Challenges
Operating over 6,000 restaurants across the United States, this Fortune 500 quick-service restaurant (QSR) brand was grappling with significant operational complexity. The root of the issue lay in its technology infrastructure; the brand's stores were running on multiple different Point of Sale (POS) systems. This fragmented setup made managing a national menu, launching promotions, and ensuring price consistency a monumental task. A simple update, like a new combo or a limited-time offer, required a massive coordination effort, leading to inefficiencies, errors, and delays in bringing new products to market.
Solution
To solve this challenge, the client partnered with Makai Digital to engineer a transformative solution centered around a new Unified Menu API. The project was a model of seamless collaboration:
- Collaborative API Design: The client's and Makai's engineering teams worked together to design the APIs. This partnership ensured the API architecture would be a robust and scalable "single source of truth" for all menu, pricing, and promotional data.
- Parallel, Zero-Downtime Execution: The development of the core API by the client and the app integrations by Makai were done in parallel. This entire process was managed behind a feature flag, which enabled frequent production deployments with zero outages or production issues. This agile approach ensured a smooth, invisible transition for customers.
- Digital Integration: Makai Digital connected the brand's Android, iOS, and web applications to the newly built Unified Menu API. This final step ensured a consistent data flow from the backend all the way to the customer's screen.
With the system complete, the corporate team could now roll out updates from a single interface, and the platform would instantly translate and distribute that information correctly to every restaurant and digital application.
Impact
The implementation of the Unified Menu platform marked a fundamental shift in the brand's operational capabilities, delivering massive efficiency gains and creating a foundation for future agility. Key benefits include:
- Radical Operational Simplification: The immense challenge of managing multiple distinct POS systems was eliminated. The Unified Menu provided a single, streamlined workflow, saving countless hours of manual work and reducing the potential for human error across thousands of locations.
- Guaranteed Consistency Across 6,000+ Restaurants: The platform ensured that every single restaurant—and every digital channel—had the exact same menu and pricing information. This eliminated inconsistencies and guaranteed a reliable and fair customer experience nationwide.
- Unprecedented Agility and Speed-to-Market: Launching a national promotion or a new product went from a complex, multi-system logistical challenge to a single, swift action. This newfound agility allows our client to react to market changes and innovate faster than ever before.
By creating a Unified Menu, Makai Digital helped this Fortune 500 QSR turn one of its most significant operational complexities into a powerful strategic advantage. The brand is now equipped with a scalable, efficient, and consistent system to manage its vast operations and drive future growth.
Makai Digital is the partner of choice for enterprises looking to solve complex business problems with intelligent, scalable technology solutions. We turn your challenges into opportunities for growth.