Technology

Restaurant technology takes center stage at Elevate Awards

ICXA honored Elevate Award winners at the 2022 Interactive Customer Experience Summit in Columbus, Ohio.

Cherryh Cansler and Morgan Petty of Networld Media Group (left and right) present the Best Mobile Interactive Digital Signage Customer Experience award to Suzanne Lange, Krista Gruenwald and John Hopper of Jersey Mike's Subs. Photo by Willie Lawless.

June 2, 2022 by Elliot Maras — Editor, Kiosk Marketplace & Vending Times

Restaurants leveraging state-of-the-art customer experience technology grabbed several honors during the Elevate Awards presentation at the Interactive Customer Experience Association Summit Wednesday at the Hilton Columbus at Easton in Columbus, Ohio.

Presenting the awards were Morgan Petty, ICXA executive director, and Cherryh Cansler, vice president of events for Networld Media Group.

Honorees included:

Influencer of the Year — Coca-Cola in partnership with TMI Agency and Hypervsn

Coca-Cola HBC Switzerland partnered with TMI Agency and Hypervsn to launch Coca-Cola Zero. The companies installed holographic slot machines and a single holographic display. The activation campaign was referred to as #bestcokeever.

The interactive gamification technique brought entertainment and cold refreshments to over 18,000 people.

"Coca-Cola HBC successfully activated customers, but more importantly, created memorable and positive experiences for consumers," Petty said in presenting the award.

This award recognizes individuals or companies that have contributed substantially to the field of interactive customer experience technology. The award is in honor of Lyle Bunn, a long-time consultant in the digital signage industry who passed away in 2018.

Best Mobile ICX — Jersey Mike's Subs mobile app in association with World Wide Technology

The ICXA received a flood of nominations for this award, which was not a surprise considering the restaurant industry continues to bring the heat with its mobile ordering experiences.

Jersey Mike's Subs updated its app experience to allow for the quick addition and enhancement of custom features. The update included an order feature on the app's home screen which was enhanced to better incorporate customized messages and creates a cohesive omnichannel brand experience.

The judges were looking for a mobile experience that acts as an extension of the brand's presence into the most important devices in customers' lives.

Taziki's Mediterranean Cafe mobile ordering experience was also a finalist in this category.

Best Interactive Restaurant Customer Experience — Sodexo in partnership with Virtual Dining Concepts, Aifi, Yo Kai Express, Bite App and Kiwibot

Sodexo, a food services and facilities management company, partnered with Kiwibot, a Colombian semi-autonomous robotic sidewalk delivery robot, which offers in-field customer support and integration with a point-of-sale to distribute food products without the usual commission rate for food delivery services.

Students place orders via the mobile app and specify a delivery location on campus. An interactive map allows users to watch as the robot makes its journey to them.

The zero-emission robots use a combination of machine learning, artificial intelligence and sensors to navigate, mapping their environments to the nearest inch. The robots can cross streets, climb curbs, travel at night, and operate in both rain and snow.

Best Emerging Tech In Interactive Customer Experience

Domino's delivery experience was a finalist in the "Best Emerging Tech In Interactive Customer Experience." ConverseNow, an artificial intelligence powered omnichannel voice ordering technology with machine learning capabilities, took top honors in this category.