News Briefs

Epson  announced a partnership with Kitchen Armor, a restaurant kitchen solutions provider offering a full range of standard and custom kitchen automation products. Through this partnership, Kitchen Armor will bring Curbit capabilities, the industry’s first AI-powered kitchen capacity management solution for restaurants, and new hardware options to TrueOrder  Kitchen Display System (KDS), aiming to further optimize kitchen performance and order status communication via SMS. Through this partnership, Epson and Kitchen Armor are providing state-of-the-art, easy-to-implement kitchen technology to mid-sized chains and single location operators, allowing them to compete with larger corporate competitors on take-out efficiency, order accuracy and guest communication.

TrueOrder KDS with Kitchen Armor is an affordable, easy to set up and easy-to-install kitchen display system for restaurants, enhancing productivity from food prep to order fulfillment. Kitchen Armor manufactures and produces stainless steel touch solutions, along with custom mounting options that feature Power Over Ethernet (POE) capabilities that greatly simplify hardware installation and offer the most effective kitchen consulting services recognized throughout the industry. Kitchen Armor is the official reseller of Curbit’s services, and the partnership between Epson and Kitchen Armor will provide Curbit capabilities within TrueOrder KDS. Curbit helps restaurants manage their take-out orders intelligently by leveraging real-time kitchen data and AI to determine the optimal time to start digital orders and providing real-time order progress to guests and delivery drivers via SMS. Through this partnership, Curbit capabilities, including real-time order SMS progress updates and detailed speed of service reporting data, will be available within TrueOrder KDS.

“Kitchen Armor’s mission is to provide restaurants with the most advanced, industry-leading kitchen solutions that are cost-effective, easy to implement and designed to exceed customer expectations on day one,” said Paul Amestoy, co-founder, Kitchen Armor. “We are excited to work with Epson and strengthen our partnership with Curbit as we continue to be the industry-leading turn-key solutions provider for a diverse array of quick-service restaurants. This partnership will further allow customers to enhance their kitchen production, achieve better order accuracy and enhance customer communication.”

Adding to Epson’s existing TrueOrder KDS offerings from Microtouch, Logic Controls and Elo, this partnership will give customers more options for implementing the intuitive and robust TrueOrder KDS software. TrueOrder KDS is easy to set up and can be customized to fit a kitchen’s workflow with easy-to-use, browser-based configuration utility. The system can support as many as nine stations throughout the kitchen, to help ensure order information is handled by the right station.

“As a market leader with a reputation for providing expertise for both software and hardware kitchen solutions, Kitchen Armor has the experience and know-how to provide a full end-to-end solution for restaurants,” said Tessa Kohl, product manager, Epson America, Inc. “Many restaurants are looking to optimize kitchen efficiency, especially when managing orders coming from a range of third-party ordering and delivery apps, and we are excited to work with Kitchen Armor to deliver world-class solutions to meet these needs.”

For more information about TrueOrder KDS, visit www.epson.com/kds. 

Epson introduces the TM-T20IV Thermal Receipt Printer, purpose-built for taking on the demanding point of sale (POS) needs of today’s businesses. Engineered for a balance of speed, reliability and affordability in a compact package, the versatile TM-T20IV printer supports traditional PC-POS and mPOS systems, allowing for exceptional flexibility and productivity in hospitality and retail environments.

“As the market is migrating towards mPOS systems, merchants are increasingly looking to POS solutions that are modern, sleek and have flexible interfaces,” said John Choi, product manager, Business Systems Division, Epson America, Inc. “Designed with affordability in mind, the TM-T20IV printer provides essential features for modern businesses, including a compact design, flexible connectivity, fast printing, and paper-saving capabilities.”

The TM-T20IV printer features two built-in connectivity options – USB with Serial connectivity and USB with Serial and Ethernet connectivity – allowing for exceptional flexibility and productivity. With print speeds up to 250 mm/sec, an intuitive status LED and paper savings of up to 30%, the TM-T20IV is the ideal solution for keeping POS workflows moving quickly and efficiently. The printer is backed by a 2-year limited warranty, with extended service plan options available up to a total of 5 years of continuous coverage.

A capable and affordable solution for today’s hospitality and retail environments, additional features include:

• Compact, modern design – Small 3-inch thermal receipt printer
• Designed for reliability – 2-year limited warranty and extended service plans, including Spare-in-the-Air™ coverage, are available²
• Multiplatform support – Compatible with traditional PC-POS and mPOS devices
• Easy to use – Status LED with intuitive icons allows for simple troubleshooting and maintenance

Availability

The TM-T20IV Thermal Receipt Printer will be available in Q1 of 2025 from Epson authorized channel partners. For additional information, visit www.epson.com/retail-point-of-sale-solutions

Interface Systems, a managed service provider of security, actionable insights, and purpose-built networks for multi-location businesses, has identified key security and technology trends that will shape retail and restaurant security in 2025. As threats evolve and technology accelerates, Interface anticipates a convergence of AI, advanced video analytics, and smarter monitoring solutions to drive more proactive and efficient business security systems.

Expansion of Cloud-Based Video Systems

The adoption of cloud-based video systems is expected to accelerate, driven by their ability to provide scalable, remote monitoring solutions. However, growth will be tempered by challenges surrounding appropriate network bandwidth availability and the cost of high-resolution video storage. Interface foresees steady adoption as technology advances to optimize storage efficiency without compromising video quality.

AI for Life Safety and Deterrence

Video analytics will play an increasingly central role as a detection and deterrence tool. Advances in AI-driven systems will simplify deployment and enable companies to implement more robust remote video monitoring (RVM). This next stage of innovation will focus on integrating video analytics with access control, alarms, and environmental sensors to create cohesive, intelligent security solutions. This will enable organizations to leverage capabilities like automated locking mechanisms to prevent unauthorized access or triggering voice-down messages to deter theft or loitering. However, maintaining a “human in the loop” will be crucial to overseeing AI operations, ensuring sound decision-making in high-stakes situations, and building trust in the technology.

Conversational AI and Automated Interventions

Interface Systems anticipates continued advancements in conversational AI to enhance remote video monitoring. Currently, AI-driven systems can identify “what” to respond to — distinguishing between human motion, vehicle movement, or environmental factors. In 2025, conversational AI will advance to determine “how” to respond, providing highly contextual, automated interventions. For example, AI could customize announcements based on situational details like a vehicle’s description or a suspect’s clothing, increasing the effectiveness of automated responses. Over time, machine learning models will refine these interactions by analyzing outcomes and adapting response parameters to improve deterrence.

Growing Sophistication of Retail Crime

Retail burglaries are becoming more sophisticated, with organized theft groups using “imposter” tactics to pose as workers and break into businesses from unprotected spaces. These teams employ cellular jamming to disable alarms, quickly attack on-site video equipment, and exploit weak backup systems. To counter these strategies, businesses must increasingly adopt cloud-based video systems, redundant recording solutions, and active remote monitoring to ensure system resilience and real-time detection.

“As threats continue to evolve, we anticipate that innovation in AI, video analytics, and cloud-based solutions will empower businesses to stay ahead of security challenges. At Interface, we remain committed to developing and delivering next-generation security technologies that prioritize proactive prevention and operational efficiency,” said Sean Foley, Chief Revenue Officer at Interface Systems.

SoundHound AI Inc.  unveiled an in-vehicle voice commerce platform with a demo at CES 2025. The platform, which allows drivers and passengers to order takeout for pick-up directly from the car’s infotainment system, will be showcased in SoundHound’s CES booth at the Las Vegas Convention Center (West Hall Level 1, Booth #4964, Vehicle Tech & Advanced Mobility).

CES attendees will be able to try the new AI software firsthand – with the ability to experiment with in-vehicle ordering from a range of restaurants integrated into SoundHound’s platform.

Hungry on the way home? Imagine finding the best new place for pizza en route, or maybe ordering from your favorite burrito or sub spot so it’s ready when you arrive – just by speaking directly to your vehicle. SoundHound’s advanced voice commerce ecosystem will allow drivers and passengers to place an order, make payments seamlessly, and then navigate to the nearest pick-up location, all directly from a car’s infotainment system completely hands-free.

Example queries:

• "Show me the closest MOD Pizza restaurants.”
  “I’d like to place an order from the first one to pick up.”
• “Navigate home.”
  “I’d like to order a burrito from the most convenient location on the way.”
• “Take me to my hotel.”
  “Find some Asian food to order for pickup within five miles of my hotel.”
• “I’d like to order a pepperoni pizza from a spot no more than 5 minutes off my route.”

SoundHound is in talks with well-known automotive manufacturers to pilot this first-of-its-kind ordering channel which delivers voice transactions and next-level convenience to the digital cockpit. The company aims to launch its voice commerce ecosystem in collaboration with automakers and restaurant partners in 2025.

Recent research found that a majority of drivers in the US and Europe would welcome this feature, with well over half saying they would use it regularly.

In-vehicle voice commerce promises to revolutionize the way drivers utilize a car’s voice assistant to order from their favorite coffee shops, delis, cafes, pizzerias, and restaurants. This new functionality will even allow consumers to bypass drive thru lanes completely and collect hot food timed with the vehicle’s GPS navigation to be ready upon their arrival at a restaurant.

“This incredible moment has been decades in the making. With a technology that can exceed expectations, an ecosystem of millions of cars connecting to national restaurant brands with thousands of locations, we can finally launch the vision we have talked about for years,” said Keyvan Mohajer, CEO and Co-Founder of SoundHound AI. “What we’re introducing here at CES is a seamless way to order your favorite takeout on-the-go using natural speech, completely hands-free from the vehicle. And what begins here with food and restaurants will ultimately open up a whole new commercial ecosystem for vehicle and device manufacturers everywhere.”

While the CES demo focuses on food ordering, SoundHound AI already works with partners and customers across a variety of different industries, and in the future the company plans to enable new capabilities like banking transactions, ticket purchases, appointment making, and more. Additionally, the company intends to bring ordering and voice commerce to other devices – like smart TVs. This milestone also highlights the expertise and strategic value brought by SoundHound’s recent acquisition of Allset, which has fast-tracked the company’s development of a voice commerce ecosystem.

SoundHound’s conversational AI technology is currently used by hundreds of large enterprise brands, thousands of restaurant and retail locations, and is deployed in millions of cars and devices.

To learn more about SoundHound AI, visit SoundHound.com.

Custom Travel Solutions (CTS), a software-as-a-service private-label platform for membership organizations and loyalty programs, announced the launch of its innovative AI-Powered Booking Reconfirmation Tool. This cutting-edge technology that imitates the human voice automates the booking reconfirmation process, significantly enhancing accuracy, operational efficiency, and the guest experience.

This service is live and available for new client onboarding at any scale. Designed to address common challenges in the booking process, the AI-Powered Booking Reconfirmation Tool automates the traditionally resource-intensive tasks of manual confirmations, eliminates undetected booking errors, and scales effortlessly to handle increasing volumes. By seamlessly integrating with content management systems (CMS) through API technology, the tool provides real-time status updates, ensuring complete visibility for customer support teams.

The process is streamlined and efficient. New bookings enter the reconfirmation queue, after which AI-powered human-like voice calls are placed to the hotel to verify the reservations. The system is designed to seamlessly navigate through auto-attendants, hold music, and transfer. Once connected, it reconfirms the booking by asking hotel staff for their own reservation number, which is then logged and shared with the end client via APIs. Additionally, the system includes a CMS that provides the end client with a web portal to easily access confirmation details. For example, clients can view: "Susan P. reconfirmed the reservation for John Smith at 9:03 AM on December 12, 2024, for Mr. Smith’s stay on January 2, 2025." AI can make up to three calls to retrieve confirmation numbers, automatically logging the results in the CMS.

The tool's intelligent AI mimics human interactions with hotel staff, ensuring that it aligns with a brand’s communication standards. It is powered by robust APIs designed for high-volume booking data processing, enabling a smooth and scalable solution. Additionally, the system uses data-driven insights to optimize call timing for maximum success.

The benefits are far-reaching. By automating repetitive, error-prone tasks, CTS’s new tool reduces operational costs, improves booking accuracy, and enhances scalability. It ensures a seamless experience for guests with no surprises, reinforcing trust in the brand. For travel providers, the tool increases operational efficiency, freeing up frontline teams to focus on high-value tasks.

Mike Putman, CEO & Founder of CTS, stated: "Our AI-Powered Booking Reconfirmation Tool is a game-changer for the travel industry. By combining advanced AI with our years of expertise, we're enabling our clients to improve booking accuracy, optimize resources, and deliver exceptional guest experiences. This tool not only tackles the common pain points of booking errors but sets a new standard for efficiency and scalability in the sector.”

Custom Travel Solutions continues to lead the way in the travel technology space. The launch of the AI-Powered Booking Reconfirmation Tool builds on its proven track record of innovation and strengthens its position as the most powerful private-label travel solution provider. CTS serves travel clubs, loyalty programs, financial services, and member-only platforms, offering customized solutions that include accommodation APIs, private-label platform building, and now, AI-driven booking solutions.

Tock, a reservation platform for hospitality businesses, has expanded its Reserve with Google capabilities to offer customers the ability to showcase all experiences, including those requiring prepayment and deposits, directly in Google search results. This expanded integration complements Tock's existing Reserve with Google feature for free bookings, aiming to increase reservations, visibility, and revenue for customers.

The Reserve with Google button, where guests can book a Tock reservation through Google Search, Maps, and Assistant, was previously only available for free Tock experiences or reservations. Guests can now view and select an offering based on a detailed description, before being redirected to Tock's website to complete the booking process with prepayment, a deposit, or credit card hold.

"Our collaboration with Reserve with Google has been hugely successful, with more than four million bookings made since launching this integration last year," says Matthew Tucker, Head of Tock. "Today, it's common for consumers to find restaurants on their search engine of choice, which is often Google. With the significant interest in prepaid experiences from both restaurants and guests, it has proven critical to also make these experiences searchable and bookable via Reserve with Google. This is an important benefit for our customers, especially those offering a range of experiences on their Tock page."

To date, over 5,000 Tock businesses have had reservations booked via Reserve with Google, and more than 17% of all Tock bookings are made through this integration. According to proprietary data, Tock has also seen a ~20% higher rate of new-to-Tock guest users booking via Reserve with Google than booking directly on Tock, demonstrating the growth in the use of search engines for reservations. The product expansion highlights Tock's commitment to aiding restaurants with discoverability, which increasingly is happening through search capabilities.

"In today's digital-first dining landscape, restaurant discoverability is not just important—it's essential," Tucker adds. "With countless dining options at their fingertips, consumers often make decisions based on what they find online. A restaurant that isn't easily discoverable through popular platforms like Google or social media apps is essentially invisible to a vast segment of potential diners. Enhanced discoverability fills tables, attracts new diners, and ultimately contributes to a restaurant's long-term success and growth in an incredibly competitive industry."

To learn more about how Tock continues to drive discoverability and volume for restaurants, visit: https://www.exploretock.com/join/restaurant-marketing-discovery/.