Today in restaurant and grocery tech news, McDonald’s sells marketing analytics company Dynamic Yield to Mastercard, and grocers utilize frictionless checkout to save on labor. Plus, restaurant brands reimagine the drive-thru for their digital future.
Grocers Tap Self-Service to Save Labor Across Supply Chain
In the face of today’s labor challenges, grocers are increasingly embracing self-service technologies to maximize efficiency every step of the way. Ahold Delhaize subsidiary The GIANT Company, for instance, announced on Thursday (Dec. 16) that it is adding a small-format store equipped with frictionless checkout technology at its new automation-powered eCommerce fulfillment center in Philadelphia.
New Ordering Technology Extends the Drive-Thru Beyond the Lane
New technology is bringing the drive-thru order wherever consumers’ cars may be. On Dec. 16, BurgerFi, a North Palm Beach, Florida-based fast-casual chain with around 140 physical and virtual locations, announced that it is launching in-car ordering in 5G-enabled cars in partnership with in-vehicle commerce company Mavi.io. The feature will allow consumers to order in their cars by voice or through the vehicle’s dashboard.
Mastercard to Acquire McDonald’s Personalization Platform, Dynamic Yield
Mastercard has inked a deal with McDonald’s to acquire the fast-food chain’s personalization platform, Dynamic Yield, according to a Tuesday (Dec. 21) press release. The acquisition is expected to close in the first half of 2022. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.