Sinan Al Saady, group CEO of Cool Inc, is an accomplished executive and entrepreneur. In his pursuit to deliver the ultimate guest journey and experience, he explores the pivotal role of technology and AI in the world of hospitality.
How does Cool Inc. view technology and how it will shape the future of the restaurant industry?
I believe the Saudi market is relatively new to the fine-dining scene that has recently emerged. Therefore, we are focusing a great deal on the journey. We are looking to find better ways to continuously improve the guest experience, delivering a one-of-a-kind digital engagement across all channels. Our current venues can process up to 5,000 people in a single day. We also offer guests a personalized journey, which requires a great deal of technology as well as the right teams. As a new startup, we have had the luxury of not dealing with legacy systems. Furthermore, we are constantly working with our operational and IT teams to find better ways to run the operations.
In the realm of food tech, what challenges and opportunities do you foresee for tech-driven restaurant ventures in Saudi Arabia?
Our focus is more on the experience, providing guests with something more experiential. Food is becoming less of a focal point when it comes to outings. Consequently, we must continue striving to strike the right balance between feeding the guests something they will enjoy and entertaining them. Like many other businesses, we are observing a trend where guests prioritize Instagrammable moments over the actual meal. Catering to both this group and the traditional diner requires a sensitive balancing act. The challenge lies in maintaining excitement while upholding the consistency the industry demands. On the other hand, the real opportunity lies in identifying the level of engagement with guests. So, whether through technology or other means, we need to trigger the planning of their next visit while they are still in our outlets.
How can AI optimize tech-driven operations in restaurants?
We continuously gather large amounts of data daily concerning our guests, market trends, orders, suppliers and more. Much of this data resides in different systems, so we systematically collate and process it daily into actionable insights. By applying AI over this cleansed data, we anticipate significant enhancements. These enhancements include better forecasting of demand, improved guest satisfaction and the heightened effectiveness of our marketing efforts, in addition to manage just-in-time F&B orders and supplies more efficiently. Moreover, AI will enable us to staff more efficiently based on predicted demands and forecasts. In today’s world, data is the new currency. Moreover, in the age of AI, effectiveness is measured by the quality of the cleansed data.
coolinc.com.sa
sinan.alsaady
