10 Must-Have Restaurant Technology Tools
Discover ten essential technology tools that help restaurant owners streamline operations, control costs, improve accuracy, and support better daily decisions.
Jul 31, 2026
Discover ten essential technology tools that help restaurant owners streamline operations, control costs, improve accuracy, and support better daily decisions.
Jul 31, 2026
Jersey Mike’s $1 billion IPO highlights big ambitions in franchising and international expansion, although shares dipped on debut. Restaurant owners take note - here’s what the move means for growth strategies ahead.
Jul 31, 2026
Every restaurant owner knows the industry is challenging, but failure is rarely caused by a single issue. From labor management and food costs to cash flow and technology decisions, here's what separates struggling restaurants from successful ones.
Jul 31, 2026
Discover how Chipotle’s Recipe for Growth is driving record sales, operational excellence, and digital innovation - insights for every restaurant leader.
Jul 30, 2026
Learn food cost management strategies to control inventory, reduce waste, improve purchasing, standardize portions, optimize pricing, and protect restaurant profits.
Jul 29, 2026
Grow your restaurant's email marketing list using websites, QR codes, loyalty programs, social media, incentives, events, and customer signups effectively.
Jul 29, 2026
DoorDash is changing how it calculates delivery and service fees, with longer-distance orders likely to cost more and shorter, larger orders set to stay the same or decrease.
Jul 29, 2026
Whataburger welcomes financial veteran Ryan Moore as its new CFO, signaling a strategic focus on national expansion and sustainable growth for the iconic brand.
Jul 29, 2026
Improve kitchen ticket times with practical strategies for better preparation, smoother workflows, stronger communication, smarter staffing, and effective restaurant technology.
Jul 27, 2026
PopUp Bagels welcomes industry veteran Mike Smith as Chief Operating Officer to lead their next phase of growth, putting quality and guest experience at the forefront.
Jul 28, 2026
Explore how KFC leverages data-driven strategies to optimize customer experience and drive operational success.


KFC, with its vast network of 30,000 global restaurants, faces the challenge of efficiently utilizing customer data to understand worldwide trends while addressing the specific needs of individual markets. The core of KFC's successful customer listening program lies in robust data collection and storage. By partnering with Qualtrics' software, KFC can extract valuable insights from its extensive datasets, enabling the identification of actionable opportunities for enhancing customer experience and driving operational improvements.

KFC's experience management initiative, KFC Listens, emphasizes involving all relevant team members, from leadership to restaurant management, in the data-driven decision-making process to ensure a customer-centric approach. The program aims to shift the focus from merely chasing scores to delivering outcomes that prioritize customer satisfaction, even during a customer's initial visit. By disseminating data findings through the KFC Listens portal, the company fosters cross-functional collaboration and creates a unified source of truth that guides both local menu performance assessments and macro customer trend analysis.
While data collection has advanced in the quick-service restaurant industry, KFC acknowledges the risk of fixating on metrics rather than actual outcomes. Rob Swain highlights the danger of teams becoming overly score-focused, potentially losing sight of the holistic customer experience. KFC's customer listening program prioritizes aligning key performance indicators with business results, linking metrics directly to financial outcomes. By emphasizing the importance of real-world impact over numerical scores, KFC aims to ensure sustained customer satisfaction and improved financial performance.

KFC's strategic use of data highlights the critical role of a customer's first experience in shaping long-term engagement and revenue. By analyzing data from various touchpoints, KFC identified taste as a pivotal aspect of its brand experience. Ensuring customers enjoy their first meal sets the stage for repeat visits and increased spending. However, translating this insight into operational excellence requires a comprehensive strategy that involves all levels of the organization, from equipment optimization to training processes.
The success of KFC's approach hinges on collaborative efforts across the company, emphasizing the synergy between leadership vision and frontline execution. Swain stresses the importance of leveraging collective expertise to address systemic challenges, enhance customer delight, and refine operational practices. By uniting leadership insights with frontline operational excellence, KFC aims to create a seamless brand experience that resonates with customers and drives sustainable growth.