How Restaurants Can Scale Fast & Smart: Lessons From Bite and Ono Hawaiian BBQ
Meet the Experts
Brandon Barton serves as the CEO of Bite, a leading provider of intelligent kiosk solutions designed to enhance the restaurant guest experience, streamline operations, increase sales, and improve order accuracy.
Harry Yu is Director of IT at Ono Hawaiian BBQ and has held technology leadership roles at Dine Brands, Jollibee, and Johnny Rockets, and was IT Manager at Amazon.
At MURTEC 2025: Experience Matters, Brandon Barton, CEO, Bite; and Harry Yu, Director of IT, Ono Hawaiian BBQ, delivered an exceptional MURTalk on the exhibit hall’s Solution Stage (sponsored by Bite), essentially a briskly paced masterclass in making strategic, high-impact tech investments that truly move the needle.
Why Experience Matters in Restaurant Technology
Barton brough Yu to the stage because, with 26 years in technology, including leadership roles at Dine Brands, Jollibee, and Johnny Rockets, Yu knows what works—and what doesn’t—when it comes to scaling restaurant operations. In collaboration with Bite's intelligent kiosk solution, Ono Hawaiian BBQ, a family-owned, 117-location brand, is on a growth trajectory, and their approach to technology reflects deep industry experience:
- The Right Tech at the Right Time: Not all innovation is a fit for every brand. AI and robotics might dominate headlines, but foundational tech—like POS, analytics, and infrastructure—must be in place first.
- Scalability Requires Standards: A disciplined, test-and-learn approach ensures fast rollouts without chaos.
- Speed Matters: Once a brand identifies a winning solution, rapid deployment is key to staying competitive.
AI: A Powerful Tool—But Only If You’re Ready
“Today’s AI is like a three-year-old child,” Yu explained. Many restaurant leaders are eager to invest in AI, but he emphasized that AI is not a magic pill—it requires preparation:
- Is your infrastructure AI-ready? Operators must first ensure clean, organized data and strong foundational tech before layering in AI.
- What problem are you solving? AI should be deployed with a clear business objective—whether it’s fraud detection, predictive analytics, or personalization.
Barton reinforced that data hygiene and infrastructure investment are critical precursors to AI adoption. Without these, AI-driven insights won’t be accurate or useful.
Robotics: The Right Time and Place
Ono Hawaiian BBQ has evaluated robotics but remains cautious. “We cook to order,” Yu explained, “so efficiency is key—but we also prioritize the human factor.”
Yu believes robotics will get there, but the key is watching the industry, learning from others, and adopting only when the technology proves it can enhance efficiency without compromising guest experience.
A Framework for Scaling Fast
One of the most valuable lessons Yu shared is how to scale efficiently. Drawing inspiration from his experience at Amazon, he outlined a simple yet powerful framework for rolling out new technology:
- Test in Small Batches: Before committing, pilot-test new solutions in a handful of locations, measure productivity down to the second, and refine the approach.
- Standardize the Solution: Avoid excessive variations in implementation—whether it’s kiosks, mobile ordering, or digital payments. Standardization makes scaling seamless.
- Deploy Fast Once Proven: When a solution demonstrates value, move quickly to implement it across the system.
For example, Ono’s kiosk strategy focuses on choosing the right format—whether free-standing or countertop—so that when deployment begins, the rollout is fast and frictionless.
Why Speed Wins in Restaurant Technology
Yu underscored the importance of acting decisively once a winning technology is identified:
- Real estate costs don’t wait. From the moment a restaurant location is built, expenses are accumulating—delays in technology implementation impact profitability.
- Guest expectations evolve quickly. In a hyper-competitive environment, brands can’t afford slow rollouts—they must adapt fast to maintain customer loyalty.
“Every day counts,” Yu emphasized. The faster a new solution gets into the hands of staff and customers, the faster it delivers real business impact.
Key Takeaways for Restaurant Operators
- AI isn’t a silver bullet. Ensure your data and infrastructure are ready before investing.
- Not all tech trends fit every brand. Focus on what aligns with your unique business model.
- Scaling efficiently requires disciplined testing, standardization, and rapid execution.
- Speed is a competitive advantage—once you validate a technology, deploy it quickly.
For restaurant operators navigating the future of scalable technology, the insights from Ono Hawaiian BBQ and Bite offer a playbook for smart, strategic tech adoption—one that balances innovation with real-world operational needs.