Each week, we dig through the latest tech news to find the most valuable advancements in restaurant tech and operations that could make your life easier. From AI tools to kitchen gadgets, here are the top five stories from the past week that caught our eye for helping you streamline operations, boost customer experience, or maybe even save a few bucks.

This Week’s Top 5 Stories:

Why It Matters

OpenTable, a big name in restaurant reservations, just rolled out a new feature called Concierge, a generative AI assistant baked right into their platform. It’s designed to answer customer questions in real-time, like what’s the vibe of your place, what dishes to order, or if you can handle gluten-free diets. All without them leaving the booking page. For you, this means fewer phone calls clogging up your host stand and a smoother booking process that could pull in more diners who want quick answers.

How It Works

Concierge uses AI to pull info from your restaurant’s profile and customer reviews to give personalized responses. Imagine a customer asking, “Is this place kid-friendly?” and getting a detailed answer about high chairs or your family menu before they even pick up the phone. It’s not about replacing your staff but taking some pressure off during rush hours. The catch? You’ll need a solid OpenTable profile with up-to-date details to make it shine, which might be a bit of work upfront.

If you’re already on OpenTable, this could be a nice perk to reduce no-shows and keep customers engaged, but it’s not a game-changer if your crowd isn’t booking online. Smaller spots might not see the full benefit unless you’re in a city where OpenTable is king. Still, it’s a low-effort add-on if you’re already in their ecosystem.

Why It Matters

Delivery robots are popping up everywhere, and this week, Restaurant Business reported that automated sidewalk couriers are starting to scale up, thanks to better tech and some serious funding. Companies like Serve Robotics are behind this, aiming to cut delivery costs by using bots instead of human couriers. For restaurants, this could mean cheaper delivery options, especially if you’re in a busy urban area where parking lots get congested.

How It Works

These robots roll along sidewalks, dodging pedestrians, to deliver food from your restaurant to nearby customers. They’re not replacing DoorDash entirely, but they could lower your reliance on pricey third-party services. The tech’s getting better—think GPS and AI to avoid obstacles—but there are still hiccups like navigating busy streets or bad weather. If you’re in a market like Austin or Houston, where Serve is expanding, it might be worth exploring to trim delivery fees.

Look, robots sound cool, but they’re not cheap to integrate, and they’re not ready for every neighborhood. If your customers are mostly local and delivery is a big part of your revenue, this could be a smart move down the line, but rural or suburban spots might not see the point yet. Keep an eye on it, but don’t feel pressured to jump in right away.

Why It Matters

Chipotle’s making waves with its digital transformation, rolling out high-efficiency kitchen equipment and software to speed up operations, according to Restaurant Technology News. They’re a fast-casual giant, but the ideas here, like automated makelines and better inventory tracking, could work for smaller spots too. This means potentially faster service and less waste, which is huge when margins are tight.

How It Works

Chipotle’s using tech like digital kitchen display systems (already in 1,000+ locations) to streamline order prep and cut errors. They’re also testing catering systems to boost that side of the business, which only accounts for 1-2% of their orders now. For your restaurant, similar tools from companies like Crunchtime or Toast could help you track ingredients better or speed up your line, especially during peak hours.

Big chains like Chipotle have the cash to throw at this stuff, and smaller restaurants might struggle with the upfront costs. That said, if you’re already eyeing a new POS or inventory system, these kinds of upgrades could pay off by reducing food waste or staff stress. It’s not a must-have, but it’s something to consider if you’re growing.

Why It Matters

Loyalty programs are hot right now, but they’re not a slam dunk, according to Restaurant Business. A recent report says 46% of operators are investing in digital marketing tools like loyalty apps to drive repeat customers. For a restaurant, this could be a way to keep your regulars coming back without leaning too hard on discounts.

How It Works

These programs, often tied to POS systems like Square or Toast, track customer purchases and offer rewards like free items or points. The catch is they need to be easy to use and actually make customers feel valued, Starbucks and McDonald’s are struggling to get it right, so don’t expect miracles. For a small restaurant, a simple app-based loyalty system could build a loyal base without breaking the bank, especially if you’re in a competitive area.

Loyalty programs sound great, but they can sometimes be a pain to set up and manage, and customers might ignore them if the rewards aren’t compelling. If your crowd is already loyal, you might not need this. Still, if you’re losing customers to bigger chains, a basic program could be a low-risk way to fight back.

Why It Matters

Small restaurants are starting to embrace modern POS systems, per Restaurant Technology News, with companies like Square leading the charge. These systems aren’t just for taking payments, they handle online ordering, inventory, and even staff scheduling. For independent owners, this could mean less time on paperwork and more focus on the food.

How It Works

Unlike old-school cash registers, modern POS terminals from Square or Clover integrate with your website for online orders and sync with inventory to track what’s selling. Uncle Sharkii Poke Bar, a fast-casual chain, is using Square to scale up, and smaller spots are catching on. It’s not cheap, but it could save you from the chaos of manual tracking, especially if you’re juggling multiple roles.

Switching to a new POS can feel like overkill if your current setup works fine, and the costs can sting for a small operation. But if you’re losing sales because your online ordering is clunky or you’re wasting food due to poor inventory tracking, this might be a smart upgrade. Start small and test it out before going all-in.