Joseph Unger, COO of Gosh Enterprises, shares his extensive experience from being a Subway franchisee to holding significant roles at Taco Bell and Reef Technology. He discusses the rapid evolution of restaurant technology, emphasizing its shift from novelty to necessity. Unger highlights the challenges of integrating autonomous delivery and self-service kiosks, while showcasing the importance of adaptability in the post-COVID landscape. He also reflects on the unique hurdles of transitioning from established brands to fast-paced startups in the hospitality sector.
Joe Unger emphasizes the critical role of technology in modernizing restaurant operations, notably through self-service kiosks to enhance efficiency and customer experience.
The podcast explores the challenges and considerations surrounding autonomous delivery systems, highlighting the need for regulatory balance and technological advancement in the restaurant industry.
Deep dives
Autonomous Delivery Developments
The emergence of autonomous vehicle deliveries is highlighted, particularly the recent launch by Uber Eats in Arizona, utilizing Waymo's driverless cars for food delivery. The discussion revolves around the implications of this technology, questioning whether it will precede the widespread use of driverless cars for transporting passengers. Factors such as weather challenges and legislative hurdles for autonomous delivery systems are also considered, showcasing a complex landscape that could either impede or enhance the rollout of these services. This introduces a new dynamic in the restaurant industry, where technology and regulatory considerations must work in tandem to meet consumer demands.
Kiosk Solutions and Industry Innovations
The podcast discusses the recent $9 million Series A funding raised by Byte, a leader in kiosk solutions for the restaurant industry. This funding will be utilized to automate service aspects within restaurants, particularly in replacing traditional cashiers with self-service kiosks, creating a more efficient ordering process. The potential to enhance customer experience while also addressing labor challenges, including rising wage pressures, is emphasized. By reallocating staff from low-value tasks to more customer-focused roles, restaurants can not only cut costs but also elevate the dining experience for patrons.
Digital Experience Enhancement
The conversation focuses on how digitizing the restaurant experience can significantly improve customer interactions and operational efficiencies. Joe Unger from GOSH Enterprises emphasizes the need for businesses to provide customers with various ordering options, whether in-person or through digital interfaces like kiosks and third-party platforms. This flexibility allows restaurants to cater to consumer preferences while enhancing service delivery and maintaining food quality. An example shared illustrates how combining technology with hospitality can lead to a memorable customer engagement, showcasing the importance of integrating digital services into traditional restaurant operations.
Navigating Investment and Growth in Food Tech
The podcast touches on the complexities of funding in the restaurant technology sector, particularly regarding investor expectations for growth and profitability. Discussion reveals the trend of returning to fundamentals, where businesses must demonstrate sustainable growth and positive unit economics to attract investments. Stories shared from Taco Bell’s digital transformation underlie the importance of calculated business strategies that align investor interests with practical execution. As restaurant tech companies evolve, there’s a clear focus on achieving a balance between ambitious growth targets while ensuring operational viability to satisfy both consumers and stakeholders.
There are restaurant people, there are technology people, and there are people who do both. Joe Unger was once a Subway franchisee, then held leadership roles at Taco Bell and Reef Technology. Now currently COO for Gosh Enterprises, a fast-growing restaurant group, Unger speaks to both sides of the business and how they work together. We talk through restaurant technology's growth from fun experiment to critical business strategy, including all of the bumps along the way.
Music provided by Heywood Rex.
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