Unlocking Efficiency: How Piada Italian Street Food Revolutionizes Operations with Innovative Restaurant Technology

In the busy world of restaurants, managing technology can be tricky. Many operators struggle with separate tools for inventory, scheduling, and other tasks. This often leads to wasted time and effort.

At Piada Italian Street Food, we aim to change that. We use technology to make things smoother. Our tools help us make better decisions and work more efficiently, allowing us to provide our guests with great experiences.

A big step for us was switching to Restaurant365 (R365). This software replaced old, slow systems for managing inventory and reviewing profits at our 58 locations.

The benefits were clear right away. Inventory tasks that used to take hours were cut down by 45 minutes each week at every location. R365 integrated well with our existing systems and could grow with us, supporting our plans for the future.

We also invested in guest-facing technology. Back in 2017, we started developing an online ordering system, predicting a strong return on investment. This led to the launch of our Piada One app in 2019, which has improved loyalty and made reordering easier. Customers who use the app visit us 50% more often than those who don’t, which shows its impact.

For choosing new locations, we use SiteZeus. This smart tool analyzes demographics, traffic, and competition to help us pick the right spots and minimize risks. It also guides our investment decisions based on existing location data and market trends.

Our internal teams benefit from the Piada Dashboard, a tool created by our tech team. It gathers information from various sources into an easy-to-use format, providing insights that teams can use right away.

Recently, we added Ecotrak in 2024 for better management of our facilities. This has reduced equipment downtime and helped us make smarter choices about repairs or replacements. Each of these tools highlights Piada’s commitment to adopting technology that scales with us and boosts our operations.

Piada continues to seek technology that enhances efficiency and guest experiences. By using integrated solutions suited to our needs, we’ve tackled challenges and positioned ourselves to keep up with future trends in the industry.

Caleb Cochrun is the Director of Business Intelligence at Piada. He focuses on data-driven strategies to improve operations. Piada Italian Street Food, founded in 2010, is inspired by the lively street food of Italy and offers fresh piadas, pastas, and salads. With 58 locations across seven states, Piada is dedicated to quality, sustainability, and community engagement.