A Conversation with Matt Wampler on AI and the Future of Restaurants

Canada's Restaurant Guy, Jay Ashton

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In a captivating episode of "The Late Night Restaurant Show," host Jay Ashton engages in a dynamic conversation with Matt Wampler, CEO of Clear Cogs. While co-host Dominic Pedulla is humorously away at the International Goat Fair, Jay and Matt dive deep into the transformative potential of AI in the restaurant industry.

Reinventing Restaurant Operations with AI

The episode begins with Jay humorously introducing the absence of his co-host, setting a light-hearted tone. Matt Wampler, a seasoned restaurant operator and tech entrepreneur, shares his journey from running Jimmy John's franchises to co-founding Clear Cogs. His company focuses on using AI to help restaurants make data-driven decisions, aiming to shift the industry from a reactive to a proactive approach.

Matt explains how ClearCOGS utilizes AI to optimize various aspects of restaurant operations, such as staffing and inventory management. By predicting needs like the number of briskets to smoke or bagels to prepare, ClearCOGS helps restaurants reduce waste and improve efficiency. This, in turn, leads to significant cost savings and enhanced profitability.

Addressing Industry Challenges

The discussion highlights the three perennial challenges in the restaurant industry: food costs, labour, and revenue. Matt emphasizes that while these challenges remain constant, the rising costs due to inflation and new labour laws necessitate innovative solutions. AI, he argues, can play a pivotal role in addressing these issues by enabling more accurate forecasting and resource allocation.

Jay and Matt delve into the concept of a "great divide" in the industry, where restaurants that adopt new technologies thrive, while those that resist change struggle. This divide, Matt notes, underscores the urgent need for restaurants to innovate and embrace data-driven decision-making.

The Human Touch in a Tech-Driven World

Despite the technological focus, Matt and Jay agree on the irreplaceable value of human interaction in hospitality. They discuss how AI can handle the analytical aspects of operations, allowing restaurant staff to focus on creating memorable customer experiences. This balance between technology and human touch, they argue, is crucial for the future of the industry.

"AI is never going to be able to create the magic. But most people don't get into restaurants because they want to review P&Ls or do inventory analytics. AI can do all of that and allow all of the actual operators out there to focus on what really the customer comes for, and that is those magic moments." Matt W.

The episode also offers a glimpse into Matt Wampler's personal life. From his early days in the Midwest to his diverse hobbies like woodworking and making maple syrup, Matt's multifaceted personality shines through. His journey underscores the importance of passion and adaptability in both personal and professional realms.

Jay and Matt envision a future where AI and robotics play an integral role in the restaurant industry. They discuss the potential of these technologies to save the industry by addressing labour shortages and operational inefficiencies. However, they also emphasize the importance of maintaining the core values of hospitality, creating magical moments and ensuring customer satisfaction.

"The trouble isn't how do you get a billion data points and analyze them? It's how do you get it down to one data point that the assistant manager can take when they're understaffed and like, you know, the kitchen's on fire and he can actually use." Matt W.

This episode of "The Late Night Restaurant Show" is a must-listen for anyone in the restaurant industry. It provides valuable insights into the role of AI in transforming operations, highlights the importance of balancing technology with human interaction, and offers a hopeful vision for the future. Jay Ashton's engaging interview style and Matt Wampler's expertise make for a compelling and informative discussion that will leave listeners inspired and informed.