Innovation

💻 Industry leaders in Asia's F&B sector are harnessing AI to adapt to evolving consumer tastes. During a panel, they discussed how AI reshapes flavor trend discovery, product development, and market strategies through real-time data and predictive insights. Key topics included identifying trends, ingredient intelligence, and success stories from agile industry players. This event offered actionable insights for those involved in product development, flavor strategy, and market expansion, highlighting AI's role in enabling smarter, sustainable innovation.

✈️ Twilio data shows 71% of consumers abandon purchases due to irrelevant experiences. 90% trust some brands, but only 15% trust them with data. Sykes Cottages improved its call answer rate to 98%, reduced cost per contact by 38%, and lowered IVR dropout from 26% to 12% with enhanced technology. Successful travel brands leverage Customer Experience as a Service (CXaaS) to integrate data and deliver seamless, empathetic experiences before, during, and after trips.

🛫 InterLnkd has launched a new e-commerce platform for UK-based TravelUp using AI technology. The platform provides personalized shopping recommendations for travel essentials from over 20,000 brands. TravelUp aims to enhance customer experience and generate additional revenue by offering tailored product suggestions. This partnership, leveraging MotiVatedData™ technology, aligns with TravelUp's vision of hassle-free travel, offering recommendations right after booking. Craig Ashford and Robert Goldsmith highlight the innovation's customer-focused convenience and revenue potential.

💸 Zebra Technologies Corp. will acquire Elo Touch Solutions, Inc. for $1.3 billion in cash. The acquisition aims to expand Zebra's market by $8 billion, enhancing self-service and consumer-facing capabilities across QSR, hospitality, and retail. Elo, with $400 million in yearly sales, will bolster Zebra's offerings with kiosks and touchscreen solutions, adding $25 million EBITDA in three years post-acquisition. The deal is expected to close in 2025, subject to regulatory approval.

🚀 Aug 13, 2025: Delta partners with Fetcherr, sparking concerns over AI-driven pricing. Fetcherr's AI creates complex fare models, aiming to maximize ticket prices, described as the "exploitation phase." U.S. lawmakers criticize the potential for higher fares amid rising living costs. Delta denies using personal data, but industry rivals label the tech unethical. Experts warn these pricing models might spread beyond airlines to sectors like retail and ride-hailing. Delta’s move highlights the growing influence of AI in pricing strategies.

🚀 GoTo Foods partners with DoorDash to offer drone delivery through Wing in Frisco, Fort Worth, and Plano, Texas. Tens of thousands of households now have access to Auntie Anne's, Jamba, McAlister's Deli, and Schlotzsky's via drones, which deliver within four miles in as few as 20 minutes. With Gen Z driving $360 billion in global spending, this innovation targets high-growth demographics. The service, launched in June, aims to increase accessibility and sales for GoTo Foods' brands.

🏨 From revenue meetings to guest service interactions, the hospitality sector relies heavily on industry-specific acronyms and abbreviations. By 2025, a new A-to-Z guide includes terms like ADR (Average Daily Rate), API (Application Programming Interface), and RevPAR (Revenue Per Available Room). Keeping pace with terms such as dynamic pricing and channel management is essential for efficient communication and adapting to evolving trends in hotel operations.

🍎 Leveraging NPC Powered by Foodbuy's technology, businesses can enhance fresh produce procurement by using platforms like ProduceManager.com, NPCOrder.com, and the MPower Platform to optimize pricing and traceability. This approach ensures compliance with regulations such as FSMA, maintaining food safety and cost control. The network enables businesses to respond agilely to market changes and regulatory updates, securing reliable, year-round produce access and fostering sustainable supplier relationships for consistent menu quality.

📲 Boostly, on January 2024, received a U.S. patent for its innovative messaging technology. The technology transforms guest data from POS systems into personalized marketing messages, revolutionizing restaurant marketing. This patent, following a $22 million Series A led by PeakSpan Capital, empowers restaurants to engage with customers through behavior-based SMS campaigns. Boostly aims to provide smaller restaurants the sophisticated marketing tools typically available only to large chains, enhancing guest experiences and driving revenue.