GRAPEVINE Texas Daniel Burrus, one of the world's leading technology forecasters and business strategists, will deliver the keynote address during the 2008 International Foodservice Technology Exposition April 16–19 at the Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center here.
Burrus' presentation is one of many highlights of the industry's foremost technology exposition, known as FS/TEC, which annually brings restaurant tech executives together and provides a forum for exploring the latest software, hardware and information system services available to the foodservice industry.
"If you're involved with technology at your company, FS/TEC is where you want to be for the latest solutions, ongoing discussion of current and future technologies and networking with peers that you can't find anywhere else," said Tom Larranaga, publisher of Nation's Restaurant News. NRN produces and manages FS/TEC with Robert N. Grimes of Accuvia.
The focus of this year's event is profits and productivity with a theme of "Putting the I.T. in ProfI.T.$."
"Now more than ever, companies are looking at technology to streamline operations, collect data, train employees, and enhance the customer experience," Grimes said. "At FS/TEC, you'll learn who's making effective use of technology and how they're making it pay off."
Interactive discussions featuring leading restaurant operators include the Chief Information Officers and the Chief Executive/Chief Operating Officers panels. Manufacturers take part in the Technology Executives session. Offering insight from different perspectives, each of those panels explores where foodservice technology is headed in the next few years.
The future of technology also will be the focus of Burrus' keynote address. A noted author, whose work includes the acclaimed, "Technotrends," he is renowned for accurately predicting the future of technological change and its impact on business. As founder and chief executive of Burrus Research, he has helped hundreds of clients better understand how technological, social and business forces are converging to create untapped opportunities for companies.
Also addressing conferencegoers will be Andy Ford, chief insight officer of CultureWaves and an expert in lifestyle choices. As moderator of the CEO/COO Panel, he will share insights on a topic of paramount importance to every restaurant organization: the role that technology plays in consumer behavior.
Breakout sessions presented by restaurant operators on key industry issues will again be central to FS/TEC. This year's agenda includes sessions on "Measuring & Lowering POS Total Cost of Ownership"; "Best Practices in Capturing Online Orders & Finding Support Vendors"; and "Tech Tools for District Managers: What's Working, What's Needed?"
New to FS/TEC this year will be "Table Talk" Roundtables, presented by the National Restaurant Association Management Information Systems Study Group. This session will enable FS/TEC participants to meet face-to-face with peers to discuss a variety of topics, share challenges and gain insights on issues of importance to their business.
Another FS/TEC "first" will be the Technology Innovation Center on the show floor, which will showcase future advances in foodservice technology.
In addition to speakers, panels and educational sessions, FS/TEC 2008 will feature more than 150 exhibitors, including FS/TEC founding sponsors MICROS Systems Inc. and Microsoft Corp.; corporate sponsors Epson America Inc., PAR and Radiant Systems Inc.; and affiliate sponsors Hyperactive Technologies Inc. and Torex Hospitality.
This year's FS/TEC program was developed with the help of the FS/TEC Advisory Board, which is comprised of some of the leading information systems executives in foodservice.
"Our program is always timely and relevant, thanks, in part, to the input of our advisory board members who are on the front line of foodservice technology," NRN's Larranaga said.
For more information and to register for FS/TEC, call (212) 756-5245, email [email protected] or visit www.fstec.com and click on "Register for FS/TEC."