As a 20 year veteran of the restaurant business and Founder of Tripleseat,a CRM and Event Management web app for the restaurant's Private Dining business with 500+ customers let me add my 2 cents on the challenges on making Dave's ideas to work in the restaurant business.
1) Pictures on menu's-Menu's change constantly because of food costs and trends. To have a new photo taken every time you make a menu change is too time consuming. Also, you don't want a crappy picture of your food on the menu and that means professional photographers and that means added costs.
2) Electronic Menu's etc-Good idea in theory, does not work (yet) in the real world. #1 and #1A reason restaurants won't do it is because of theft and breakage. To replace an iPad or whatever is too costly (sensing a theme here?)
3) CRM system that knows who you are and what you have ordered have been around forever BUT the Server who has 6 tables (and impatient customers) will not take the time to review it. It is not a problem technology can fix IMO
4) Technology to entertain the customer is called TV and Bartender (Sorry about being snarky)
It has been my experience that a majority of restaurant Owners and Operators will not invest in any technology (outside a POS) unless there is a proven, hard, ROI. These buyers, by their very nature, are pragmatic buyers that measure their money in nickels. Unless your technology widget can show them a fast ROI and make them more money they are going to pass
2) Electronic Menu's etc-Good idea in theory, does not work (yet) in the real world. #1 and #1A reason restaurants won't do it is because of theft and breakage. To replace an iPad or whatever is too costly (sensing a theme here?)
3) CRM system that knows who you are and what you have ordered have been around forever BUT the Server who has 6 tables (and impatient customers) will not take the time to review it. It is not a problem technology can fix IMO
4) Technology to entertain the customer is called TV and Bartender (Sorry about being snarky)
It has been my experience that a majority of restaurant Owners and Operators will not invest in any technology (outside a POS) unless there is a proven, hard, ROI. These buyers, by their very nature, are pragmatic buyers that measure their money in nickels. Unless your technology widget can show them a fast ROI and make them more money they are going to pass