News Briefs

Thanx announced SOC 2 Type 2 compliance, Thanx Connex, and a series of additional enhancements.

Thanx introduces Thanx Connex, a new capability that allows brands to seamlessly share their customer data with any major data warehouse or database. Thanx Connex gives businesses access to customer data and the ability to perform transformations within their preferred systems without taking on the complexity of building and managing the data pipeline independently.

Thanx Connex supports major platforms, including Snowflake, BigQuery, Databricks, Redshift, and MySQL, giving brands complete control over their data. 

Integration Hub

Over the past few years, Thanx has accelerated its investment in interoperability with the restaurant technology ecosystem. The Thanx Integration Center now features over 60 pre-built integrations, streamlining how brands connect their existing technologies with Thanx.

Related: RTN Marches Towards Restaurant Industry Standardization with Object Model Repository Milestone

The Thanx Integration Center seamlessly connects with critical business systems and guest engagement technologies, including POS, online ordering, delivery, CDP, marketing automation, feedback, location services, kiosks, and UX platforms. This unified approach enables brands to enhance customer engagement efforts, gain richer insights, and deliver personalized experiences without adding more work for IT. In the last few months alone, Thanx has announced integrations, including POS provider Qu, kiosk provider Bite,  AI-powered SMS marketing provider Attentive, and omnichannel location platform Flybuy.

Strengthening Data Security

In another key milestone, Thanx has achieved SOC 2 Type 2 compliance, underscoring its commitment to maintaining the highest data security standards, availability, processing integrity, and confidentiality. 

To achieve this certification, Thanx underwent a rigorous third-party audit, assessing the effectiveness and sustainability of its data management systems. SOC 2 Type 2 compliance validates that Thanx protects sensitive customer data while adhering to security best practices over an extended period.

In addition to SOC 2 Type 2, Thanx complies with other industry standards, including CCPA (California Consumer Privacy Act) and PCI (Payment Card Industry) standards, ensuring comprehensive protection across multiple data privacy and security areas.

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.

Lavu, a point of sale (POS) and payments platform, formed a strategic partnership with embedded payroll solutions provider Check for the restaurant industry. Through the partnership, Lavu and Check will deliver a fully integrated payroll solution, Lavu Payroll, which is purpose-built for local restaurants and now available to Lavu customers at no extra cost.

Lavu empowers local restaurant owners to focus on what they do best: delighting customers and inspiring staff. Lavu’s POS solution handles the rest — delivering round-the-clock reliability, unmatched profitability, and world-class service. Now, with Check’s embedded payroll processing seamlessly integrated, Lavu enables restaurant owners to focus more on the tasks that matter to them.

85% say integrations with other systems is driving POS purchasing decisions, according to HT's 2024 POS Software Trends Survey

To combat inflation, staffing shortages and a shift in consumer dining preferences, Lavu Payroll is designed to simplify operations while boosting profitability for restaurant owners. This payroll solution is tailor-made for the restaurant industry, and will be instrumental in reducing manual timecard entry, ensuring real-time, accurate payments, and easing compliance with local, state, and federal regulations.

Key Features 

• Enhanced Profitability: Lavu Payroll is designed to tackle one of the most significant cost centers for restaurants — labor costs, which average 30-35% of total revenue in the foodservice industry. By automating payroll processes and reducing errors, Lavu helps restaurants lower the overall cost of payroll management, directly impacting their bottom line. With costs for payroll services often ranging from $840 to $1785 per month for small businesses, Lavu’s integrated solution eliminates these expenses, allowing restaurant owners to reinvest in their operations or enhance profitability.
• Free Payroll Integration: Lavu customers can now use Lavu’s advanced payroll system, eliminating the cost of third-party services or manual data entry, while expanding profit margins. This integration syncs directly with Lavu’s POS platform, automatically recording employee hours and reducing costly errors as well as real-time payments to restaurant staff.
• Tailored for Restaurants: Designed specifically for the restaurant industry, Lavu Payroll addresses unique payroll needs, including tip management, overtime calculations, and varying wage rates.

Slang.ai, an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered phone answering platform built for restaurants and hospitality partners, today announced a partnership with OpenTable to provide AI-powered service to restaurant partners in the U.S. and Canada. This marks a pivotal moment in the hospitality sector, as the collaboration can help drive efficiencies for restaurants, while elevating the booking experience for diners.

"By providing a human-like automated experience, we're eliminating the need for guests to face voicemail frustration. With OpenTable's extensive reach and our advanced AI capabilities, we're ushering in a new era of seamless booking convenience," said Alex Sambvani, founder and CEO, Slang.ai.
 

• 85% say integrations with other systems is driving POS purchasing decisions, according to HT's 2024 POS Software Trends Survey

The integration – now available on OpenTable's Integration Marketplace – will enable diners to seamlessly book, modify, and cancel reservations over the phone. For restaurants that opt in, this means being able to automatically answer every phone call – saving employees' time to provide enhanced service on premise and helping to capture more booking revenue. Diners will have a seamless, human-like booking experience, and can also get answers to pertinent dining questions – like hours, dress code, parking, and more – in and outside of operating hours.

Restaurants leveraging Slang.ai's AI platform have reported existing restaurant partners utilizing the technology have seen staff call volume reduced by 50%, and an increase in phone-based booking revenue. With tailored responses that reflect each brand's unique identity, Slang.ai empowers restaurants to stay ahead of the competition, offering a modern, tech-driven approach to customer engagement.

"Slang allows us to deliver consistent messaging to our guests, allows them to ask more questions, and allows the answers to be tailored exactly to what we want," says Jad Izzedin, Executive Brand Director, Texas de Brazil.

To gain insights into the transformative impact of AI in the restaurant industry, Slang.ai recently released a survey called "AI in the Restaurant Industry; How Businesses Are Embracing AI Technology."