Meredith is the CEO of Empower Delivery. The company’s software combines the consumer journey, the product journey, and the logistics journey into one integrated piece of software. The software enables all restaurants to profitably and sustainably serve the growing consumer demand for delivered meals. Meredith is also the co-author of “Delivering the Digital Restaurant,” a book that explores the world of off-premise food and the massive disruption facing American restaurants through first-hand accounts of restaurateurs, food industry veterans and start-up entrepreneurs. Many restaurants face complexity in the number of tools and apps they use to manage their day-to-day operations. The restaurant industry is showing unprecedented levels of technological innovation – particularly when it comes to ordering – which makes third-party apps and aggregators important for streamlining incoming orders. Innovation is also being seen in restaurant loyalty programs, which have come a long way since the Subway punch cards of the past. Quotes “A lot of restaurant brands were forced into adopting delivery (during the pandemic) when maybe they otherwise didn’t want to.” (Meredith) “For operations, it’s really about eliminating complexity. There are so many channels and consumers are coming in so many different ways that it creates complexity. As you eliminate complexity, you will find that you have better financial outcomes.” (Meredith) “Every facet of the restaurant industry is being revolutionized by technology.” (Joseph) “Not every server can be the best, but technology can take the elements of that best server and make them consistent across every server. Technology used well in that setting should make the experience better.” (Meredith) “The restaurant industry is one of the only industries where all five senses are engaged.” (Joseph) “A really sophisticated digital restaurant is using 15-20 pieces of software.” (Meredith) Transcript 00:00.00 vigorbranding Everyone today I'm joined by my friend Meredith Sandlin she's the Ceo of empowered delivery and the co-author of delivering the digital restaurant if you are on Linkedin Chances are you have seen her or heard from her because she is out there rocking it. In the media talking about digital or delivery digital. All that stuff. So Marilyn before we hop in while you say hello and give a little bit of backstory. 00:24.58 Meredith Hi there. Well so good to be on the show. Um I've been listening and it is such a good podcast. So I'm excited to be part of it. Um, so yeah, my name is Meredith Sandland and I am the Ceo of empower delivery as well as the co-author of. Delivering the digital restaurant. Ah, your roadmap to the future of food and also the forthcoming delivering the digital restaurant the path to digital maturity which will be out in a couple of weeks here maybe by the time this podcast hears I don't know we'll find out. 00:54.94 vigorbranding Dad's awesome if it is. We'll definitely have a link to it or at the very least have a link to pre-order I'm excited to get my hands on it. Um, you probably can't really see it folks but right back here and on my bookshelf is the book and so um I'm excited to read the new one. Um. 01:08.90 Meredith Um, if you think awesome. 01:12.15 vigorbranding So delivery. It's acing it is just like a really big challenge for restaurant brands large and small. So I think before the pandemic a lot were sort of adverse to it because they didn't really see the value. Ah their format wasn't set up for delivery so on and so forth all all the excuses and then um. 01:16.84 Meredith Move on this. 01:29.71 vigorbranding One day we won't mention the pandemic in these things but it's still we're still in the after effects and what we know is it sort of slingshot at everyone to have to adopt immediately. Um, but it has become a begrudging necessity for a lot of restaurant leaders. Um. 01:40.56 M