Skip to content
technology — Industry — Finance — Business

Key Highlights: Insights from FSTEC Conference 2024

Annual FSTEC gathering offers a clear perspective on current shifts, forthcoming trends, and priority areas for operators. It consistently delivers a platform for showcasing groundbreaking solutions and fostering valuable connections.

,   and  Administrator
2 min read
Gathering Insight into Future Developments: FSTEC Offers a Clear Perspective on Transforming Trends...
Gathering Insight into Future Developments: FSTEC Offers a Clear Perspective on Transforming Trends and Priorities for Operators, Accompanied by Innovative Solutions and Valuable Networking Opportunities.

Key Highlights: Insights from FSTEC Conference 2024

#FSTEC 2022 Summit Concludes in Dallas, Texas

The FSTEC event concluded recently in Dallas, showcasing insightful presentations, discussions, and practical demonstrations from industry experts. Three General Sessions and 24 Innovation Forums provided a wealth of knowledge, as attendees gained actionable insights to refine their business strategies and improve operational efficiencies.

With a focus on cutting-edge solutions and networking opportunities, FSTEC offered a glimpse of the future trends and developments shaping the hospitality industry. The event underscored the importance of technology adoption and the role it plays in driving success for restaurant operators today and tomorrow.

Artificial Intelligence: A Game-Changer

One of the most talked-about topics at FSTEC was AI, with countless vendors showcasing its applications in various aspects of restaurant operations. From drafting guest feedback responses to generating marketing ideas, AI can help streamline processes, foster innovation, and enhance the customer experience. Such uses include:

  • Automating responses to guest feedback and reviews
  • Generating marketing strategies and copy
  • Creating new menu ideas based on existing kitchen items
  • Providing upselling recommendations
  • Crafting engaging restaurant images featuring popular characters

Selecting the Right Technology Partners

When choosing technology vendors, restaurant brands generally prioritize reputation, partnership, flexibility, integrations, proof of execution at scale, strong company-level relationships, and competitive pricing. However, it was emphasized that while cost is a factor, it should not be the primary deciding factor.

Securing Buying-In for New Technologies

To obtain buy-in from franchisees, partners, and team members, it is crucial to communicate the benefits of new technology in terms they can understand and the problems it solves. When prioritizing tech changes and upgrades, it is best to focus on solutions that address multiple needs simultaneously.

Leveraging Customer Feedback

Listening to and acting on customer feedback is essential for improving the guest experience and building lasting relationships. To obtain and address feedback effectively, it is important to:

  1. Regularly collect feedback from guests at every location.
  2. Respond promptly to every feedback message received.
  3. Read and analyze feedback carefully.
  4. Implement changes based on the insights received.

Ovation and Marqii can aid in this process by providing tools to efficiently gather, respond to, and analyze feedback from various platforms.

Restaurant Marketing Truths

Several valuable insights regarding restaurant marketing were shared at FSTEC:

  1. Poor operations can undermine even the best marketing efforts.
  2. Consistency in marketing activities often outweighs creativity as a strategy.
  3. Marketing drives sales, but integrating marketing with sound operations can drive growth exponentially.
  4. Sending weekly email newsletters to guests checks multiple boxes in terms of engaging with customers and promoting promotions, events, and updates.
  5. Many customers may not want to join a loyalty program, but they might be interested in receiving email newsletters for updates and offers.

By focusing on operational efficiency, leveraging technology, maintaining an open dialogue with customers, and implementing targeted marketing strategies, restaurants can continue to grow, innovate, and thrive. Interested in exploring these topics further and seeking guidance on marketing programs for restaurants or hospitality tech companies? Reach out via email at [email protected].

  1. At the FSTEC Summit, discussions highlighted the role of artificial intelligence in the restaurant industry, with its applications in drafting guest feedback responses, generating marketing ideas, and providing upselling recommendations, demonstrating the potential of technology in driving business success.
  2. To secure buy-in for new technologies in the hospitality sector, it's essential to focus on solutions that solve multiple problems simultaneously, communicate the benefits in terms understandable to stakeholders, and prioritize partners based on reputation, flexibility, integrations, and strong company-level relationships, acknowledging that while cost is a factor, it should not be the primary deciding factor.

Read also:

    Related

    Latest