News Briefs

Xina AI is proud to announce the launch of its phone-in voice ordering system designed specifically for restaurants. This technology is set to transform the dining experience, providing both customers and restaurant operators with a seamless, efficient, and highly personalized service. This new offering complements Xina AI’s existing suite of solutions, including the popular voice kiosk application and the AI-powered wine sommelier.

The new system leverages advanced natural language processing and machine learning algorithms to offer an intuitive and user-friendly interface. Diners can now place their orders by simply speaking, making the process faster and more convenient. The system is multilingual and designed to understand a wide range of accents and dialects, ensuring accurate order placement every time.

For restaurant operators, the Xina AI phone-in voice ordering system promises to streamline operations and reduce wait times. By automating the ordering process, staff can focus more on customer service and less on manual order entry, enhancing the overall dining experience and increasing table turnover rates.

Key Features of Xina AI’s Phone-In Voice Ordering System:

- Multi-Language Support: The system supports multiple languages, catering to a diverse customer base and making it accessible to a global audience.

- Accurate Order Processing: With state-of-the-art speech recognition technology, the system ensures high accuracy in order placement, minimizing errors and food waste.

- Integration with Existing Systems: The phone-in voice ordering system can be seamlessly integrated with existing restaurant management software, ensuring a smooth transition and compatibility.

- Personalized Dining Experience: The AI can remember customer preferences and past orders, offering a highly personalized dining experience.

Carl Sconnely, CEO of Xina AI, commented on the launch, stating, "Our new phone-in voice ordering system represents a significant leap forward in how technology can enhance everyday experiences. At Xina AI, we are committed to creating solutions that not only improve efficiency but also provide a more enjoyable and personalized experience for users. This system, along with our existing voice kiosk application and AI wine sommelier, is a testament to our dedication to innovation and our understanding of the evolving needs of the restaurant industry."

Shift4 has acquired a majority stake in Vectron Systems AG, a European suppliers of point-of-sale (POS) systems to the restaurant and hospitality verticals. 

Based in Germany, Vectron has 65,000 POS locations across Europe, representing. Shift4 is expected to acquire additional ownership of Vectron through a public tender offer that is expected to conclude within the next month, with a de-listing and formal integration process to occur shortly thereafter.

The acquisition is expected to provide Shift4 with an expansive customer footprint across Europe as well as a distribution network of ~300 POS resellers. As a result of the acquisition, Shift4 believes it will be able to add its integrated payment services to current Vectron customers and products, while also empowering the sales force with a compelling all-in-one POS and payments solution unrivaled in Europe.

“Shift4 was at the forefront of the convergence between software and payments in the restaurant and hospitality verticals in the US. We see an incredible amount of demand for a similar all-in-one solution across Europe,” states Shift4 CEO Jared Isaacman. “With our integrated payments and SkyTab offering, we believe we have the best solution at the right price point. Vectron will provide valuable local expertise, infrastructure, and the distribution necessary to meet the demand. This acquisition is right out of the Shift4 playbook – enabling us to unlock synergies, expand our distribution, and monetize payments for a large existing install base.”

Completes Revel Systems Acquistion

In addition to the acquisition of Vectron, Shift4 has also completed its previously announced acquisition of Revel Systems. Revel has over 18,000 merchant locations across the United States and internationally which Shift4 estimates represents a $17B+ payment opportunity. Revel also has a direct sales and dealer distribution network which Shift4 believes can be leveraged to accelerate SkyTab distribution both domestically and abroad. 

Shift4 has signed a definitive arrangement agreement to acquire Givex Corp., a global provider of gift cards, loyalty programs and point-of-sale solutions. 

The Arrangement Agreement is subject to customary closing conditions and the transaction is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of this year. 

With across more than 100 countries, Givex serves a wide range of businesses in various industries, including 7-Eleven, Wendy’s, Best Western, Texas Roadhouse. 

The company offers robust gift card and e-gift solutions as well as customizable loyalty programs, and a point-of-sale (POS) system for various business types, among other value-added services.

 “Givex has a considerable footprint around the world which will dramatically increase Shift4’s overall customer base,” states Shift4 President Taylor Lauber. “At the same time, their gift card and loyalty solutions are second to none and will add significant value for our current customers, creating stickier relationships andh 130,000+ active locations enhancing our overall value proposition. Similar to other deals we have recently completed, this acquisition aligns perfectly with how we like to deploy capital – adding blue-chip merchants at a low customer acquisition cost while delivering additional benefits to our customer base.” 

“The Givex team looks forward to joining the Shift4 family and bring our enterprise gift card capabilities and loyalty programs to hundreds of thousands of new customers,” says Don Gray, CEO of Givex. “By combining Shift4’s end-to-end payment solution with our value-added engagement services, we can deliver an unparalleled package to both of our customer bases.”  

Mark Shambura has joined Panera Bread as Chief Marketing Officer. Shambura will lead all aspects of marketing at Panera, including Brand Building, Digital & Loyalty, Product Strategy & Consumer Insights. An accomplished marketing leader with broad expertise in the restaurant industry, Mr. Shambura has previously held marketing leadership roles during pivotal growth periods for top brands including Chipotle, MOD Pizza, and most recently Papa Johns.

"Mark brings an impressive background building brands and leading marketing teams for fast-casual restaurants, and we’re thrilled to welcome him to Panera Bread,” said José Alberto Dueñas, Chief Executive Officer. “As Panera continues to evolve our brand, guided by listening to our guests, Mark’s depth of experience and ability will help drive our growth as a brand that serves great food you feel good about eating.”

Shambura previously served as CMO at Papa Johns, where he led a revitalization of the brand by enhancing its iconic “Better Ingredients, Better Pizza” platform, and developing a more modern, innovative omnichannel approach to transform how Papa Johns appealed to both new and loyal consumers. As Executive Director at Chipotle, Mr. Shambura guided the marketing function through periods of both sustained growth and transition, providing leadership over brand strategy, advertising, digital, social, events/sponsorships, promotions, and field marketing, including playing a key role in spearheading its “Real Ingredients” brand strategy.

“I’m proud to join the Panera Bread team and excited to build on the momentum of the brand's transformation as it continues to evolve in service of our guests,” Mr. Shambura said. “Panera propelled and cemented its position at the top of the fast casual restaurant segment through its promise of high-quality ingredients and freshly prepared food, and I’m thrilled to join a highly talented team to help shape its next chapter.”

Prior to his tenure in the restaurant industry, Mr. Shambura gained extensive marketing agency experience, working with a broad array of top global consumer brands for over a decade. Shambura will report directly to José Alberto Dueñas, Chief Executive Officer, and officially assumed the role of Chief Marketing Officer on July 29, 2024.

MachineQ, a Comcast Company, launched an IoT-based power monitoring solution designed to assist enterprises in monitoring  and managing their energy consumption, leading to operational efficiencies, proactive maintenance, managed costs, and sustainability efforts. The solution also helps enterprises understand asset utilization, providing actionable data to optimize asset use.

The power monitoring solution is particularly relevant for high-energy consumers, such as food service companies, laboratories, and hotels, which consume more energy than typical commercial buildings due to their energy-intensive equipment and asset-intensive operations. For example, according to a recent Energy Star report, fast food restaurants and convenience stores consume nearly 900 BTU of energy per square foot of space. This is about 2.5x more energy than in any other commercial building.

“We’ve seen increased demand from current and prospective customers seeking ways to understand power consumption and obtain executable data to help them reduce energy utilization,” said Bryan Witkowski, Head of Product & Strategy, MachineQ. “This solution offers customers flexible options to help not only monitor but also help manage their energy usage. Plus, with many companies focused on sustainability initiatives, this solution can help play a vital role towards measuring and achieving those efforts.”

• 44% of restaurants have added energy-efficient appliances and equipment, according to HT's 2024 Restaurant Technology Study

Sustainable Decisions

One industry where sustainability efforts are top of mind is life sciences, where pharmaceutical companies have asset-heavy, power-intensive lab operations. A power monitoring solution can provide lab managers with valuable insights by tracking the energy consumption of equipment, such as centrifuges, and correlating that data to its frequent or infrequent use. Linking consumption and utilization data can help identify opportunities to reduce energy (e.g., turn it off when not in use), aid sustainability efforts, and help determine whether to reallocate the asset to another location, decommission it, or make better purchasing decisions.

Additionally, the solution can help aid in predictive maintenance for critical equipment, such as an ultra-low temperature freezer. By detecting anomalies in power consumption, which often indicate equipment issues, lab managers can proactively service or replace units before they fail. For instance, if a freezer starts using more energy to maintain its set point temperature, this could signal the need for maintenance or indicate that the unit is nearing the end of its life. 

MachineQ’s solution offers various ways to monitor power consumption accurately using IoT sensor devices that can extract data at the receptacle, equipment, or breaker level. The MQpower CT is a wireless, self-powered current transformer that can be clamped to electrical conductors at the breaker or asset level to measure real-time current consumption in a simple, non-invasive way.

The MQpower SP is a smart plug load device that enables businesses to plug in equipment and assets to extrapolate energy data, including daily energy usage, instantaneous current, voltage, active power, and power factor. It supports a variety of plug types, including US (type B), UK (type G), EU (type F), and FR (type E). The MQpower SP and MQpower CT both support regional LoRaWAN® frequencies globally.

The power monitoring solution complements smart metering capabilities by providing a holistic view of energy consumption and actionable insights to monitor, control, and manage consumption more intelligently. Plus, like all MachineQ solutions, these use cases run on the same scalable network infrastructure, helping customers to lower the total cost of ownership of their IoT investment over time.

A luxury brand built on service, image, and reputation, Nobu Hotels is continuing its tradition of innovation by upgrading its AI-powered wired, wireless, and SD-WAN infrastructure built on Zero Trust principles using an end-to-end HPE Aruba Networking solution from Hewlett Packard Enterprise. The updated network is supplying advanced secure connectivity at select Nobu properties around the world.

The deployment enhances mobile, IoT device, and AI-driven application connectivity in support of luxury services and amenities such as an AI Concierge. Accessed via an in-room digital voice assistant or the Nobu mobile app, the always-available AI Concierge responds to requests and makes proactive recommendations based on real-time data and guest preferences. The networking implementation also provides AI-powered intelligence that generates operational efficiencies and strengthens data security, enabling Nobu Hotels to meet every expectation of its discerning guests.

“Our connectivity vision emphasizes a secure, seamless, hyper-personalized guest experience that leverages advanced technologies, including various types of artificial intelligence infused throughout before, during, and post-stay interactions,” Rodney Linville, global head of IT for Nobu Hospitality. “This includes smart rooms, personalized services, advanced CRM and property management capabilities, housekeeping and maintenance automation, digital staff communications, and exceptional data security built on Zero Trust.”

Native IoT connectivity, reduced power consumption, and Zero Trust

As strong security is a priority for Nobu’s clientele, the hotelier relies on the Zero Trust principles engineered into its new network to safeguard its connectivity-driven and IoT-enabled environment.

For guest accommodations and safety, IoT technologies include door automation, security cameras, digital voice assistants, Apple TVs, lighting, window blinds, in-room dining orders, and the HVAC sensors necessary for providing guests with the ability to fine-tune their climate control settings.

Operationally, Nobu Hotel’s IoT systems include point-of-sale (POS) devices, tablets for mobilizing workers, and panic buttons for physical safety. For housekeeping automation, IoT supports solutions like HotSOS, Hub OS, and Knowcross. For facilities management, Nobu Hotels utilizes a variety of IoT-enabled preventative and required maintenance automation solutions.

“Innovative upscale hospitality companies depend upon secure, streamlined, and simplified connectivity for providing the capability to meet the rapidly evolving expectations of their discriminating guests,” said Larry Lunetta, vice president, AI, Security and Networking Product Marketing at HPE Aruba Networking. “Whether it’s establishing a Zero Trust security posture, seamlessly connecting IoT systems, or reducing power consumption with energy efficient networking hardware, having a high-performance intelligent wired, wireless, and SD-WAN networking enables Nobu Hotels to focus on providing iconic hospitality experiences rooted in culinary greatness worldwide.”

Intuitive visualizations with one-click workflow automation worldwide

To answer Nobu Hotel’s advanced connectivity demands, while minimizing operating overhead, the company added AI-powered HPE Aruba Networking Central, for managing campus, branch, remote, data center, and IoT networks from one dashboard, along with fully deploying HPE Aruba Networking ClearPass, which provides robust role-based access policies for implementing Zero Trust security for enterprises. In addition, HPE Aruba Networking User Experience Insight (UXI) proactively uncovers network degradations before they impact experiences.

According to Linville, the combination of these technologies, along with the advanced capabilities within Nobu Hotel’s HPE Aruba Networking wired switches, is critical for enabling the hotelier’s IT staff to effectively manage its global footprint.

“Our strategic deployment of HPE Aruba Networking ClearPass and the Dynamic Segmentation capability within our wired switches ensures we can realize our Zero Trust vision without adding IT or operational overhead,” he said. “In addition, having the visibility to monitor and troubleshoot every property, as well as the one-click ability to apply a network update worldwide, makes HPE Aruba Networking Central a tremendous benefit.”

Looking ahead, Nobu Hotels expects to leverage its new networking infrastructure to continue innovating in a competitive marketplace still recovering from the effects of the recent pandemic.

“HPE Aruba Networking is attentive to our industry-specific needs and supports us in our mission to furnish iconic hospitality experiences,” he said. “Our relationship with HPE Aruba Networking ensures that we can continue delivering on our brand promise with the agility to rapidly adapt to future technological and market developments.”