Olo

📹 Leading restaurants like bartaco, California Fish Grill, and First Watch Restaurants trust Olo to deliver visibility and deep insights into guest preferences and behavior. Download our ebook on guest lifetime value to learn how your brand can attract and retain more loyal guests. https://bit.ly/49TcDEb

I’d said before that I’m a huge fan of demo personalization. It immediately creates a sense of ownership and belonging when walking through a solution. In the restaurant world, it doesn’t get much more personalized than seeing your name on the chalkboard walking into the restaurant! I’ve always loved Mendocino Farms approach to this and guest engagement. Brian Pearson and team just get it right! Touches like this can make someone's day, just think about that experience from Sam’s perspective… Seeing your name on the board, getting your meal discounted or free, feeling celebrated by one of your favorite brands. All while just expecting to go in and get your usual lunch. How much more likely would you be not just to return, but to share that experience on social, tell your friends and colleagues about it, or casually point the sign out to your family every visit and regale them with the story about how one day that was you? Back to SaaS demos…Instead of showing a generic demo with placeholder names like 'Jane Doe' or cartoon characters, presenting a demo that feels personalized to the client can give you a real edge over the competition. Good brands drive transactions, great brands spark connections, great demos bring solutions to life. One of these days, I hope to make it to the Mendo board as #FanOfTheDay myself. Until then, just consider me a big fan. 

We are thrilled to welcome the newest member of the Olo community, Anna's House! For more than 20 years, Anna's House has served award-winning breakfast, brunch, and lunch across growing locations in Michigan. With vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options, there's something for everyone 🍳 Order online: https://lnkd.in/eQDarFZJ

I wept tonight for the first time in a long time. I was saddened and moved to tears after reading the news of the loss of Walt Ehmer, CEO of Waffle House, Inc. Walt and I have known one another for a relatively short time; however, he has inspired me to be both a better service provider to the hospitality industry and a better person. This world needs more hospitality of the kind that Waffle House is built upon. I have come to believe that there is no more noble goal than to be a tailwind to that human force of hospitality: treating others as you wish to be treated. Team Olo has dedicated itself to doing just that and ushering in an era of Hospitality at Scale™️ Walt embodied the spirit of hospitality in his everyday. He loved his team. He loved his customers. He loved his community. He was always and forever on their side. He coached me and made me better as a vendor/partner. His spirit was contagious and magnetic. I hereby dedicate my contribution to the hospitality industry to the memory of Walt Ehmer. Thank you, Walt, for shining your bright light and for showing us the way. https://lnkd.in/eJAvDS9b

And just like that, #QSRevolution 2024 has come to a close! With so many industry leaders, insightful panels, and relevant breakout sessions, we couldn't help but wonder, could this week get any better? Thank you QSR for putting on a jam-packed event, and a special shoutout to Women in Restaurant Leadership (WiRL) for allowing us to cohost the happiest hour, complete with CosmopOLOtans 🍸 Next stop: FSTEC! See you there! Satyne Doner Danny Klein Katie M. Cofer, M.S. Alayna Sullivan

“Are you an order taker or an experience maker?” I heard this question often when I worked at Johnny Carino’s restaurant as a teen. While many coworkers mostly brushed off our manager’s words, I took them to heart. As I worked my way through the restaurant—from dishwasher to line cook, server, and, eventually, manager—I saw the importance of creating memorable guest experiences first-hand. For example, any server can take an order, but thoughtful food and beverage recommendations based on individual guest preferences can create an unforgettable dining experience that motivates guests to return. The more I prioritized personal touch over the transactional aspects of restaurant service, the happier I made guests—and the happier I felt. (And yes, it led to better tips, too!) I was reminded of our manager’s transformational question during Olo's recent webinar with Restaurant Business Magazine. Reflecting on the origin of bartaco, CEO and Co-Founder Scott Lawton said, “When we started bartaco we didn’t know we were going to sell tacos. We wanted to sell a feeling, an escape, a place where people want to hang out. To be a successful brick-and-mortar brand, you have to drive an experience.” Now more than ever, consumers want to feel connected to brands. When restaurant guests feel known and appreciated, they’re more likely to return, spend more, and recommend your brand to their friends. The key is training every member of your restaurant business—from C-level employees to the 16-year-old dishwasher—to have that same experiential, guest-centric mindset. Tell me about a special restaurant experience in the comments.

Bringing light to the 44 million facing food insecurity in the U.S. this Hunger Action Month with #OloForGood grantee Food Recovery Network 🍏 Swipe right to delve into the inspiring work they're doing to fight hunger. View a full calendar of events where you can get involved: https://lnkd.in/eYQzsYwY

Considering kiosks for your restaurant? We're sharing the recipe for success with Bite on September 10th. Bring your burning questions and get ready to go live 🚀 Register: https://lnkd.in/gRnhtgxz

This Tuesday we present Hospitality Hangout Podcast newest episode featuring Noah Glass, CEO & founder of Olo! Noah's journey from political science to pioneering Olo is reshaping the dining experience with cutting-edge tech. Dive into how Olo's latest moves, like card-present payment processing, are blending tradition with innovation. 📈🍽️ Join Noah, Jimmy, and Schatzy as they explore the future of hospitality, data-driven success, and the magic of personalized guest experiences. Ready for some fun? Listen to the full episode + Subscribe here: https://lnkd.in/dUhKfEV Branded Hospitality Ventures Jimmy Frischling #Podcast #Hospitality #Tech #Business #Marketing Alayna Sullivan Kenneth Marks James Esposito Jordan Marr Shelley Bosler Katie Layng Diego Panama Peter Benevides Joanna Lambert Collin Anderson Devon Roscoe

Facing a catch-22? Despite tech leaps, some restaurants can't put a face to their guests. No clear track of visits, orders or spending habits. It's a game of anonymous guests. Find out more: https://lnkd.in/ga9_H9Bw