Can Technology Make Your Dining Experiences More Enjoyable?

Question

Technology is taking fast food to a whole new level. Restaurant giants Taco Bell and Outback Steakhouse announced that they are going mobile. These industry-leading technology announcements will set both chains apart from their competitors, but I’m sure the rest will follow suit real soon.

There’s no need to wait in line any more. Just downed the app, place your order, and pick it up when you are ready. You can do everything from the comfort of your house, right on your smartphone.

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Outback Steakhouse rolled out an industry-first online reservation tool. It will show you wait times for seating in restaurants around the country and even allows you to order and pay for your food online.

All the big boy restaurants are getting into the mobile game. McDonald’s, Starbucks, Pizza Hut, Domino’s and more -- are making technology part of their in and out of restaurant dining experience. The goal is to make you happier. A happy customer, equals a return customer.

It’s the wave of the future. So the next time your hungry, pick up your device of choice and place your order. Forget about waiting in line. what do you think? Can technology make your dining experiences more enjoyable?

Answer 1

Like banking, I prefer to deal with people. Technology sure can ruin a meal . . .

Answer 2

I understand that baby boomers out there aren't so hip to the inevitable change that is technology. But technology is reality and like with every other industry your market in baby boomers will soon need to be replaced and the generations that will replace them with are just more likely to buy their items online. I personally use apps like grubhub regularly.

Answer 3

technology is good and bad. Often times I think the bad outweigh the good. Our lives are becoming dominated by technology.

Answer 4

Unlikely

Answer 5

It a great idea. I no longer eat in restaurants, I might catch ebola.

Answer 6

You're more at risk from Ecola in a restaurant. It's a cross between Ebola and E. coli and has a mortality rate of 200 percent.

Answer 7

By making rainbows dance on the wall and fish swim on the ceiling!

Answer 8

But I would.

Answer 9

I can see how Outback would benefit from this as well as their customers, but Taco Bell? I don't want to have my burritos "waiting" for me. I want them made when I get there.

Answer 10

Technology ruins everything that makes our lives great right now. I don't mind waiting in line to get my food order taken. Besides, who's to say that it won't screw up and you won't be paying extra to get your food if it works?

Answer 11

The technology generally has to do with ordering ahead, etc... not with you and your food coming into proximity with each other, therefore if you can't get there to obtain the food how you ordered it isn't really relevant is it?

Answer 12

I value the company far more than the meal. I can enjoy the simplest of food and locale with good company and place little to no value on one shared in extravagant surroundings and 5 * meals with bad company.

"We should look for someone to eat and drink with, before looking for something to eat and drink,for eating alone is leading the life of a lion or a wolf."....Epicurus

Answer 13

Nope. I don't eat at restaurants.

Answer 14

Its already arrived even in the UK. Just a thought If and when it goes wrong will they accept our complaints?

Answer 15

you can check the reviews & ratings of the places you'll be going..

Answer 16

I order pizza online at pizza hut and they give me the time it will be ready.........easy peasy japaneese.

Answer 17

We have a wings place we order online from......so easy.

Answer 18

It already started by callingfor pizza over the phone...

Answer 19

nor everyone has smart phones

Answer 20

Not everyone can drive

Answer 21

Computers are created, not creative. Man created this:

Answer 22

Only if you eat your smart phone

Answer 23

not really for fast food chains. but chains like outback or applebee's can provide a better dine in experience.

Answer 24

I don't eat fast food.

Answer 25

I hate it when they only have a special on-line. Now they want you to use a cell phone. I have a late 90's cell phone, I don't want to use an app or text, I can't.

Answer 26

I agree.

Answer 27

But it can add to the server's.

Answer 28

It makes things a lot more simpler. No more lines, no screaming kids that are not mine, and my order is always right.

Answer 29

Sure, it could be a good thing for some places.

I mean, In N Out is always so crowded, it could save some time. I just want my food.

Answer 30

Food replicators...hurry....please

Answer 31

Loud area.... quiet area.... go somewhere else like another room or outside; maybe this is the problem- no one has critical thinking skills anymore

Answer 32

Not a big fan of too much technology!

Answer 33

Maybe the robot will get the order right.

Answer 34

Yep.... Papa John's delivery to my work as a treat for my co-workers.....

Answer 35

Yep sure do

Answer 36

When I get to a restaurant, I check in on Yelp. When the food arrives, the camera comes out.

Answer 37

WHY?

Answer 38

Why does the world need this?? Call ahead like a normal person and make reservations; apparently you'll be looking at your phone with this anyway. Has the world been this dumbed down that people can't say to themselves "Gee, it's payday Friday and I want Outback I should probably call and make a reservation." anymore?
Technology is running lives and ruining the world. Yeah, we're more connected alright; if by connected you mean we'd rather "chat" over the internet than go have an actual face-to-face conversation.

Answer 39

Why does one have to call? What if you're in a loud area where you can't hear the other person, or if you're in a quiet area where you can't make noise?

I'm not a fan of every new technology and I actually do a lot of things old-school, especially compared to my friends of the same age range (late 20s). But there needs to be an actual argument for why the old ways are better other than "I can't handle all this new stuff".

Answer 40

No thank you. I would rather be mildly inconvenienced than a slave to my mobile device.

Seriously, take the devices out of some people's hands, and it's like you've ripped out their pacemaker or something.