Sodexo Introduces Robotic Hot Food Kiosks Across the U.S. with ART Partnership

Sodexo Introduces Robotic Hot Food Kiosks Across the U.S. with ART Partnership

By Nishang Narayan

Published on May 4, 2024

Sodexo, a global leader in food services and facilities management, has partnered with ART, a specialist in robotic technology, to launch an extensive network of robotic hot food kiosks across the United States. This initiative marks a significant advancement in the food service sector, leveraging cutting-edge technology to redefine convenience and quality in dining.

Starting March 26, 2024, the Just Baked Smart Bistro kiosks, developed by ART, will be available at various Sodexo-served client sites, including industries such as healthcare, education, and corporate settings. These state-of-the-art kiosks will offer an array of gourmet hot food options—from giant cinnamon rolls and White Castle Cheeseburger Slider 4-packs to bao buns and breakfast sandwiches—all prepared at the touch of a button.

Husein Kitabwalla, CEO of Tech & Services and Food Transformation at Sodexo North America, expressed his enthusiasm about the partnership, stating, "Our commitment to innovation is underscored by integrating ART’s Just Baked Technology into our services. This collaboration not only enhances our food offerings but also aligns with our goals of utilizing AI to push the boundaries of traditional food service."

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Ben Porter, CEO of ART, highlighted the benefits of this collaboration, noting, "Partnering with Sodexo allows us to tap into a vast network of food service operations, bringing unparalleled convenience and sophisticated analytics that optimize operations and deliver exceptional food experiences around the clock."

The Just Baked Smart Bistro kiosks are designed with compact efficiency, offering a diverse menu that caters to various tastes and dietary preferences. By incorporating advanced analytics and machine learning, these kiosks streamline operations and ensure a consistent, high-quality dining experience for consumers.

This deployment is part of Sodexo's broader strategy to enhance its technological capabilities in food services, promising a new era of dining convenience that is accessible 24/7 across a wide range of venues, including colleges, hospitals, airports, and more.

For further details on the Just Baked Smart Bistro technology and to explore partnership opportunities, visit www.justbakedkiosk.com.


Wilding Hotels enhances luxury stay with Volo in-room tablets, blending guest experience and sustainability

Wilding Hotels enhances luxury stay with Volo in-room tablets, blending guest experience and sustainability

By Nishang Narayan

Published on July 14, 2025

Wilding Hotels, renowned for its immersive wilderness retreats, has taken a decisive step in marrying luxury with sustainability by introducing Volo’s in-room concierge tablets across its properties. This strategic collaboration with Volo Solutions aims to modernise guest engagement, streamline operations, and support the brand’s strong eco-conscious mission.

"At Wilding Hotels, we focus on providing a seamless and elevated guest experience while fostering sustainability," shared Amy Hansen, Head of Hotel Operations. "Implementing Volo in-room tablets has enhanced guest experience, streamlined operations, and supported our sustainability goals."

The decision to integrate Volo was driven by the platform’s user-friendly interface, robust customisation options, and responsive customer support. The tablets, tailored to each Wilding location, allow guests to effortlessly explore hotel services, place orders, contact concierge, and access curated local recommendations—all from an in-room iPad. This has dramatically reduced response times and improved communication, freeing staff to focus on delivering more personalised, high-touch service.

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A key advantage of adopting Volo’s digital solution is the elimination of traditional printed directories, menus, and brochures, significantly cutting down on paper waste and printing costs. This aligns seamlessly with Wilding’s sustainability initiatives without compromising on the luxury experience guests expect.

Beyond operational efficiency and eco benefits, the tablets have proven to be effective revenue drivers. They encourage guests to discover and book dining experiences, spa treatments, and bespoke adventures. Looking ahead, Wilding Hotels plans to deepen this digital experience with AI-led recommendations and smart room integrations that will further personalise each guest’s stay.

"Volo's intuitive platform and exceptional support made this transition seamless, and we've already seen increased engagement and revenue," Hansen added. "These tablets are central to delivering a high-touch experience aligned with our brand's luxury and innovation."

With properties in Alaska and Texas, Wilding Hotels continues to carve out its niche as a luxury wilderness brand that balances comfort with a deep respect for nature. The addition of Volo’s in-room tablets reaffirms this commitment—offering guests an effortless, modern stay while treading lightly on the planet.

For more details, visit getvolo.com and wildinghotels.com.


Zoomcar Unveils ZoomPro Dashboard to Power India’s Evolving Self-Drive Fleet Economy

Zoomcar Unveils ZoomPro Dashboard to Power India’s Evolving Self-Drive Fleet Economy

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on July 13, 2025

Zoomcar has introduced ZoomPro, a smart fleet management dashboard built to enhance the efficiency and performance of India’s self-drive mobility ecosystem. Tailored for large B2B fleet operators, the platform enables users to manage bookings, pricing, and vehicle performance with ease, marking a major step in Zoomcar’s vision of tech-led transformation.

ZoomPro arrives at a time when Zoomcar is celebrating strong performance in FY25, which includes a 10% year-on-year rise in bookings and an 86% surge in repeat users. These trends signal growing consumer confidence and the rising demand for tech-enabled self-drive options.

“We’re building more than a marketplace, we’re enabling the operating system for self-drive mobility in India,” said Anirudh Lamba, Head of Marketing and Partnerships at Zoomcar. “With ZoomPro, our B2B toolkit empowers fleet operators to drive better performance, higher earnings, and superior guest experiences at scale.”

The dashboard offers a data-first interface that reflects how modern operators function across multiple cities and users. It provides real-time insights on vehicle metrics and customer behavior, allowing for more accurate decision-making and enhanced fleet control.

According to Vishal Ramrakhyani, Head of Engineering, “ZoomPro has been designed to scale with our partners. It supports long-term growth through tools like bulk onboarding, AI-powered recommendations, and soon, LLM-based customer support for faster and more personalized issue resolution.”

Zoomcar’s FY25 milestones also include a USD 4.25 million contribution profit at a 47% margin, a 58% rise in high-rated host vehicles, and a 67% drop in operational losses, validating its pivot to partner-first innovation.

The launch of ZoomPro is set to redefine how India's self-drive car rental sector operates, offering greater transparency, higher efficiency, and scalable tools for large fleet operators aiming to stay ahead in a rapidly growing market.


Mews expands Digital Key with Salto integration for seamless guest access

Mews expands Digital Key with Salto integration for seamless guest access

By Nishang Narayan

Published on July 12, 2025

Mews has announced a strategic integration with Salto’s smart locking system, enhancing its Digital Key offering and paving the way for a more seamless, contactless guest experience. Through this partnership, hotels using Salto’s access control can now enable guests to unlock rooms via their mobile devices using the Mews Hospitality Cloud—eliminating the need for physical keys altogether.

This move streamlines the check-in process, reduces manual front desk tasks, and strengthens overall security. Matt Welle, CEO of Mews, said, “Every step of the guest journey should be effortless. With Salto smart access for hospitality compatibility, more properties can reduce the friction around arrival and check-in. Digital Key is a win-win because it’s as much about operational efficiency as it is about improving guest satisfaction.”

Early results from Belgian brand YUST, which operates a hybrid model for short and long stays, show the integration’s impact. At its Antwerp property, 12% of guests checked in using Digital Key in the first month without any promotional push, and 64% of those with an active digital key used it to access their rooms. Dirk Van Gompel, CTO of YUST, shared, “Digital Key makes it easy for guests to go straight to their room, while creating real-time savings for our team, who can then focus on building real human connections.”

Salto’s Nora Urquiza highlighted the value of this collaboration, stating, “Our integration with Mews reinforces our commitment to delivering a seamless, secure, and modern digital experience through strong technology alliances.”

Beyond convenience, the integration also cuts down on environmental waste by removing the need for plastic keycards and supports a fully digital, on-the-go check-in and check-out process. Fully embedded within the Mews Hospitality Cloud, the Digital Key capability allows hotels to customise and automate the guest experience, opening new avenues for upselling and enhanced guest engagement.

Mews has been on a roll with tech enhancements, recently rolling out a Multicurrency feature for customers across Europe.

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