Out-of-the-box tech systems help restaurants launch fast. Online ordering, loyalty, location pages—they’re quick, functional, and affordable. But they’re not built to carry you forever.

In this episode, Joseph Szala unpacks the lifecycle of restaurant tech adoption:

• Why out-of-the-box solutions are the right move early on

• The tradeoffs every brand eventually faces

• The $5M sales inflection point where custom experiences become critical

• How to unify your digital experience to reduce friction, maximize pull-through, and build stronger guest relationships

If you’re leading a multi-unit brand or pushing digital transformation in restaurants, this episode will give you clarity on when to optimize, not just operate.

McDonald’s new DoorDash-powered ordering flow works like a charm… but not for brand building. I break down the experience in real time, calling out what’s smooth, what’s broken, and what it teaches every multiunit restaurant leader about protecting your brand in the age of tech partnerships.

📄 Spotify Description (Optimized for discovery + listens)

Full custom websites deliver the highest revenue potential for restaurant brands—but they can also overwhelm budgets and timelines. In this episode of Little Raps, we unpack a phased build strategy that lets you:

• Move off monolithic platforms without disruption

• Add guest-facing features in stages

• Boost transactions and AOV faster

Perfect for multi-unit restaurant brand leaders who want digital transformation without the wait.