14 Oct RESTAURANT TECHNOLOGY EXPERT WITNESS: TESTIMONY, CONSULTING AND CONSULTANT REPORTS
Restaurant technology expert witnesses know that as the industry increasingly embraces digital solutions, consultants are growingly being tapped to offer essential insights into the complex technical landscape of modern food service operations. For discussion purposes, we ask restaurant technology expert witnesses what’s trending on the docket.
- Point of Sale (POS) Systems
At the heart of dining operations, POS systems are often a focal point for expert testimony:
- System implementation and integration challenges
- Data migration issues during system upgrades
- Interface problems that restaurant technology expert witnesses observe with other IT systems (e.g., inventory management, online ordering)
- Compliance with payment card industry (PCI) standards
- Contract disputes with POS vendors
SMEs evaluate whether these systems met industry standards, if implementation was handled properly, or if system failures resulted in quantifiable damages to the restaurant’s operations or reputation.
- Online Ordering and Delivery Platforms
With the surge in off-premise dining, restaurant technology expert witnesses frequently address issues related to digital ordering and delivery:
- Integration of third-party delivery platforms with restaurant systems
- Performance and reliability of online ordering systems
- Commission structures and contract compliance with delivery services
- Data ownership and customer information privacy
- Impact of technology failures on order accuracy and customer satisfaction
A restaurant technology expert witness analysis can be crucial in disputes involving revenue loss, brand damage, or contract breaches related to these platforms.
- Kitchen Management and Food Safety Technology
Technology plays an increasingly important part in kitchen operations and food safety:
- Implementation and effectiveness of kitchen display systems (KDS)
- Digital inventory management and waste reduction systems
- Temperature monitoring and food safety compliance technology
- Recipe management software and portion control systems
- Integration of IoT devices in kitchen equipment for predictive maintenance
Top restaurant technology expert witnesses opine on whether technologies met industry standards, improved operational efficiency, or contributed to food safety compliance.
- Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and Loyalty Programs
As restaurants focus on personalizing guest experiences, CRM and loyalty technologies come under scrutiny:
- Implementation and integration of CRM systems
- Data collection, storage, and usage practices
- Functionality and accuracy of loyalty program point systems
- Personalization algorithms and their impact on customer engagement
- Compliance with data protection regulations (e.g., GDPR, CCPA)
Commentary and restaurant technology expert witness testimony can be vital in cases involving data breaches, system failures, or disputes over program effectiveness.
- Analytics and Business Intelligence Systems
With the growing importance of data-driven decision making, experts often opine on:
- Implementation and utilization of business intelligence tools
- Accuracy and reliability of reporting and analytics systems
- Integration of data from multiple sources (POS, online ordering, reservations)
- Predictive analytics for demand forecasting and inventory management
- ROI analysis of analytics implementations
Feedback aids in cases involving disputes over system performance or the strategic value of data initiatives.
In providing opinions on these topics, restaurant technology expert witnesses span the distance between complex technical concepts and legal proceedings. Each helps ensure fair and informed outcomes in technology-related disputes within the restaurant sector.
