News

PepsiCo launches digital foodservice lab to help operators

May 20, 2019

PepsiCo, Inc. has launched a digital suite, PepsiCo Foodservice Digital Lab, to connect foodservice operators with the companies, services, insights and solutions to support their specific digital and online needs. 

"The digital age has disrupted everything — including the way people order, eat and experience food and beverages," Scott Finlow, chief marketing officer of PepsiCo Foodservice, said in the press release. "PepsiCo is helping our customers stay ahead of the curve in regard to understanding the latest technology and consumer trends impacting the foodservice industry. With the customer-focused Digital Lab, we created a one-stop service for operators to access the resources and knowledge needed to drive a better consumer experience and impactful business results in the digital era." 

Technology has impacted every aspect of the dining and vending experience, leaving many foodservice operators seeking more information about how they can best use it to their advantage. In fact, a recent survey of foodservice operators found that nearly half (47%) felt unsure about the longevity of emerging technology and whether it’s here to stay. Still, nearly two-thirds (63%) say they plan to upgrade their foodservice tech in some ways in 2019, but many expressed frustrations about the time and energy needed to research and onboard the best solutions for their business. 

Using a mix of human- and tech-driven touchpoints, the Digital Lab will teach operators how to identify and deploy technology solutions that benefit their business through four elements:  

1. Digital insights: Using proprietary and partner inputs, PepsiCo will share insights with its customers, including the digital habits of their target demographics.
2. Digital playbooks: The Lab will provide operators with comprehensive solutions to make digital tools approachable and achievable for businesses of any size. 
3. Digital activation: PepsiCo will partner with operators to optimize the execution and activation of digital solutions such as online ordering and delivery platforms to increase beverage and snack sales.
4. Digital innovation: Tapping into tools like voice, augmented reality and machine learning, PepsiCo will experiment with digital innovations and build into practice through customers’ platforms.

To help inform the Lab, PepsiCo Foodservice worked with customers and partners, such as Grubhub, to identify and remedy friction points foodservice operations experience when fulfilling online ordering and delivery for beverages and snacks. Additionally, the Digital Lab teamed with loyalty and digital consumer engagement providers such as Mobivity to find opportunities to improve incremental occasions for brands and deliver personalized experiences that delight consumers.