In a recent interview with Restaurant Dive, Jim Balis, CapitalSpring’s Strategic Operations Group managing editor, discussed tech solutions for restaurants to combat the challenges of 2022.

With over $2 billion invested since its inception, CapitalSpring is a private investment firm dedicated to the branded restaurant and foodservice sectors. They partner with proven management teams and operators to support acquisitions, new development, recapitalization, and other complex situations.

A few decades ago, full-service restaurant managers and owners often greeted customers at the door, shaking their hands and checking reservations in a book at the front desk. But today, many restaurants are quickly phasing out these manual operations due to ongoing labor pressure.

Many restaurants, especially independent operators, are struggling to protect their margins amid rising food costs, increased wages and a lack of federal support. Cutting-edge tech solutions can be expensive.

There are many technologies that can optimize various aspects of the restaurant business and make the challenges of the current landscape more manageable.

“Fast-food chains are starting to use advanced logistics to figure out where a customer or delivery courier is located and then notify the staff on when they should start the order,” Jim Balis said. “This data ties to Google Maps or Waze or other location services. Taco Bell’s Go Mobile stores, for example, will track a customer who orders through its app and has their orders waiting for them at the drive-thru upon their arrival.”

The pandemic has shown there are a number of technologies that help restaurants move quickly and efficiently, while also easing the burden of labor shortages.

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