The Digital Restaurant

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

  1. The State of Digital Report (2026) by QU Pos - Restaurants Are Done Experimenting. Now They Have to Execute

    1 DAY AGO

    The State of Digital Report (2026) by QU Pos - Restaurants Are Done Experimenting. Now They Have to Execute

    Send us Fan Mail Restaurants have crossed a line. AI adoption is accelerating. Digital sales are growing. Tech spend is rising. But here’s the problem… very little of it is actually working. In this episode, Carl sits down with Jen Kern (CMO at Qu) to break down the 2026 State of Digital Report and what it really tells us about the industry. This is not a conversation about trends. It’s a conversation about execution. Key themes include: Why 73% of brands are investing in AI, but only 9% see real impactHow fragmented tech stacks are holding back guest experienceWhy digital growth is exposing operational weaknessesThe shift from experimentation to operational disciplineWhat “serving smarter” actually means in practiceIf you care about where restaurants go next, this is one to watch. Download and read the full report on Qu's website here 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.

    28 min
  2. Will Synthetic Data Drive 80% of all Restaurant Decisions?

    24/11/2025

    Will Synthetic Data Drive 80% of all Restaurant Decisions?

    Send us Fan Mail Carl is joined by Rishi Nigam, CEO of Franklin Junction, to break down the most important stories shaping restaurants and consumer technology as we close out 2025. From GoPuff’s latest funding round to Cloudflare’s massive outage and the rising role of synthetic data, this episode looks at how operators should prepare for a rapidly changing year ahead.  Topics covered: • GoPuff’s new funding and whether it signals discipline or deeper trouble • Q4 softness and why consumer spending may diverge sharply by income level in 2026 • Kroger’s closure of e-commerce fulfillment centers and what it means for delivery economics • How synthetic data is reshaping forecasting, pricing, and marketing • Why Cloudflare’s outage shows every restaurant needs a real contingency plan Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 01:00 GoPuff funding analysis 06:00 Consumer spending outlook for 2026 12:00 Kroger closes fulfillment centers 15:00 Synthetic data and the 80 percent prediction 22:00 Cloudflare outage and industry risk Listen, subscribe, and share your thoughts with us. Happy Thanksgiving from The Digital Restaurant. 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.

    29 min
  3. Great Buy or Great Sell? - Spyce heads to Wonder

    10/11/2025

    Great Buy or Great Sell? - Spyce heads to Wonder

    Send us Fan Mail Special guest host Kim DeCarolis joins Carl for a lively dive into the week’s biggest restaurant and tech stories for the last episode in Season 2. They start with American Express’s growing influence in restaurant loyalty and ask whether Amex has become the new partner of choice. Then they turn to Chipotle, where CEO Scott Boatwright is refocusing the brand around digital order accuracy — a move that says a lot about how consumer expectations have shifted. Next up: Yelp’s new AI Receptionist  - will it actually help operators, or just add more noise to the AI conversation? And in one of the week’s biggest business moves, Wonder’s acquisition of Spyce from Sweetgreen sparks a discussion on focus, automation, and where robotics fits into the future kitchen. Finally, Carl and Kim unpack the Uber + Toast partnership, a big move that could reshape the first-party and third-party delivery landscape. As always, The Digital Restaurant looks at how these headlines reveal where restaurant technology and the broader off-premise experience are headed next. 01:30  – Q1: Is Amex becoming the restaurant partner of choice? 05:00 – Q2: Chipotle turns its focus to order accuracy 10:45  – Q3: Yelp Receptionist – Hype or Help for Operators? 14:50  – Q4: Wonder buys Spyce from Sweetgreen – smart sale or bold gamble? 19:40  – Q5: Uber + Toast partnership – what it means for delivery’s future 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. Chat GPT & The End of Marketplaces?

    13/10/2025

    Chat GPT & The End of Marketplaces?

    Send us Fan Mail Are delivery marketplaces like DoorDash and Uber Eats about to be disrupted by ChatGPT? Carl welcomes Atul Sood, former McDonald’s and Kitchen United executive, to explore how AI and automation are reshaping the food world — from ChatGPT’s new app integrations to robotic hospital kitchens. Together they cover: DoorDash’s new Dot delivery robot and smart scale (2m 15) https://foodondemand.com/10012025/doordash-ceo-tony-xu-unveils-delivery-robot-and-smartscale/How ChatGPT’s App SDK could eliminate the need for delivery apps altogether (6m 35) https://techcrunch.com/2025/10/06/openai-launches-apps-inside-of-chatgpt/Aramark’s robotic kitchen for hospital meals (14m 15) https://chainstoreage.com/aramark-invests-food-service-robot-health-care-facilitiesInsights from Toast’s 2025 restaurant report (16m 55) https://pos.toasttab.com/blog/data/2025-voice-of-restaurant-industry-surveyHow bot armies may have fueled Cracker Barrel’s viral logo controversy (22m 45) https://www.nrn.com/casual-dining/cracker-barrel-s-logo-controversy-was-driven-by-bots-what-operators-should-learn-from-thisIt’s a packed episode on the intersection of AI, automation, and restaurant innovation — and what it all means for operators, brands, and consumers. 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.

    28 min
  5. Build vs Buy - The Question every Restaurant Exec must answer

    29/09/2025

    Build vs Buy - The Question every Restaurant Exec must answer

    Send us Fan Mail This week on The Digital Restaurant, Carl is joined by Jeremy Julian, host of the Restaurant Technology Guys podcast and CRO of CBS NorthStar, for a wide-ranging conversation on the state of restaurant technology. We dive into highlights from FSTEC, explore new benchmarks from InTouch Insight’s QSR report on voice AI & kiosks, and tackle the perennial build vs buy question that every brand faces. We also look at ChowBus’ surprising pivot from delivery platform to full-stack tech provider and dig into the often-overlooked value of digital menu boards. From hospitality’s enduring role to the realities of ROI, this episode is packed with insights operators and tech providers alike won’t want to miss. Timestamps 01:00 – Insights from FSTEC – tech must enhance guest & staff experience 05:00 – Voice AI in QSRs – findings from InTouch Insight’s report 15:50 – Build vs Buy – hidden costs and ROI realities 20:50 – ChowBus pivots from delivery to full-stack tech platform 24:50 – The untapped potential of digital menu boards 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
  6. Is First Party Ordering Losing the Fight?

    15/09/2025

    Is First Party Ordering Losing the Fight?

    Send us Fan Mail This week, Carl welcomes special guest host Markus Pineyro of Oomi  Kitchen to dive into five major stories shaping restaurants and technology. Is first-party delivery really the answer? We explore the economics, customer experience, and hidden costs behind running your own fleet.Burger King’s security scare: An ethical hacker exposes vulnerabilities at RBI. What lessons should operators learn about digital risk and communication?DoorDash’s commerce platform expansion: Why their SaaS-like approach could reshape how independents think about tech stacks.FSTEC’s Tech Guide: Fresh survey data reveals gaps in loyalty, reviews, and back-of-house investment. Surprising stats operators need to see.Starbucks’ AI inventory control: From clipboards to cameras, we break down how imagery-based systems could transform accuracy and cash control.Plus, Markus shares the Oomi journey and what it means to be a digitally native restaurant. 00:00 – Welcome & guest intro (Markus, Oomi Digital Kitchen)  01:00 – Q1: Is first-party delivery really the way to go?  06:00 – Q2: Burger King security flaw – lessons for operators  12:00 – Q3: DoorDash expands with new commerce platform  16:00 – Q4: FSTEC Tech Guide – surprising operator survey data  22:00 – Q5: Starbucks tests AI inventory control  26:00 – Markus on Oomi’s model & digital-native kitchens  28:30 – Wrap-up & how to connect with Markus 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
  7. Why Agile Marketing is the Essential Restaurant Skill in the Digital Age

    02/09/2025

    Why Agile Marketing is the Essential Restaurant Skill in the Digital Age

    Send us Fan Mail This week on The Digital Restaurant, Carl is joined by Jennifer Kern, CMO of Qu, for a fast-moving conversation about the headlines shaping restaurants, technology, and consumer behavior. We kick off with a surprising stat: half of adults are ordering kids meals. (01:00) What does this say about QSR value wars, portion sizes, and how brands like CAVA and Starbucks are reframing value through experience, not just price? Next, we examine Chipotle’s partnership with Zipline (05:00), which involves testing drone delivery in Dallas. Is this more than PR? Carl breaks down the operational hurdles, costs, and what it means for scale. From there, we dive into talent and tech shifts: Duolingo’s social media star Zaria Parvez joins DoorDash (10:00), bringing 16M followers’ worth of creativity, and voice AI startups raise fresh funding (14:00)— even as Taco Bell and McDonald’s wrestle with reliability. Finally, we conclude with culture and agility: how restaurants capitalized on Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift’s engagement (21:00) to deliver playful, real-time marketing moments. 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.

    28 min
  8. Beware, Be Kind of Viral Influencers

    18/08/2025

    Beware, Be Kind of Viral Influencers

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Digital Restaurant, Carl is joined by Emmy Award–winning storyteller Mike Duffy of Yum Crunch. Together they break down five timely stories shaping restaurants and tech: McDonald’s bets on web ordering through DoorDash—does convenience outweigh control?Yum Brands’ Byte platform fuels $9B in digital sales and rewrites the restaurant tech stack.Social listening lessons: Cracker Barrel’s backlash vs. KFC’s potato wedge comeback.Drone delivery’s tipping point—new FAA rules, Texas rollouts, pizza robots in LA, and the Ghost Kitchen 3.0 vision.The power and peril of influencers—when viral moments can make or break restaurants.Tune in for insights on how digital disruption, AI, and influence are shaping the future of food. 00:50 – Big Macs without an app? McDonald’s and DoorDash team up on a web-based ordering channel. Does this remove friction or hand too much control to a third party? 06:20 – How Byte is fueling Yum’s digital revolution Yum Brands surpasses $9B in digital sales with its in-house AI platform Byte, reshaping marketing, operations, and delivery. 14:35 – Social listening: when to hear and when to act KFC wins big with a potato wedge comeback while Cracker Barrel faces backlash over redesigns. Lessons in consumer engagement. 22:55 – Drone delivery is set to take off Regulations shift, GoTo Foods tests drones in Texas, Serve robots deliver pizzas in LA, and Ghost Kitchens 3.0 may be on the horizon. 32:00 – Should operators be influencers? The risks and rewards of social media influence: a San Francisco chef’s career collapses after a viral TikTok, while CPK and Pinky Cole show how to turn moments into opportunities. 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.

    46 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 - 2026
  • Episodes
    118
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Digital Restaurant
  • Show Website
    The Digital Restaurant