Building a Better Delivery Model for Restaurants with Meredith Sandland

Building a Better Delivery Model for Restaurants with Meredith Sandland ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ April 25, 2024 Building a Better Delivery Model for Restaurants with Meredith Sandland Meredith Sandland dives into the rapidly evolving world of restaurant technology. With an ever-changing landscape exacerbated by the pandemic, restaurants are looking for innovative ways to adapt, streamline operations, and ensure profitability. The rise of third-party delivery apps and a shift towards digital platforms has initiated a new era, where understanding and utilizing tech is no longer optional but vital for success. Whether you’re a restaurateur looking to modernize your business or a food lover curious about what goes on behind the scenes, this episode is packed with valuable insights and exciting developments. [Facebook]( [Instagram]( [Youtube]( [Linkedin]( Welcome to the 'WISKING IT ALL' Podcast – the series where we engage with hospitality professionals and trailblazers who've wagered it all in their pursuits. Join us in exploring their journeys, understanding their motivations, and uncovering the secrets behind their success. Every week, we'll deliver two impactful ideas and one essential insight from our podcast episode, offering perspectives that could fundamentally transform your hospitality business. If you find value in our show, please consider subscribing and leaving a rating on [Spotify](. Your support is vital in helping us grow. Curious about the challenges and lessons I learned while building WISK? Sign up [here]( and join me as I reveal exclusive insights and effective strategies from our successful journey. Your Host, Angelo Esposito THIS WEEK’S EPISODE Meet Meredith Sandland. Meredith leads Empower Delivery, enhancing the capabilities of delivery-centric restaurants with advanced ordering systems, meal production, and fleet management. As a recognized leader in restaurant technology, her work ensures restaurants thrive in off-premise operations. She is the co-author of "Delivering the Digital Restaurant: Your Roadmap to the Future of Food" and "Delivering the Digital Restaurant: The Path to Digital Maturity," guiding industry standards in digital dining innovations. Previously the Chief Development Officer at Taco Bell, Meredith now shares her insights on "The Digital Restaurant" podcast, discussing the future of food with fellow industry experts. In this episode, Meredith Sandland discusses innovations in restaurant tech, from delivery-only kitchens to streamlined digital ordering systems. Meredith shares her journey with Empower Delivery, exploring the challenges of tech integration in restaurants and the potential for more efficient operations nationwide. We also uncover the real-life impacts of these technologies on labor costs and restaurant efficiency. Don’t miss this insightful episode as we navigate the future of food service with expert insights from Meredith Sandland. Key insights you can expect to gain include: - Identifying the hidden discrepancies in menu pricing across different platforms and understanding why it's crucial to be vigilant. - Discovering how technological evolution in restaurants could mean a shift towards a smaller, yet more skilled and well-compensated kitchen staff. - Learning about the 'Frankenstein tech stack' that could be overwhelming restaurateurs and how Empowered Delivery is simplifying the scene. - Uncovering the efficiency secrets of Clustertruck that could revolutionize standard restaurant practices, teeming with insights into software that could whisper success into your operations. - Finding out how customer feedback led to the development of software that's not just spooky efficient but is changing the game for delivery and back-of-house operations. - Hearing seasoned advice on building a differentiated company in the competitive restaurant software space—start with a painkiller solution, not just a vitamin. [Watch the full episode on Youtube]( 2 IDEAS FROM THE PODCAST Idea #1 Evolution and Adoption of Digital Solutions in Restaurants This segment focuses on how restaurants can effectively integrate digital solutions to streamline operations and enhance customer experiences. Key Action Items: - Adopt a Centralized System: Implement an end-to-end solution like Empower Delivery that manages everything from order intake to fulfillment, reducing dependency on third-party platforms and lowering costs. - Optimize Third-Party Platform Presence: If using third-party services, optimize your listings to ensure visibility and efficiency, embracing these platforms fully if chosen as a channel. - Leverage First-Party Ordering Systems: Prioritize creating a seamless first-party ordering experience that rivals or exceeds the convenience of third-party services to retain customer loyalty and reduce fees. - Invest in Efficient Kitchen Management Software: Utilize advanced kitchen management systems that guide staff silently through processes, thereby reducing stress and increasing efficiency. - Explore Kiosks and Automation: Consider adopting kiosks to reduce labor costs and integrate automation in repetitive tasks to focus staff on more skilled activities. [Listen to the Episode]( Idea #2 Strategic Business Development and Innovation in the Restaurant Industry This idea revolves around the strategic decisions and innovations that can drive a restaurant's growth and adaptability in a changing industry landscape. Key Action Items: - Prioritize Data Centralization: Centralize data management to harness deep insights that drive personalized marketing and operational efficiencies. - Adopt a Broader Tech Ecosystem: Integrate with a broader tech ecosystem that can push updates across all platforms simultaneously, ensuring consistency and accuracy in menu management. - Embrace Comprehensive Change: Be open to replacing traditional systems (like the POS) with more integrated, comprehensive solutions that offer wider functionalities. - Focus on Scalable Solutions: Choose technology solutions that scale with the business and adapt to changing market conditions and consumer behaviors. - Cultivate an Innovative Mindset: Stay open to adopting new technologies that can potentially transform operational efficiencies and customer experiences, such as electric kitchens and automated systems. [Listen on Spotify]( [Listen on Apple Podcast]( 1 KEY LEARNING ❝ The order management system in the back of house (BOH) is really the brain of the restaurant. It’s taking things from all kinds of inputs, putting them to all kinds of outputs, and then keeping track of everything in a centralized database so that you're able to act on it. [❞]( Meredith Sandland emphasizes the importance of order management systems in restaurants, which act as the central brain, seamlessly integrating inputs and outputs from various sources. Such systems are vital for efficiently managing everything from customer orders to meal deliveries. Centralizing data ensures precision and provides actionable insights that greatly improve operational decisions and adaptability. For restaurants aiming to boost efficiency and respond to contemporary challenges, investing in advanced technological infrastructure is indispensable. [Listen & Subscribe]( P.S. Share your feedback and recommend our podcast to other restaurateurs who might appreciate a sprinkle of our episodes! #WiskingItAllPodcast [Facebook]( [Instagram]( [Youtube]( [Linkedin]( [TikTok]( Sent to: {EMAIL} [Unsubscribe]( © 2024 Wisking It All... by WISK.ai WISK.ai, 488 Wellington St W , Suite 304, , Toronto, ON M5V 1E3, Canada