Presented by Technomic, this in-depth look at the industry will examine the state of the foodservice recovery in the aftermath of COVID-19.  The effects of the pandemic were unprecedented and have prompted considerable change.  Therefore, this discussion will highlight not only recovery performance metrics, but will also review how technology is supporting the most significant changes being made by the foodservice operator community and share operator priorities for technology investment.

Ghost kitchens are one of the top restaurant trends to emerge from the pandemic. They promise attractive benefits such as a low barrier of entry and operational efficiencies, but they’re also largely untested in a non-pandemic environment. Hear from experts about how restaurants can get the most out of this new format.

Delivery and takeout are by now pillars of many restaurants’ business models. But these established services remain ripe for innovation and optimization through services such as geolocation, contactless ordering and pickup and more. Here’s how the services might evolve in the coming years.

The pandemic drove more diners to digital channels, giving restaurants more insight into their customers than ever. This session will look at how some operators are sifting through all that valuable information to help drive their business.

Labor has been one of restaurants’ biggest challenges coming out of the pandemic. Tech suppliers have stepped in with a variety of solutions, from AI-driven hiring to apps that enable on-demand pay—but does any of it actually work? Here’s how a few restaurants are using tech to help hire.

The CMO’s job has become inseparable from technology as things like social media, digital promotions and loyalty become key areas of focus for restaurants. Hear restaurant CMOs discuss their strategies around technology and marketing.

In 2011, all-time Jeopardy! champ Ken Jennings took on his greatest challenge ever: Representing the human race against IBM’s “Watson,” the super-intelligent supercomputer specifically designed to beat the world’s best players at Jeopardy! When Watson won, Ken became the most celebrated person to lose his job to AI. He won’t be the last. In this fascinating talk, best-selling author and former computer programmer Jennings shares a behind-the scenes account of his epic battle with Watson. He also poses important questions for anyone interested in — or, thanks to Hollywood, terrified by — the idea of increasingly sentient machines that can reason and learn.