Digital Hospitality

KNOW founder and CEO Krish Sridhar joins Shawn Walchef to share how a simple digital checklist grew into a platform used by millions of frontline workers across the world. Krish explains why hospitality teams need intuitive, mobile tools that remove friction and create clarity, how AI should stay invisible, and why KNOW builds features directly with operators. This episode reveals how better workflows, communication, and daily structure can transform frontline performance in any multi unit business. Interview Takeaways: Empowering Frontline Teams Through Simple Tools – KNOW was built on the belief that frontline workers deserve technology that is clear, intuitive, and easy to use. By centering the platform around digital checklists that guide daily tasks, prompt action, and capture proof, KNOW removes friction for employees and gives operators confidence that work is actually getting done. Hospitality Software Shaped by Real Operators – KNOW’s evolution has always been driven by its partners. Features like peer recognition, workflows, attendance tools, and integrations were all created because operators needed simple ways to communicate, stay aligned, and standardize work across locations. The platform grows in the direction real teams pull it. AI That Helps Without Getting in the Way – Krish Sridhar believes AI should stay behind the scenes. Instead of overwhelming users, it should make work feel easier and more natural. KNOW uses AI to streamline training, automate prompts, and simplify decision making, all while keeping the focus on the people doing the work. Episode Links: Krish Sridhar on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/akrishsridhar/ KNOW online: https://www.getknowapp.com/ KNOW on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/co@mpany/getknowapp/ CREATE: https://informaconnect.com/create/ About Our Sponsors DAVO: DAVO automates every step of the sales tax process — from collecting to filing to paying. It works seamlessly with your POS, so there’s nothing you need to do. And because DAVO guarantees your taxes will be paid on time and in full, there’s nothing to worry about either. Click here to learn more Marqii: Digital Hospitality doesn't have to be complicated and our partners at Marqii live that every day. Marqii is designed to create unforgettable customer experiences from first search to latest visit with their one-stop digital operations platform built for hospitality operators. Click here to learn more

In this episode of Pitch The Tide, Charlie Eblen shares how Single Tree BBQ grew from a food truck into a rising Tennessee brand built on family, community, and purpose. After losing his job in 2020, Charlie committed to building something of his own and turned Single Tree into a destination for real barbecue and real connection. Today he is raising 5 million dollars to open a flagship location, expand into new markets, and bring more people into Single Tree Nation. Charlie explains why the heart of his growth plan is teaching others, maintaining unyielding standards, and honoring the legacy that inspired the brand. Single Tree BBQ is focused on impact, opportunity, and creating a home for everyone who walks through the door. Interview Takeaways: Built From Purpose – Charlie created Single Tree BBQ after losing his job and committing to build something meaningful that reflects his family values and his grandfather’s legacy. Teaching Fuels Growth – Single Tree scales by developing people, not shortcuts. Charlie focuses on training, clear standards, and helping his team learn how to teach others. A Vision Worth Investing In – Charlie is raising 5 million dollars to open a flagship location and expand Single Tree Nation with a growth strategy centered on quality, community, and long-term impact. Episode Links: Charlie Eblen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlieeblen Single Tree BBQ: https://www.singletreebbq.com/ Cali BBQ Media: https://content.calibbq.media/ Join Our Next Show: https://betheshow.media/rising-tides/ Shawn Walchef on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shawnpwalchef/ About Our Sponsors DAVO: DAVO automates every step of the sales tax process — from collecting to filing to paying. It works seamlessly with your POS, so there’s nothing you need to do. And because DAVO guarantees your taxes will be paid on time and in full, there’s nothing to worry about either. Click here to learn more Marqii: Digital Hospitality doesn't have to be complicated and our partners at Marqii live that every day. Marqii is designed to create unforgettable customer experiences from first search to latest visit with their one-stop digital operations platform built for hospitality operators. Click here to learn more

Shawn Walchef shares the biggest lessons he has learned serving on the Toast Customer Advisory Board. From seeing how deeply Toast invests in customer success to understanding the power of real feedback loops, Walchef explains why every operator benefits from joining a larger community. He also reflects on how peers, storytelling, and brand advocacy helped shape his restaurant and media business. For Walchef, progress accelerates when operators learn together and choose to get involved. Interview Takeaways: Customer Success Starts with Listening – Toast’s advisory board shows how real operators shape better products. Bringing users into the room creates decisions grounded in day to day realities. Community Solves the Feeling of Isolation – Connecting with other restaurateurs helps operators realize they are not alone. Shared lessons, shared challenges, and shared solutions accelerate growth for everyone. Your Story Is Part of the Ecosystem – Brand advocacy matters. When operators share why tools matter to their business, it strengthens partnerships and builds opportunities far beyond the technology itself. Episode Links: Shawn Walchef on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shawnpwalchef/ Toast: https://pos.toasttab.com/ Kelly Esten on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellysennatt/ Steve Fredette on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevefredette/ Aman Narang: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aman-narang-155628/ About Our Sponsors DAVO: DAVO automates every step of the sales tax process — from collecting to filing to paying. It works seamlessly with your POS, so there’s nothing you need to do. And because DAVO guarantees your taxes will be paid on time and in full, there’s nothing to worry about either. Click here to learn more Marqii: Digital Hospitality doesn't have to be complicated and our partners at Marqii live that every day. Marqii is designed to create unforgettable customer experiences from first search to latest visit with their one-stop digital operations platform built for hospitality operators. Click here to learn more

Jason E. Brooks steps in this week for Shawn Walchef as he leads a deep conversation about one of the most overlooked challenges in hospitality tech: the last mile. A keynote speaker, longtime operator, and industry veteran, Jason breaks down why tools that look perfect in a demo often struggle once they hit the chaos of real operations. He explores the gap between idea and execution, the friction points that derail adoption, and the misunderstandings that operators and tech builders often have about each other. Interview Takeaways: The Last Mile Determines Success – Most tech looks perfect in a demo, but real adoption happens in the walk-in, the expo line, and the Saturday night rush. The gap between idea and execution is where tools either thrive or die. Operators and Tech Builders Need Shared Understanding – Both sides experience frustration. Operators face chaos and turnover, while builders know their product solves a real problem. Bridging the misunderstandings between them is essential for consistent use. Adoption Requires Ongoing Support, Not Just Onboarding – The first 30 to 90 days matter most. Training, follow-up, small friction fixes, and regular check-ins are what turn a solution from “new tool” into “part of the workflow.” Episode Links: Cali BBQ Media: https://content.calibbq.media/ Join Our Next Show: https://betheshow.media/rising-tides/ Shawn Walchef on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shawnpwalchef/ Jason E. Brooks: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-e-brooks/ About Our Sponsors DAVO: DAVO automates every step of the sales tax process — from collecting to filing to paying. It works seamlessly with your POS, so there’s nothing you need to do. And because DAVO guarantees your taxes will be paid on time and in full, there’s nothing to worry about either. Click here to learn more Marqii: Digital Hospitality doesn't have to be complicated and our partners at Marqii live that every day. Marqii is designed to create unforgettable customer experiences from first search to latest visit with their one-stop digital operations platform built for hospitality operators. Click here to learn more

On the roof of Amazon’s Santa Barbara campus ahead of the Palm Tree Music Festival, eero Executive Vice President Mark Sieglock highlights why reliable connectivity is now core to modern hospitality. Sieglock has been with eero for ten years, joining before its first product launch in 2016. Since then, eero has expanded to tens of millions of homes and businesses in 28 countries while staying focused on consistent, secure coverage. Interview Takeaways: Connectivity That Meets Operators Where They Are – Mark Sieglock and the eero team focus on making networking simple, reliable, and approachable for everyone. Their “grandma test,” where Sieglock’s grandmother successfully set up four eero devices in twenty minutes, reflects the company’s commitment to usability. And for operators who want more control, eero offers the ability to manage their network hands on with the same intuitive, easy-to-navigate user experience. Technology Built for the Realities of Restaurants and Hospitality – From early deployments with Delfina Restaurant Group to recent work with Five Guys and hotels, eero has seen firsthand how complex and high-pressure restaurant environments are. Multiple wifi segments, sensitive POS systems, and delivery integrations all depend on stable connectivity. Keeping Businesses Online When It Matters Most – Outages disrupt service, online orders, payment processing, and guest experience. eero Signal, the new cellular backup device, was created to eliminate those moments. If a primary internet connection fails, Signal takes over instantly and keeps the entire network running. Episode Links: eero: https://eero.com/  Mark Sieglock LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-sieglock Palm Tree Music Festival: https://palmtreemusicfestival.com/ Delfina Restaurant Group In San Francisco: https://www.delfinasf.com/ How eero and F3 Tech powered reliable, high-speed wifi across the Palm Tree Music Festival: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdOVVEsjZ0c About Our Sponsors DAVO: DAVO automates every step of the sales tax process — from collecting to filing to paying. It works seamlessly with your POS, so there’s nothing you need to do. And because DAVO guarantees your taxes will be paid on time and in full, there’s nothing to worry about either. Click here to learn more Marqii: Digital Hospitality doesn't have to be complicated and our partners at Marqii live that every day. Marqii is designed to create unforgettable customer experiences from first search to latest visit with their one-stop digital operations platform built for hospitality operators. Click here to learn more