Making smart technology upgrades can level up your business
As I walked the show floor at Pizza Expo in March, it was clear that pizza has gone high tech. While there were “oohs and ahhs” over the latest robotic and AI technology, it was the integration of advanced technology in commonly used equipment, such as mixers, ovens, POS systems and even cheese graters and inventory systems that has captivated the independent pizzeria market.
After 14 years of producing Pizza Expo and covering the pizzeria industry, I’ve seen the immense evolution of technology, and it has grown at lightning speed in recent years. Emerging themes are taking enterprising pizzerias to the next level. Let’s explore what’s happening in the restaurant tech landscape.
Pizza kitchens are getting smarter.
Not just your kitchen staff, but the equipment itself is SMART. Integrated sensors and advanced tech now aid the function of equipment in today’s kitchens. New technology in mixers adds more precision to measuring, time and temperature, as well as automated features. Even prep tables have become tech savvy with better temperature control and airflow.
One of the biggest areas of advancement is in pizza ovens – from conveyor ovens and smart ovens to electric deck ovens and rotating pizza ovens. “Now they’re producing ovens that are able to tell you when there’s a hot spot or cold spot in the oven,” Alastair Hannmann says. He owns Pizza Buddha Consulting, where he works with pizzeria owners around the world on equipment upgrades.
AI is powering everyday tech.
Artificial intelligence is being used in smart kitchens for inventory management, sales forecasting, ordering and marketing planning and execution.
There is no doubt that AI has become a buzzword. Approach AI with caution, says Sri “Raj” Raju, founder and CEO of Houston, Texas-based tech consultancy Smartbridge. “Take a step back and look at the big picture and see what exactly you are trying to do,” he says. “What do you need? And what is this AI doing? What is the true AI capability that they’re talking about? They have to ask the question and try to understand how AI is either going to help – otherwise, you’re paying a premium for something that says ‘AI’ when it may not even give you any added benefit.”
New tech is answering call for efficiency and labor savings.
Automation has filled the void restaurants have felt in the slowed labor market while adding efficiency and precision to daily tasks.
Automation is being deployed in daily tasks such as dough making, food prep and inventory management. There is a cost for automation. Do your due diligence to evaluate if automation is a good fit. Discover more about kitchen automation.
Getting and using real-time data and analytics has never been easier.
Collecting data from every source in a restaurant is one thing, but now the key is integration between the tech devices. IoT (Internet of Things) has been a game changer in interconnecting devices and data. POS systems have become especially savvy by integrating inventory and loyalty programs with sales analytics to give operators real-time data to make operational decisions.
It’s not enough for the tech to exist, it must integrate into existing systems. “Part of long-term success is to make sure that that the systems behind the scenes that I use are all connected and not having to require manual interventions every step to be able to connect,” Raju says.
Hannmann says he sees this in pizzerias. “The advancements on point-of-sale systems on phone integration are huge to me,” he says. “I’m really excited to see how that develops.”
Customer-centric tech enhances experience and loyalty.
AI-driven personalization tools, augmented reality food experiences, self-ordering systems, enhanced ordering platforms and others are helping restaurants get to know, understand and market to their customers. This area will continue to be at the forefront of restaurant tech growth.
Raju contends that digital transformation starts with the customer. “It’s really reimagining how you deliver exceptional experience to customers.” Raju says. “Reimagine your brand, reimagine how your brand delivers exceptional experience to your customers, so that the customer feels, ‘This is the brand I want to spend my money on.’ … Part B of that is, then, how do I transform all my operations to be digitally savvy using digital technologies? Can I deliver that Amazon-like experience, simple ordering, great service.”
Lastly, don’t just chase the next great tech gadget
It’s easy for people to “get enamored by cool stuff,” Raju says. “But again, I’m not diminishing AI and all those things. Yeah, they will play a big role, but it’s still maturing. It’s still early, so I would say don’t get sucked up in ‘that thing’. You’ll spend a lot of money and not that much return.” Be strategic when you plan your tech stack.
Don’t get lost in the weeds of the daily releases of new technology, Hannmann warns. “There is this sense of you can have too much tech to where it’s overwhelming, like a million spreadsheets or a million devices, and I warn people about it,” he says.
Look at the big picture of how the new technology will not just impact your business but also the operation and ROI of your restaurant. “It’s not just technology,” Raju says. “The process is the important thing. How are the processes and then, how do I use technology to simplify the process by making the digital become digitally savvy? But then, to do all this, a lot of data, you have to understand the customer.”
Just like adding a new menu item, integrating new technology into your business requires planning and strategy. “When you look at the tech – and let’s use machinery, for example – that’s the No. 1 easiest form of tech for an operator to get is to buy the machine and put it in place,” Hannmann says. “But they don’t realize cleaning procedures, breakdown, setup, safety hazards, so you have to develop an entire SOP.”
Don’t forget about your contingency plan for outages or equipment failure.
“As with everything tech, what happens when it goes down?” Hannmann asks. “What happens when you lose the internet?”
Denise Greer is Executive Editor at Pizza Today.
