A host of new AI tools hit the market

SpotOn’s Profit AI. | All images courtesy of the companies

Springtime is always a busy season for restaurant technology. The events circuit is in full swing, which gives vendors an opportunity to take new products on the road, including to the National Restaurant Association Show in Chicago.

Here’s a roundup of some of the most interesting stuff we spotted in and around the Show earlier this month. A lot of it involves AI. But there are also new entrants to the POS and drive-thru games.

Chowly’s secret agents

Chowly has developed AI agents that will automatically update restaurants’ web presence, including their websites and ad campaigns. For instance, if the SEO agent detects that a pizza place’s website is not showing up when customers search for “pizza near me,” it will rewrite the website with more relevant keywords. It’s one of about half a dozen agents offered by Chowly.

An ordering Genius?

Global Payments unveiled a handheld server device that can take orders on its own. The Genius handheld features AI voice technology that builds the ticket in the background while the server talks to customers and is designed to work even in noisy restaurants. The device could also have other uses, like upsell prompts or the ability to update prices or menus with voice commands.

The Genius handheld.

Marqii x Claude/ChatGPT

Marqii launched an MCP, or model context protocol, which means restaurants can use ChatGPT or Claude to manage their reviews, menus and other online information stored within Marqii. They can ask things like “What were my top 10 menu items in April?” or “I want to update my hours across all my locations” and have that handled within the chatbot.

Owner, now with more POS

Owner.com, which offers websites and other online tools for restaurants, now has a POS system. On display at the Show, it is designed to help restaurants get repeat customers by connecting directly to their online ordering, loyalty and marketing systems.

Lights, camera, Popmenu

Popmenu is adding video to its online menus for restaurants. Restaurants will be able to put video reels on their websites that showcase favorite dishes, upcoming events, reviews and the restaurant’s story. The new feature is intended to help restaurants drive more orders by appealing to customers’ senses.

Spotting savings with SpotOn

SpotOn’s new Profit AI tool is designed to proactively look for ways a restaurant can boost its profits. Recommendations show up in the restaurant’s SpotOn dashboard and the operator can decide how to act. It relies on data from SpotOn’s restaurant management system as well as external factors like weather. It expands upon SpotOn’s Profit Assist, which analyzes P&L data. Profit AI is currently available in beta for existing customers. 

Square enters the drive-thru

Square launched Square for Drive-Thru, a fully integrated drive-thru system. It partnered with The Howard Co., a drive-thru menu board manufacturer, and Nanonation, a digital signage company. The system is designed for quick-service restaurants and coffee concepts, where Square has a large presence. (PJ’s Coffee is an early customer.) It’s currently available through an early access program, with wider availability coming this summer.

Square’s drive-thru boards.

Toast grows its IQ

Toast built upon its AI assistant, Toast IQ, with Toast IQ Grow, which specializes in marketing. Grow includes the Marketing Agent, an AI agent that can identify marketing opportunities like holidays or events and then create and deploy campaigns tied to those things. Grow also comes with a human Marketing Success Manager who can help operators fine-tune their marketing strategy. 

Tripleseat goes AI

Tripleseat launched Tripleseat Intelligence, an AI-based platform for events management. It is built on data from millions of Tripleseat events across 20,000 venues, and is designed to support staff with booking and planning. Tripleseat’s AI can respond to leads, draft contracts and provide recommendations for how much food to serve, for example. In conjunction with the new tech, Tripleseat rebranded for the first time with a brighter look.

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