Jim Taylor, founder and CEO of Benchmark Sixty Restaurant Services, shares his journey in the restaurant industry and the lessons he has learned along the way. He emphasizes the importance of people and data in the industry and how they can drive success. Jim also discusses the services provided by Benchmark Sixty, including improving productivity and addressing cost of goods sold (COGS) in restaurants. He encourages collaboration and staying on top of industry insights to drive innovation and growth.

• The restaurant industry is all about people, and retaining and protecting employees is crucial for success.
• Understanding and managing data and information is essential for improving productivity and making informed decisions.
• Benchmarking against oneself is more valuable than comparing to others, as each restaurant has unique factors that affect performance.
• Addressing workload and preventing burnout is key to reducing staff turnover and improving employee satisfaction.
• Collaboration and sharing insights within the industry can lead to innovation and growth.

00:00 Introduction 01:19 Early Career in the Restaurant Industry 03:41 Lessons Learned in Restaurant Management 06:50 Founding Benchmark Sixty Restaurant Services 08:21 Benchmark Sixty’s Lane and Focus 10:33 Improving Productivity in Restaurants 12:36 Process of Working with Restaurants 16:26 Addressing Staff Turnover in the Restaurant Industry 21:39 Client Success Story 24:46 Dealing against the External Factors for the Restaurants 26:41 Facing the Challenge of P&L, Data, and Reporting 27:59 How To Reach Benchmark Sixty 29:31 How Benchmark Sixty Stayed on Top of Trends and Insights 30:24 Helping Restaurants with COGS 31:47 Future Plans for Benchmark Sixty 33:17 Advice for the Restaurant Industry

Bradley Bloch, CEO of Factura.ai, discusses the journey of building an AP automation software specifically designed for multi-unit businesses in the restaurant industry. He shares his transition from private equity to the food world and how the idea for Factura.ai came about. The software aims to simplify and streamline the accounts payable process, providing time savings, visibility, data storage, and controls for businesses. Bradley highlights the success stories and benefits of implementing Factura.ai, including increased productivity, improved efficiency, and better analysis capabilities. He also addresses the challenge of handling item variations in the system.

Bradley Bloch discusses the process of working together and the importance of efficient inventory systems. He explains the onboarding process for Factura.ai and how it integrates with accounting and inventory systems. Bradley also highlights the benefits of Factura.ai in terms of saving trees and shares his insights on the future of technology in the restaurant industry. He concludes by offering advice to entrepreneurs and discussing the future plans for Factura.ai.

• Factura.ai is an AP automation software designed for multi-unit businesses in the restaurant industry.
• The software simplifies the accounts payable process, providing time savings, visibility, data storage, and controls.
• Implementing Factura.ai can lead to increased productivity, improved efficiency, and better analysis capabilities.
• Handling item variations in the system requires integration with an inventory system. Efficient inventory systems are crucial for streamlining operations and reducing complexity in the restaurant industry.
• The onboarding process for Factura.ai involves integrating with existing accounting and inventory systems.
• Factura.ai helps businesses save trees by eliminating the need for paper invoices and streamlining the approval process.
• The future of technology in the restaurant industry includes robotics, automation, and enhanced data extraction capabilities.

00:00 Introduction 01:00 Overview of Factura 13:30 Building Trust, Value, and Product 15:10 Success Stories and Wins After Implementing Factura 20:49 Handling Challenges of Item Variations 23:28 Walkthrough on How Factura’s System Work 27:54 Single Venue and Multi-Unit Location 29:41 Saving Trees! 31:30 Future Trend for Tech and Restaurant Industry 34:45 Post Covid Accelerated the Adoption of the Tech Restaurant Industry 35:43 Advice to Entrepreneurs 39:08 What’s Next for Factura

Bite is a self-service software company that specializes in kiosk ordering for restaurants. Their goal is to enhance and elevate hospitality by providing a guest-centric experience. Kiosks offer benefits such as reduced wait times, personalized recommendations, and the ability to switch languages. While the COVID-19 pandemic initially slowed down the adoption of kiosks, they are expected to become a standard feature in fast-casual and quick-service restaurants. Menu engineering is an important aspect of kiosk ordering, allowing for dynamic placement of items and personalized suggestions. The future of digital ordering includes advancements in personalization, loyalty programs, and revenue management.

• Kiosk ordering offers benefits such as reduced wait times and personalized recommendations.
• Kiosks are expected to become a standard feature in fast-casual and quick-service restaurants.
• Menu engineering is an important aspect of kiosk ordering, allowing for dynamic placement of items and personalized suggestions.
• The future of digital ordering includes advancements in personalization, loyalty programs, and revenue management.

00:00 Introduction and Background 01:20 What is Bite? 02:40 Brandon's Background in Hospitality 05:17 Experience at Resy 10:10 Joining Bite 13:05 Challenges and Solutions for Bite 18:30 Pushback and Benefits of Kiosks 20:48 The Evolution of Digital Ordering 23:07 Facial Recognition and Personalization 25:33 Customer Journey and Success Stories 29:44 Menu Engineering and Dynamic Pricing 34:36 The Future of Bite and Automation 36:27 Advice for Entrepreneurs in Hospitality Tech