News Briefs

Fingermark  is working towards integrating the NVIDIA AI Blueprint for Visual Search and Summarization (VSS) into its Eyecue platform, helping QSR operators turn video footage into clear, actionable insights at scale.

At the center of Fingermark’s solution is Eyecue, a real-time computer vision platform used by QSRs globally to optimize speed of service and operational performance. A key component within Eyecue is Monitor, an intelligent tool that automatically captures and synchronizes multi-camera footage around key events, such as long drive-thru wait times, service bottlenecks, or staff-related incidents.

Thanks to the introduction of vision language models (VLMs) based on the NVIDIA VILA architecture, Fingermark is working on enhancing Monitor with the ability to automatically analyze, summarize, and tag operational video, reducing hours of manual review to a matter of minutes.

AI-Powered Video Intelligence for QSRs

Monitor was developed to give operators a clearer understanding of what’s happening in real time, and more importantly, why. When a trigger event occurs, for example, a vehicle stops for too long or a sudden slowdown in kitchen output, Monitor pulls relevant footage from inside and outside the restaurant and stores it alongside key data points like timestamps and order details.

With the addition of the VSS blueprint, Monitor will be able to:

• Automatically identify contributing factors such as unavailable staff, miscommunication, or overcrowded areas
• Create AI-generated summaries for every event,
• Add intelligent tags like “staff absent at counter,” “drive-thru backup,” or “order queue stall”
• Enable natural language search of video using intuitive queries like “show me all events where kitchen delays occurred during peak hours”
  
  
  This next step enables QSR teams to act faster, train more effectively, and operate more consistently, all without the burden of manual video review.

Scaling Clarity Across the Network

As Fingermark begins the integration of NVIDIA technology also supports broader strategic initiatives across QSR networks, including:

• Faster investigations and improved resolution of service issues
• Smarter training using categorized, real-world scenarios
• Operational benchmarking between sites using standardized video analysis
• High-quality AI model training, leveraging annotated footage to improve prediction and performance
   

“The future of restaurant operations is proactive, data-driven, and AI-powered,” said Dave Robertson, CTO, Fingermark. “By incorporating NVIDIA’s VSS blueprint into our Eyecue platform, we will be able to help our customers unlock the full potential of their video infrastructure to make better, faster decisions at every level of their business.”

Mirai, a hotel technology company known for helping properties increase direct bookings, has announced a major update to its booking engine. The new global platform is designed to offer a faster, more intuitive experience for guests while giving hotels greater control and flexibility.

Key Points

• Higher Multi-Room Conversion: The engine boosts conversion rates by 56% for multi-room bookings, a segment that represents just 9% of bookings but contributes 18% of total hotel sales.
• Speed and Performance: Engine response times are under two seconds—even on slower connections like those found in rural areas or airports—minimizing drop-offs that typically occur with longer load times.
• Improved User Experience: The new design reduces scrolling by 90% and highlights essential booking information, including cancellation policies, total price, and loyalty program perks.
• Key Functional Features:
  • Visual cart system and guided flow for managing multiple rooms.
  • Built-in OTA price comparison and rate matching.
  • A calendar showing the lowest available rates right from the start.
  • Seamless integration within a hotel’s own domain—no redirects or subdomains.
  • Smart filters that avoid returning empty search results.
  • Display of unavailable rooms to increase urgency and drive action.
• Sales Recovery Tools: In cases where rooms or dates aren’t available, the engine offers alternative options, such as waitlists, flexible dates, or nearby properties in the same group—recovering up to 0.6% of potential lost bookings.
• Customizability: Hotels can tailor how results are shown—from pricing formats to promotional highlights—ensuring the booking engine aligns with each property’s branding and sales strategy.

Why it's Interesting

Mirai, headquartered in Madrid, has traditionally focused on European and Latin American markets. However, its new global booking engine could spark interest among U.S.-based hoteliers looking for advanced, guest-centric booking tools. While elements of Mirai’s approach exist across various platforms, the company’s all-in-one, conversion-optimized solution—designed for speed, multi-room functionality, and direct sales—sets a new benchmark. It also signals a potential shift as more global tech providers eye the U.S. market, potentially shaking up the competitive landscape. Here’s why this rollout matters:

• Multi-Room Focus: Many U.S.-based booking engines still treat multi-room reservations as secondary use cases. Mirai, by contrast, makes this a priority—addressing a clear need for families, group travelers, and suite-oriented urban hotels.
• Mobile Performance: With under-two-second load times even on poor connections, Mirai’s architecture directly supports mobile bookings in environments where network reliability is inconsistent—think rural resorts, roadside hotels, and airport-adjacent properties.
• Direct Booking Support: Built-in OTA comparison tools and real-time rate matching speak to an ongoing priority for U.S. hoteliers: reducing reliance on OTAs and driving more direct bookings.
• Full Design Integration: By embedding directly into a hotel’s domain (rather than redirecting to subdomains), the engine supports better SEO performance and a more cohesive brand experience—particularly important for independent and boutique properties.

Taken together, these features not only address long-standing friction points in the booking process but also reflect a growing expectation among travelers for speed, clarity, and seamless UX. If Mirai expands into North America, its approach could challenge domestic players to elevate their offerings or risk falling behind.

DoorDash has partnered with Wing to offer drone delivery in Charlotte, N.C.

DoorDash customers within about four miles of The Arboretum Shopping Center in southern Charlotte can order from a selection of local and national restaurants and choose to have their items delivered by drone. The lineup includes local brands like Matcha Cafe Maiko and Panera Bread— the city's first national partner available for drone delivery. 

The Charlotte expansion is the next step in a successful partnership between Wing and DoorDash. DoorDash and Wing first launched drone delivery together in Australia in 2022. Since then, the partnership expanded to the U.S., with drone delivery service available to DoorDash customers in parts of Southwest Virginia, the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, and now Charlotte. DoorDash and Wing plan to expand to additional neighborhoods later this year.

“Autonomous delivery will help shape the future of local logistics, and we’re proud to introduce drone delivery to Charlotte for the first time with Wing,” said Harrison Shih, Head of Product for DoorDash Labs. “What makes this launch special isn’t just the technology, it’s the experience. Whether it’s your favorite Panera sandwich, a savory snack from DashMart, or a local matcha latte on DoorDash, there’s something special about watching your order arrive by air in minutes. DoorDash and Wing aren’t just delivering faster, we’re delivering what’s next.”

This partnership was born out of DoorDash Labs, DoorDash’s robotics and automation arm. DoorDash Labs focuses on identifying and integrating autonomous solutions that can enhance the customer experience, drive increased demand for local merchants, and create more earning opportunities for Dashers. In addition to Wing, DoorDash also partners with Coco Robotics for sidewalk robot delivery, reinforcing its commitment to building a multi-modal delivery platform designed to support the fastest and most efficient deliveries possible.

“We are committed to continuously redefining convenience and unlocking innovative ways to enhance the Panera experience, and we’re thrilled to partner with DoorDash and Wing on this pilot,” said Meenakshi Nagarajan, Chief Digital Officer, Panera Bread. “This partnership offers a cutting-edge way to deliver the quality and craveability that our guests know and love, right to their doorstep.” 

How it Works

To get started with drone delivery on DoorDash, eligible residents browsing the DoorDash app will notice the “Drone” icon on the homepage of their app. Tapping that will let them browse restaurants eligible for drone delivery.

If the items they choose meet the size and weight criteria, shoppers will have the option to select drone delivery during checkout. After confirming their delivery location, they’ll receive live tracking updates as the drone approaches.

Charlotte residents can check their address for eligibility at wing.com/charlotte. Anyone who isn’t eligible today can join the waitlist to be notified when drone delivery expands to their neighborhood.

RMS, a hospitality platform for hotels, motels, serviced apartments and short-term rentals, has announced a new strategic partnership with property care and operations platform Breezeway.

The integration enables property managers and hospitality operators to seamlessly automate and optimize operational tasks directly within RMS’s interface.

Through this partnership, RMS users gain access to Breezeway’s comprehensive suite of tools, including automated scheduling of cleaning teams, customizable task management, real-time inventory monitoring, AI-powered guest messaging, digital welcome books, and smart lock code automation. This unified approach significantly enhances operational efficiency, allowing operators to deliver a consistently superior guest experience.

Through Breezeway’s automated scheduling and messaging capabilities, RMS users can save approximately 40 hours per month on administrative tasks and significantly reduce unnecessary phone calls. Businesses using Breezeway have reported revenue increases averaging $20,000 annually.

Adam Seskis, CEO at RMS, said: "Delivering exceptional guest experiences starts with operational excellence. Our integration with Breezeway streamlines property operations, enabling hospitality teams to spend less time on manual tasks and more time delighting guests. It’s another meaningful step in helping our users drive efficiency and value across their operations."

Jeremy Gall, Founder and CEO of Breezeway, said: "We’re excited to partner with RMS to bring a smarter, more connected approach to property operations. By combining RMS’s powerful property management system with Breezeway’s purpose-built operations platform, we’re giving property managers unprecedented control, visibility, and automation. This partnership raises the bar for what hospitality teams can deliver at scale."

Breezeway joins RMS’s robust technology ecosystem, alongside other leading platforms such as revenue management tool Right Revenue and reservation management solution ResDiary. This growing suite of integrations positions RMS as the preferred choice for hospitality operators committed to achieving growth, scalability, and operational excellence.

Dense Air, a pioneer in shared wireless infrastructure, announces its rebrand to IONX Networks, a move that reflects the company's shift toward a more customer-focused mission: solving the persistent problems of poor mobile coverage, dropped calls, and dead zones across complex environments.

The name IONX Networks better represents who we are and what we do. It stands for Integrated & Optimized Network Experiences and reflects our dedication to transforming cellular connectivity. As a small cell neutral host provider, we enable enterprises, infrastructure partners, and mobile operators to solve the persistent challenges of poor cellular coverage—indoors and outdoors—with scalable, secure, and cost-effective solutions. IONX speaks directly to the markets we serve and the impact we deliver.  

"Dense Air was a name born from our engineering roots, and while we are proud of that legacy, we are stepping into a new chapter. This rebrand marks more than a name change—it is our commitment to making mobile connectivity work better for everyone, said Jim Estes, CEO of IONX Networks. We are taking everything we have built as Dense Air and channeling it into outcomes that truly matter to businesses, operators, and end users alike. Our goal is simple: eliminate connectivity challenges wherever they exist."

The Future of Connectivity Is Now
As demand for reliable cellular connectivity accelerates, legacy systems struggle to handle today's coverage needs. IONX is built to meet these challenges with an open, shared, and multi-operator approach that improves network coverage, performance, and user experiences across the board.

"Every day, we work with property owners, enterprises, and operators who are frustrated by inconsistent mobile experiences, said Mark Meuleman, Chief Revenue Officer at IONX Networks. Our value is clear: we help them fix it. We bring strong, secure, seamless mobile connectivity to places where coverage was once a constant pain point. IONX is about solving those problems—fast, cost-effectively, and at scale."

A New Chapter
Our rebrand marks a new chapter in delivering connectivity without compromise. IONX Networks continues to leverage cutting-edge small cell technology and the power of shared spectrum to deliver scalable, cost-effective mobile infrastructure solutions. But now, the focus is squarely on solving real-world connectivity problems and delivering tangible benefits to mobile users, property owners, infrastructure partners, and service providers alike.

As part of the rebrand, IONX Networks will roll out a refreshed visual identity and new messaging that reflects its customer-first approach, while continuing to drive innovation in neutral host network solutions - unlocking the promise of mobile connectivity.

Join us on our journey.
Visit our new home at www.IONXnetworks.com to learn more about how we are helping the world stay connected—smarter, faster, and without compromise.

A new report from responsible advertising platform Givsly highlights a rising trend that hotel and restaurant tech executives can’t ignore: U.S. consumers are increasingly basing their purchase decisions on brand values. In “The Rise of Conscious Consumers,” Givsly surveyed more than 2,100 U.S. adults and found that 88% of consumers prefer brands that align with their personal beliefs, with younger and multicultural consumers leading the shift.

Key Findings From the Report:

• Values-driven spending is increasing: 1 in 4 Americans care more about brand values than they did five years ago. For Gen Z, it's 36%.
• Consumers will pay more for aligned brands: 64% of all Americans — and 79% of Gen Z — say they’d spend more with brands that share their values.
• Loyalty is values-based: 84% will recommend a brand based on values; 55% feel more loyal to brands that share them publicly.
• Digital ads that give back perform better: 40% of consumers say they pay more attention to digital ads that include a donation component.
• Hospitality is a key vertical: 63% of Americans want brands to express their values in product-focused ads, especially in travel and hospitality, healthcare, and retail.

Why This Matters for Hotel and Restaurant Tech Leaders

Values-based marketing is no longer a “branding issue” — it’s a cross-functional challenge that impacts data strategy, personalization, and tech stack decisions. Here’s how hospitality technology leaders can respond:

Guest Personalization Needs a Values Layer

Most personalization engines focus on spend history, loyalty tier, or travel behavior — but today’s consumers expect messaging that also reflects their ethical priorities. That means:

• Integrating values-based segmentation into CDPs and guest profiles
• Capturing guest preferences around causes (e.g., sustainability, mental health, animal welfare) via surveys or loyalty programs
• Using AI to personalize email, web, and app experiences that resonate on a values level

CMO + CTO Collaboration is Key

Running high-performing, values-based campaigns requires tight alignment between marketing and IT:

• Adtech and martech platforms need access to clean, structured guest data
• Analytics tools must measure performance based on both values and ROI (e.g., donations triggered, loyalty lift, advocacy on social)
• Campaign testing tools should allow marketing to A/B test value-driven messaging dynamically across channels

Feedback and Loyalty Tools Should Capture Emotional Drivers

Legacy guest satisfaction tools often miss why a customer felt an emotional connection. Hospitality tech teams can enhance feedback mechanisms by:

• Embedding questions about values alignment in surveys and reviews
• Using NLP and sentiment analysis to identify when guests mention ethics, sustainability, or social causes
• Feeding this data back into loyalty and marketing platforms

Opportunities for Cause-Driven Guest Engagement

Donation-driven offers ("Stay with us, and we’ll donate to a cause you choose") are outperforming traditional ads. Tech teams can:

• Build or integrate systems to track and verify cause-based rewards
• Enable guests to select preferred causes in apps or booking flows
• Show impact metrics post-stay, creating transparency and loyalty