Charles D. Battle

This was an interesting article and it made me think of my last experience at Red Robin where I could chose a drink from a small tablet that was attached to the table, as well as, pay for my meal once I was done. This technology will probably grow within the next few years, but being from the “old school”, I still enjoy the interaction of having a server tell me the soup of the day and being able to ask about various entrees and getting their personal opinion about various options on the menu.

I have not had the pleasure of experiencing the tablet solutions at Panera or Chili’s, but I do plan on visiting one of these restaurants to try it out.

Great article about how these companies are using innovations in technology to improve the front line experience of the customer. I have not yet experienced this technology, but I can see how it would be really beneficial. I would liken it to when you go to Wawa and order your lunch from the machine now instead of placing it with the deli-worker…

1. I believe that servers will always need to be available for those who want them or for special requests and questions but the tablets will take over most of their jib responsibilities for those who will use them.

2. I have experienced the tablets at Applebees and the only interaction we had with the actual waitress was our drink order and paying at the end. Everything else was done on the tablet and it was very efficient and easy.

3. Implementing a tablet system for the waiters to take your order and put it directly into the system for the cooks to make it would be a nice add on as well as the continued improvement of the tablet technology making more and more things available for the people at the table to do themselves.