How to Forecast Restaurant Revenue and Expenses
Understand how to forecast restaurant revenue and expenses with methods for sales projection, cost scaling, fixed-cost planning, and risk buffering.
Sep 18, 2026
Understand how to forecast restaurant revenue and expenses with methods for sales projection, cost scaling, fixed-cost planning, and risk buffering.
Sep 18, 2026
Restaurant owners can significantly reduce restaurant costs by leveraging technology across inventory, labor, procurement, forecasting, and administrative operations for better profit margins.
Sep 18, 2026
everbowl names Anna Gabele Brand President and Natalie Trzcinski COO, pulling both from Jack in the Box to guide its next growth phase.
Sep 18, 2026
Mountain Mike's Pizza hires Jack in the Box veteran Sheena Dougher as CMO to drive national growth while preserving its regional brand identity.
Sep 17, 2026
From fixed costs to contribution margin, learn exactly how to calculate your restaurant's break even point with confidence.
Sep 16, 2026
DoorDash pays $425M for Wonder's campus dining platform and a stake in Wonder, betting on robotic kitchens and institutional foodservice growth.
Sep 16, 2026
Discover the most common reasons restaurants fail, including inconsistent food quality and pricing mistakes, plus practical ways to avoid them.
Sep 16, 2026
Chipotle names former KFC global CEO Sabir Sami to its board as the chain expands into Mexico, Saudi Arabia, and South Korea.
Sep 15, 2026
LeBron James joins Mike's Red Tacos as an investor, backing the birria chain led by Blaze Pizza and Dave's Hot Chicken veteran Bill Phelps.
Sep 15, 2026
Discover practical promotion ideas - time-based deals, loyalty programs, local partnerships, and digital marketing - to boost restaurant foot traffic consistently.
Sep 14, 2026
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Discover how AI integration in drive-thru technologies is transforming the restaurant industry. Learn about the advantages and challenges of implementing AI systems.
Photo by Igor Omilaev
The integration of AI in drive-thru communications systems is reshaping the way restaurants interact with their customers. Valyant's AI tool, known for its seamless integration with existing software systems, such as PAR, HME, and POS, is leading the charge in this technological evolution. By enabling restaurant staff to leverage a generative AI chatbot to provide instant responses to on-the-job queries, Valyant is streamlining operations and enhancing customer service in drive-thru settings.
Photo by Igor Omilaev
Valyant's AI integration brings numerous advantages to restaurants. By working directly with a variety of dive-thru communications systems, including industry-standard brands like Brink, Xenial, NCR, Aloha, and Oracle Microsystems, Valyant ensures compatibility and ease of implementation. The hands-free nature of the AI chatbot empowers staff to multitask efficiently, leading to faster service and improved order accuracy. Furthermore, existing customers can seamlessly transition to the new AI tools without disruptions, ensuring continuity in service quality.
Despite the growing interest in generative AI, challenges and limitations persist. Recent reports, such as the one by Goldman Sachs, have shed light on the significant investments required in infrastructure to optimize the efficiency of AI tools. Estimates suggesting a marginal 0.5% contribution to labor productivity growth raise questions about the scalability and impact of generative AI in the long term. Understanding these challenges is crucial for businesses considering the adoption of AI-driven solutions in their operations.
Photo by Igor Omilaev
Major quick-service restaurant (QSR) brands have been actively testing drive-thru AI to enhance operational efficiency and customer experience. While Wendy's and McDonald's have been at the forefront of these trials, results have varied. Wendy's allowing franchisees to test drive-thru AI showcases industry experimentation, while McDonald's recent conclusion of testing with IBM hints at a reevaluation of AI strategies. The evolving landscape of drive-thru AI in QSRs underscores the importance of continuous innovation and adaptation.
Photo by Igor Omilaev
Assessing the impact of AI on labor productivity growth requires a nuanced understanding of its potential. With Presto Automation's voice AI revealing a substantial need for human intervention in orders, questions arise about the immediate revenue-generating capabilities of AI technologies. The evolving dynamics of AI integration in drive-thru technologies highlight the intricate balance between automation and human involvement in optimizing operational outcomes.