At MURTEC 2024: How to Leverage Tech and AI to Increase AUV, Control Costs and Elevate Customer Experience
Attendees at MURTEC 2024 were leaning in today when two restaurant operators took to the stage to share their advice during the session, How to Leverage Tech and AI to Increase AUV, Control Costs and Elevate Customer Experience.
Denise Lee, a Sonic franchisee, and Madeleine Zook, a multi-unit restaurant franchisee, shared their challenges, observations and tech investments.
Some of the key takeaways:
- “Take care of the foundation” -- the infrastructure -- “to set up your business for success,” stressed Zook.
- The biggest thing is mobility and speed of operations anywhere.
- Make it easy for your employees to work (and train!) for you. Lee admitted she had previously sent her employees to Starbucks to complete their training on their Wi-Fi.
- Make it easy for your customers to order from you.
Restaurant operators are leery to invest in technology. However, there are many upsides in addition to increased efficiency, access to data and more. Lee shared how she gained efficiencies by swapping out old ways for more modern systems. During COVID, Lee updated their security cameras so the DM wasn’t able to go store to store. “Now it is nice to have the infrastructure in there. You can’t be in 10 restaurants at once,” Lee said.
Lee admitted they were using a “little red spiral notebooks” to track temperature, scheduling and other compliance logs that were then mailed into corporate office. Now they’re using iPads, the data is going to the cloud and the company is saving money on postage and storage and more.
Employees, especially the Gen Zers, know how to use iPads. Don’t underestimate this tech knowledge and its impact on expediting training, said Zook.
When it comes to navigating tech deployments, customization is key, Zook stressed. There’s not a one-sized-fits-all solution. “There’s no one better than you, your GM and your employees to determine what is going to work for you,” stressed Zook.
More Great Content from MURTEC 2024
This is just one of the dozens of though-provoking sessions at MURTEC 2024.
You don't want to miss the MURTEC 2024 keynote featuring Eleven Madison Park's Will Guidara, author of Unreasonable Hospitality.
- Elevating Excellence: Eleven Madison Park's Pursuit of Hospitality Greatness
- Industry Outlook with Dine Brands CEO John Peyton
- Unlocking the Power of Sustainable Practices in Hospitality
- Tech Titans Dish Out Insights During a Live Hospitality Hangout
- Hospitality Technology Announces the 2024 Top Women and Rising Stars in Restaurant Technology Award Winners