Restaurant Technology News Wrap-Up: Week of September 22, 2024

This week in restaurant technology saw a focus on AI-powered solutions, strategic partnerships, and the evolving landscape of digital ordering and payments. Here’s a recap of the top stories:

• Dinii Raises $48 Million Series B to Expand Restaurant Management Platform and Financial Services: Dinii, a Japanese cloud-based restaurant management platform, secured $48 million in Series B funding led by Bessemer Venture Partners and Hillhouse Investment Management. The company plans to use the funding to expand its offerings beyond its core POS system, adding financial services like employee management, reservations, delivery, and daily payouts for restaurant workers.

• MenuSifu and DoorDash Expand Partnership to Provide Restaurants with More Efficient Order-to-Delivery Solution: MenuSifu, a North American SaaS provider, expanded its partnership with DoorDash. MenuSifu’s Central third-party delivery management platform now seamlessly integrates with DoorDash, providing restaurants with a more efficient solution for managing orders and deliveries.

• PolyAI Partners with OpenTable to Offer Restaurants AI-Powered Phone Reservation Support: PolyAI, a voice AI solutions provider, partnered with OpenTable to offer AI-powered phone reservation support to restaurants. This integration allows restaurants to automate reservation bookings, answer questions, and provide on-brand experiences, freeing up staff to focus on in-house guests.

• Thanx Partners with Attentive to Transform Restaurant Customer Engagement: Thanx, a restaurant loyalty and engagement platform, partnered with Attentive, an AI-powered mobile marketing platform, to enable restaurants to seamlessly grow their SMS subscriber list and deliver personalized marketing campaigns.

• ezCater Unveils ‘Smart Ordering’ Powered by AI and Machine Learning: ezCater launched Smart Ordering, an AI-powered feature that simplifies ordering food for the workplace. The feature provides data-driven menu recommendations, accurate food quantities, and simplified budget management, making it easier for businesses to order meals for large groups.

• Presto Automation Puts Itself Up for Sale: Presto Automation, a restaurant technology company specializing in drive-thru voice AI, announced it will begin a sales process. The company, which was delisted from the Nasdaq earlier this year, aims to find a buyer to provide financial stability and support its continued operations.

• DailyPay and WorkJam Join Forces to Bring Earned Wage Access to Millions of Frontline Workers: DailyPay, an earned wage access provider, partnered with WorkJam, a digital frontline workplace platform, to offer financial wellness and flexibility to daily workers. This collaboration aims to enhance the employee experience, improve retention, and empower workers to manage their earnings more effectively.

• Epson’s New TrueOrder KDS Provides Seamless Compatibility and Versatility for POS Integration: Epson launched its new TrueOrder Kitchen Display System (KDS), designed for easy integration with POS systems. The TrueOrder KDS offers a variety of features, including customizable layouts, digital receipts, and label printing capabilities, streamlining kitchen operations and enhancing efficiency.

• Raydiant Introduces Order & Pay Kiosk App: Raydiant launched its self-service Order & Pay Kiosk, an interactive ordering system that integrates with existing POS systems. The kiosk aims to streamline operations, reduce wait times, and provide customers with a fast and convenient ordering experience.

• Lavu Partners with Check to Offer Payroll Solution for Restaurants: Lavu, a POS and payments platform, partnered with Check to offer a fully integrated payroll solution for restaurants. Lavu Payroll aims to simplify payroll management, reduce errors, and enhance profitability for restaurant owners.

• Thanx Announces SOC 2 Type 2 Compliance and New Integrations Center: Thanx announced SOC 2 Type 2 compliance, demonstrating its commitment to data security. The company also launched Thanx Connex, a new capability that allows brands to seamlessly share their customer data with major data warehouses and databases.

• Slang.ai Partners with OpenTable to Offer Restaurants AI-Powered Phone Reservation Support: Slang.ai, an AI-powered phone answering platform, partnered with OpenTable to provide automated phone reservation support to restaurants. This integration aims to streamline bookings, reduce missed calls, and enhance the guest experience.

This week’s news highlights the ongoing innovation and evolution within the restaurant technology landscape. As the industry continues to face challenges and adapt to changing consumer demands, technology is playing an increasingly vital role in driving efficiency, enhancing guest experiences, and shaping the future of dining.