Inspire was created to be a restaurant company unlike any other, with a portfolio of highly differentiated brands that are backed by the organization’s unique shared services model. Following a OneInspire approach, Inspire has built a best-in-class IT team of global digital, data and platform engineers, enabling cross-functional and brand collaboration to enhance the guest experience. The latest focus for the team has been on increasing the speed and convenience of ordering for guests while improving in-restaurant team member efficiency at brands like Arby’s and Buffalo Wild Wings. 

“In July, our team began testing new platforms at Arby’s and Buffalo Wild Wings, which has helped to accelerate the adoption of new ordering and payment options for our guests,” said Raghu Sagi, Chief Information Officer at Inspire. “Today, technology is at the forefront of how we deliver a best-in-class guest experience and our team has been playing a pivotal role in sharing best practices across brands and quickly scaling them at the same time.”

At Arby’s, the technology team launched a pilot web order ahead platform focused on creating a more convenient digital experience that will attract new guests, while offering unique personalization options across the brand’s expansive menu. Over just four months, the team was able to launch the pilot, review learnings and implement updates ahead of an anticipated public launch in early 2021. This Inspire Digital Platform will serve as a foundation for all digital capabilities across all brands in the future.

And at Buffalo Wild Wings, the technology team was able to simultaneously build a seamless in-sports bar payment option that provides guests a faster and contactless experience. Guests can receive a one-time text message with a link that allows them to review the receipt and pay on the phone, or they can access it by scanning a QR code on their receipt. The new payment option launched in two sports bars in September, with ongoing tests in more than 25 sports bars across the country.

“These pilots are critically important first steps as we integrate learnings, add more features and eventually have robust products that can scale across the system,” Sagi said. “As a multi-brand organization and part of Inspire’s shared services model, we can bring to life new technology opportunities by working collaboratively across our brands. Technology is driving digital innovation and we can’t wait to bring these new capabilities to our guests and restaurant operators across our system.”