bake - May 2019 - 8

department
management

Cross-channel Strategies
Cross-channel buying is becoming increasingly common.

taurant Association Show has showcased the best restaurant

eMarketer estimates that 25% of purchases started online are

technology startups in Startup Alley, recognizing the critical

completed in-store, and 25% of purchases started in-store are

role played by innovative players in the arena. This year's Na-

completed online. Small and Medium-size Businesses (SMBs)

tional Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show will

such as retail bakeries and bakery cafes make up 99.9% of all

showcase 14 Startup Alley exhibitors during the May 18-21 event

companies in the United States and employ 58 million people,

at Chicago's McCormick Place.

or 48% of America's workers, according to the US Small Business Administration's Office of Advocacy. According to a 2018

The startups include the following:

Maru/Matchbox survey, 46% of SMBs now sell their products
and services online, and among those that do, 15% of their sales

Genio is a productivity app that makes employee scheduling,

come from the online channels.

communication, attendance, location and task management a
breeze. Their app is geared toward companies where employ-

Visa partnered with a consortium of trade associations, tech-

ees typically work in shifts.

nology providers, banks, and researchers to answer the question: Do SMBs need to transform digitally to prosper in this

Jetson solves the inherent design problems of current voice

environment and, if so, how can they start? The survey uncov-

assistants when it comes to conversational commerce. They of-

ered the following key takeaways:

fer a more intelligent "multi-step" voice AI that can search and
transact complex menus through full conversation. With their

business website before visiting a new business.
* Over 60% prefer to be contacted through a digital channel,
such as e-mail, website banners or a business's website.

platform, customers can order anything by simply speaking to
a mobile device, kiosk or smart speaker.
Locl was built so businesses get the most from maps platforms,
especially those who rely on foot traffic, such as bakery cafes. Maps performance metrics closely correlate to actual rev-

Yet less than half of SMBs conduct business online. The gap

enue. Locl's hospitality clients get aggregated data and insights

suggests that there are opportunities for SMBs to utilize

on their customers in an easy-to-understand way.

consumer-sought, digital ways to capture revenue, stay in front
of customers, and save time and expenses on the daily tasks

Synk Delivery is a highly efficient software tool that networks

necessary to run businesses.

local consumers for inexpensive and predictable delivery. It is
highly automated and uses Stripe for payments, automated

Technology that improves the experience remains at the fore-

phone call reminders to restaurants, automatic text and e-mail

front of the foodservice industry. Since 2015, the National Res-

status messages throughout the delivery process.

08 < MAY 2019 | bakemag.com

* 52% of consumers surveyed search online and/or check the

http://www.bakemag.com

bake - May 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of bake - May 2019