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Summary

In this conversation, the hosts discuss the importance of lighting in food photography and share tips for using lights to enhance food images. They also talk about different camera techniques and the use of reflections to create stunning food photos. The conversation then shifts to random discussions about presidents and fun facts. The hosts emphasize the value of trade shows and offer advice on how to maximize the trade show experience. They also discuss the evolution of trade show strategies and the cost-effectiveness of attending trade shows. The conversation concludes with a focus on the importance of online reputation management for restaurants. This conversation explores the importance of personal connection and genuine relationships in the hospitality industry. The speakers discuss the power of swag as a marketing tool and the need for clear messaging in demos and marketing materials. They emphasize the value of technology as a tool to improve relationships and customer experiences. The mission of Ovation is to combat loneliness and disconnection by enabling better communication between restaurants and their guests. The conversation concludes with a discussion on the importance of acknowledging and apologizing for mistakes and the power of texting in improving customer retention.

Takeaways

• Proper lighting is crucial for capturing high-quality food photos.
• Using reflections and different camera techniques can enhance food photography.
• Trade shows provide valuable networking opportunities and the chance to discover new products and services.
• Preparing a shopping list and identifying specific problems or goals can help maximize the trade show experience.
• Being seen and known at trade shows can lead to valuable connections and business opportunities.
• Online reputation management is essential for restaurants to maintain a positive image. Swag can be a powerful marketing tool when it is useful and relevant to the target audience.
• Crafting clear and concise messaging is essential in demos and marketing materials to avoid confusion and ensure effective communication.
• Technology should be seen as a tool to enhance relationships and improve customer experiences, rather than replacing human interaction.
• Building genuine connections and treating customers as humans is crucial in the hospitality industry.
• Acknowledging and apologizing for mistakes can go a long way in improving customer relationships and loyalty.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Inside Joke

00:48 The Power of Lighting in Food Photography

01:17 Using Lights for Instagram Videos

02:14 Using Reflections for Food Photography

03:10 Different Camera Techniques for Food Photography

04:03 Random Conversations about Presidents

05:18 Fun Facts and Stories about Presidents

06:03 The Importance of Lighting in Food Photography

07:40 The Value of Trade Shows

09:06 Making Connections at Trade Shows

11:34 The Benefits of Attending Trade Shows

12:50 Tips for Maximizing Trade Show Experiences

15:28 Preparing for Trade Shows

19:13 Zack's Extensive Trade Show Experience

22:22 The Evolution of Trade Show Strategies

24:41 The Cost and Effectiveness of Trade Shows

26:27 The Importance of Being Seen and Known at Trade Shows

28:07 The Value of Swag and Booths at Trade Shows

28:53 The Power of Online Reputation Management

28:57 The Power of Swag

29:49 Creating Engaging Demos

31:01 Crafting Clear Messaging

32:31 Avoiding Confusing Marketing

34:12 The Importance of Personal Connection

36:00 Building Value in Hospitality

37:14 Combating Loneliness and Disconnection

38:45 Technology as a Tool

39:35 Creating Genuine Relationships

41:31 The Mission of Ovation

43:14 Focusing on Value Creation

44:14 Acknowledging and Apologizing

45:22 The Power of Texting

46:34 Improving Relationships in the Hospitality Industry

48:45 Creating Connection in Restaurants

Summary

Ben Pryor, President and Co-founder of Four Top, discusses the operator mindset and the role of data in the restaurant industry. He shares his background in operations and how he discovered his passion for developing people. Ben reflects on the evolution of restaurant technology and the limitations of current systems. He emphasizes the importance of intangible qualities in successful operators and the need for long-term thinking in technology. Ben also introduces Four Top as a data agnostic platform that enables restaurants to have optionality and innovate. The conversation explores the limitations of restaurant technology and the importance of understanding its role in operations. It highlights the differences between legacy and cloud-based point-of-sale systems and the strategic decisions made by successful brands. The discussion also delves into the potential of AI in restaurant operations and the need for technology to augment human intuition and experience. Lastly, it emphasizes the importance of great managers in driving operational success and the need for a holistic approach to technology implementation.

Takeaways

The exceptional operators in the restaurant industry prioritize developing people and working shoulder to shoulder with their team.

While technology in the restaurant industry has evolved, the core challenges and principles of running a successful restaurant remain the same.

Data should be viewed as a tool, not the end game, and technology should focus on solving the operational challenges faced by restaurants.

Successful operators possess intangible qualities such as empathy, care for their team, and a focus on the right things every day.

Restaurants should adopt technology that enables optionality and innovation, while also protecting against the risk of constantly changing systems. Restaurant technology has limitations and may not be the ultimate solution to all business problems.

Large restaurant brands often build their own technology infrastructure and data management systems.

AI has the potential to augment human intuition and improve decision-making in restaurant operations.

Great managers play a crucial role in driving operational success, and technology should support their expertise.

A holistic approach is necessary when implementing technology in restaurants, considering the impact on guests, employees, and overall business performance.

For an in-depth look at Ben Pryor

⁠⁠LinkedIn: Ben Pryor

To explore the world of Fourtop and its transformative approach to data:

https://www.fourtop.ai/

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Till our next serving, The Digestible Technology Podcast Team.

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Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background

03:09 The Importance of Developing People

08:01 The Evolution of Restaurant Technology

12:37 The Intangibles of a Successful Operator

18:18 The Role of Technology in Operations

21:59 The Vision of Four Top

25:00 The Limitations of Technology in Differentiating Restaurants

28:19 The Need for Long-Term Thinking in Technology

32:08 Fortop as a Connector and Data Agnostic Platform

42:33 The Limitations of Restaurant Technology

47:26 The Tech Stack of Large Restaurant Brands

55:27 The Role of Managers in Restaurant Operations

59:25 The Potential of AI in Restaurant Operations

01:06:32 The Challenges of Technology in Restaurant Operations