Inside the tech that drives Carl's Jr. & Hardees | Phil Crawford, CKE Restaurants | 022

This episode was originally published as part of the Restaurant Growth Podcast. It has been rebranded as part of The Pre-Shift Podcast as of January 2023. The information presented may no longer be up-to-date and may differ from the viewpoints and insights currently shared on The Pre-Shift Podcast.

Customer loyalty has come a long way from the paper punch card. Now it seems like every restaurant has their own app, their own loyalty programs, and their own way to reward customers and keep them coming back.

We’re joined on this episode by Phil Crawford, the chief technology officer of CKE brands, better known as the parent of Carl's Jr. & Hardees. And we’re talking all things customer loyalty tech. We get into:

• Why digital loyalty programs are so essential right now
• What type of rewards programs are driving guest satisfaction
• How to use tech to enhance the customer experience—without replacing the human element
• The tech that will be common for restaurants in 2032

The Restaurant Growth Podcast is presented by 7shifts and hosted by DJ Costantino.

Chapters
00:00 Introduction to the Restaurant Growth Podcast
00:48 Meet Phil Crawford: From Carl's Jr. to CTO
02:13 Phil's Journey into Restaurant Technology
04:00 Current Role and Responsibilities at CKE
07:10 The Evolution of Loyalty Programs
12:06 Benefits and Challenges of Loyalty Programs
17:28 Future of Technology in Restaurants
18:18 Embracing Technology in Restaurants
19:26 The Role of Loyalty Programs
21:40 AI and Robotics in Drive-Throughs
24:27 Future of Restaurant Technology
29:38 Global Perspectives on Tech Adoption
31:25 Exciting Innovations on the Horizon
37:35 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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About Us
7shifts is a scheduling, payroll, and employee retention app designed to help restaurants thrive. With an easy-to-use app and industry-specific solutions, 7shifts saves time, reduces errors, and helps keep costs in check for more than 50,000 restaurants.