By RTN staff - 7.6.2025
This past week brought a steady stream of notable developments in restaurant technology, highlighting ongoing shifts in how operators approach ordering infrastructure, last-mile delivery, store operations, and customer engagement. From strategic acquisitions to live pilots of autonomous delivery and AI-assisted management tools, the headlines reflect continued investment in tools aimed at improving efficiency and guest satisfaction. Here’s a roundup of key stories from the week.
Olo Acquisition by Thoma Bravo Signals Shift in Restaurant Ordering Infrastructure
Private equity firm Thoma Bravo has agreed to acquire Olo, the leading provider of digital ordering and guest engagement solutions for restaurants, in a $2 billion all-cash transaction. The deal takes Olo private and marks a significant pivot toward platform consolidation in the industry. With Olo powering digital operations for more than 750 brands across 88,000 locations, the acquisition is expected to drive deeper product integration and long-term investment away from short-term shareholder pressures.
Drone Delivery Expands in Dallas–Fort Worth with DoorDash and Flytrex
DoorDash has expanded its drone delivery footprint through a partnership with Flytrex, now serving nearly 100,000 households in the Dallas–Fort Worth suburbs of Frisco and Little Elm. The service enables customers to receive food and beverage orders from popular local restaurants via autonomous aerial drones, offering a new layer of convenience for suburban delivery logistics.
Serve Robotics Launches Sidewalk Delivery in Atlanta via Uber Eats
Serve Robotics, a leader in autonomous sidewalk delivery, has rolled out its robotic fleet in several Atlanta neighborhoods in partnership with Uber Eats. The delivery robots are now serving restaurants such as Shake Shack and Rreal Tacos, offering a contactless alternative to traditional last-mile delivery. The company plans to expand its U.S. fleet to 2,000 units by the end of the year.
Yum China Pilots AI-Powered Q‑Smart Assistant in KFC Stores
Yum China is testing Q‑Smart, a voice-activated AI assistant designed to support KFC store managers with tasks like inventory management, food safety checks, and labor scheduling. The tool aims to improve efficiency and reduce decision-making friction for frontline staff, especially during peak periods. Early pilots show promising gains in operational consistency.
The restaurant technology space continues to consolidate and evolve, with strategic acquisitions like the Olo deal reshaping the competitive landscape. Autonomous delivery, once a novelty, has gone operational in key metro areas, as restaurants and delivery platforms look for scalable ways to improve speed and margins. Simultaneously, AI continues to infiltrate store-level decision-making and loyalty engagement, marking a turning point in how brands compete for customer attention and operational efficiency.
