Identifying trends in hospitality tech - Kim Decoralis highlights the trends taking place in the hospitality technology industry in which we are starting to see more and more companies focused on solving a specific problem for their customers.
Creative ways to make loyalty more engaging - Combining your brand’s personality and your target audience when creating your loyalty rewards is a great way to make the brand more approachable and the rewards more enticing.
Maintaining brand authenticity in the era of AI - As AI becomes a tool used more and more in brand messaging, it’s never been more important to ensure that your brand’s voice is authentically represented in all forms of marketing.
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Kim DeCarolis, Senior Vice President of Strategic Growth at Craveworthy Brands, is at the forefront of identifying and implementing trends in hospitality technology. On this episode of Data Delicacies powered by Incentivio, DeCarolis spoke with host Arun Kumar about technology trends, making loyalty more engaging, and maintaining brand identity through AI influence.
Spotting Hospitality Technology Trends
DeCarolis spoke on how she has observed a significant shift in the industry, noting that more companies are now focusing on solving specific problems for their customers, rather than offering generalized solutions. She expresses that this specialization, while beneficial, poses challenges in terms of technology integration, necessitating solutions to ensure seamless communication between various tech tools.
"I think that the one-stop shops are becoming a little bit watered down because there are companies that are coming out that are truly solving the need for one specific item, and they're getting good at it," Kim explains.
Innovative Approaches to Loyalty Programs
DeCarolis also brings a creative flair to enhance customer loyalty. She emphasizes the importance of blending a brand’s personality with its target audience to make loyalty programs more engaging. Fun activations put on by Craveworthy Brands demonstrate how playful and relevant rewards can resonate with specific demographics, making the brand more approachable and the rewards more enticing.
"We do, like, let's call them kickers or bonuses by, like, sharing via social or, you know, TikTok," she shares, highlighting the successful implementation of these strategies in places, such as Genghis Grill on the Ohio State University campus.
Ensuring Authentic Brand Voice with AI
In an era where AI is increasingly used in brand messaging, DeCarolis underscores the critical need to maintain brand authenticity. She points out that while AI can be immensely beneficial for order accuracy, machine learning, and personalized loyalty experiences, it is crucial to ensure that the brand's voice remains authentic. She believes that by leveraging AI thoughtfully, brands can enhance their operations while staying true to their unique identity, ensuring that their messaging resonates genuinely with their audience.
"So everyone can say we can pull all this data, but unless the data is actionable, it's really nice to have, but what are we going to do on the brand side with it,” says DeCarolis. “You just need to make sure that you're executing it correctly to make sure that it's your voice or your brand's voice.”
Through her strategic insights and innovative approaches, Kim DeCarolis is not only driving growth at Craveworthy Brands but also setting new standards in the hospitality industry.
Episode Links:
Kim DeCarolis LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kdecarolis/
Craveworthy Brands Online - https://www.craveworthybrands.com/
Craveworthy Brands Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/craveworthybrands/
Craveworthy Brands YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@CraveworthyBrands
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ABOUT KIM DECAROLIS–
Kim DeCarolis comes into Craveworthy Brands with over a decade of experience in driving organizational growth through sales leadership in the restaurant operations and technology industry, DeCarolis has made significant strides in fostering high-growth partnerships and advancing innovative solutions. As the first woman named to the Executive team as Vice President of Sales at Punchh, she played a pivotal role in scaling revenue to $50 million. Her tenure as Director of Strategic Franchise Sales for FAT Brands further showcased her ability to create and nurture successful partnerships. As an active member of the Women's Food Service Forum, Kim DeCarolis is committed to advancing women in the restaurant industry. Her career is defined by a passion for growth, leadership, and innovation in the dynamic restaurant and tech sectors.
ABOUT DATA DELICACIES—
Data Delicacies is a weekly podcast that dives deep into the world of technology and data as it pertains to restaurants. Host Arun Kumar interviews some of the best and brightest in the industry about all things hospitality tech, artificial intelligence, and machine learning.
Data Delicacies on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/29ExS0n9X3Z3FyK4HuSPKH
Incentivio Online - https://www.incentivio.com/
Incentivio Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/incentivio/
Produced by: Incentivio - https://www.incentivio.com/
