain of Thought Reasoning top of mind

    6 FEB

    Our 100th episode, one host down but Chain of Thought Reasoning top of mind

    Send us a text 🚀 The Digital Restaurant Podcast - 100th Episode Special! 🎉 Welcome to a milestone episode of The Digital Restaurant! This is our 100th episode, and while it's a moment of celebration, it also comes with a bittersweet note—Meredith is off to Seattle to take on an exciting EVP role at Starbucks. We’ll miss her insights, but the show must go on! In this episode, Carl Orsbourn takes the mic solo to explore the next evolution of restaurant and retail tech: moving beyond SaaS into holistic reasoning and AI-driven orchestration. Key Topics Discussed: ✅ The Downside of SaaS & Siloed Systems SaaS unlocked incredible capabilities for restaurants and retailers, but it also created fragmented systems that hinder efficiency. APIs were meant to solve this, yet they often fail to integrate seamlessly. ✅ The Need for Data Unification APIs, when implemented, are usually linear and siloed. Carl explains why data unification is essential—moving from fragmented systems to a connected web of insights. ✅ AI Agents & Chain of Thought Reasoning Businesses can’t rely on isolated software. The future lies in AI-driven models that adapt and learn. Carl explores Chain of Thought (CoT) Reasoning, which threads insights across departments, bridging silos and improving decision-making. ✅ What Amazon’s 2002 API Mandate Teaches Us Carl discusses Jeff Bezos’ API mandate, which forced Amazon to break down silos and create an interconnected platform. This move helped Amazon become an AI-driven powerhouse—a model businesses should consider. ✅ Real-World Use Cases AI-driven orchestration can transform demand forecasting, merchandising, supply chains, and personalization. Imagine: Localized marketing & staffing auto-adjusted in real-time.Retail shelving resets triggered by AI-detected sales patterns.Hotels personalizing guest experiences dynamically.✅ The Urgency of Fixing Data Quality First Carl shares a key quote from Invisible’s CEO: "When great AI meets bad data, the data always wins." With only 8% of AI models making it to production, clean data, model training, and continuous learning are essential. 🔮 The Future: From SaaS to Model-Driven Innovation Companies waiting for SaaS integrations will be left behind. The winners will be those shifting toward AI agents that dynamically align decisions with business goals. Support the show 🔔 Subscribe to The Digital Restaurant Podcast and follow us on YouTube for more episodes that combine the love of food with the latest in technology. Your next restaurant tech adventure starts here! 📖 Get your copy of the Delivering the Digital Restaurant books at www.theDigital.Restaurant 🎤 Have Carl come and speak at your company conference! Learn more at www.theDigital.Restaurant 🎙️📰Please subscribe to our newsletter and connect with Carl's Delivering the Digital Restaurant page on LinkedIn for their twice-a-month newsletter.

    21 min
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About

The latest on technology affecting the restaurant industry - for better and for worse.

Information

  • Creator
    Carl Orsbourn
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2025
  • Episodes
    106
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 The Digital Restaurant
  • Show Website
    The Digital Restaurant

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