Written by Bill Lodes, our Executive Vice President and Restaurant Leader.
As the National Restaurant Association Show ends, I reflect on the enriching conversations and interactions my team and I had with fellow restaurant industry professionals.
At our booth, we proudly showcased our latest innovations, including the all-new CAKE POS, our new mobile POS device, and other essential restaurant technologies. And, of course, I couldn’t resist sharing some of that famous Chicago popcorn! We demonstrated our CAKE technology to a wide audience, from customers and competitors to other interested parties.
Reflecting on the incredible time we had and the amazing people we met is always a joy. Now, let’s dive into some key takeaways from the show:
1. AI acceleration
AI was a hot topic, and witnessing its real-world applications was exciting. CAKE introduced AI reporting, allowing users to query their data in natural language for instant insights and analysis. Soon, AI agents will be analyzing everything for restaurants in real time.
2. Technology consolidation
Innovative POS companies like CAKE are offering more comprehensive modules to help restaurants operate more efficiently and grow. Recently, many restaurants adopted new technologies to support modern ordering and delivery channels, increasing vendor complexity.
Now, POS vendors are expanding their capabilities to integrate these modern processes, simplifying customer support and reducing costs with all-in-one restaurant management systems.
3. Enhanced support
Customer service, or the lack thereof, was a significant concern for many restaurants. With increasing tech adoption, troubleshooting issues has become more complex. Restaurants want a single, reliable contact for support. CAKE’s US-based customer support is dedicated to meeting this need.
4. Organized reservations
Managing table reservations is a challenge, especially for restaurants using multiple systems like RESY, OpenTable, and Tock. They seek a unified interface to manage these platforms seamlessly.
This year’s show was truly unforgettable. Until next year, Chicago!
