NAJI HADDAD

General manager Deliverect Middle East deliverect.com

Career peaks

In 2011, I decided to expand my horizons and moved to Dubai to spearhead a new tech company that focuses on music management for restaurants and hotels. I spent the next eight years building that company, and it was clear to me that restaurants needed to embrace the digital transformation.

From online ordering, digital menus and online reputation management, I took a leap of faith and started a company that partnered with several food-tech solutions. Our role was to help restaurants by assessing their needs and providing the right solutions. When Covid-19 hit and lockdowns ensued, online ordering was the only way to get food. Therefore, restaurants needed a solution to help manage all of these operations seamlessly.

I was having an ongoing conversation with Deliverect on collaborating. Our discussion about MENA operations led to me being appointed general manager of the Middle East.

A new normal

We’ve seen restaurants changing their approach, being inventive in terms of engaging with customers through multiple online channels and launching special offers and giveaways. The delivery sector has become crucial for the survival of the hospitality industry.

These changes require restaurants to have a competitive edge and focus on what matters the most, namely the dine-in customer experience and food quality. This is where technology comes in, empowering restaurants to optimize their operations and business processes, while reducing waste.

Additionally, restaurants will continue to primarily operate through solutions that are easy and straightforward to use as they usually don't have IT teams to manage their tech. With online orders automatically pushed to the POS, there’s no need to manually re-enter order receipts anymore, saving time and eliminating errors.

Finally, technology that eliminates close contact, like digital menus, tableside ordering, payment apps, and selfservice kiosks, is likely to become more prominent. Expect to see greater levels of automation in every part of the restaurant; AI and robotic machines will work alongside humans to cut costs for operators and improve work-life balance for restaurant employees.

Novelties

We’re redefining omni-channel restaurant management around the world with our innovative all-in-one solution: everything from online order flows to business development.

This region, in particular, has ample potential and hunger for online and offline food orders. Therefore, we are invested in empowering restaurants in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and other markets to act upon consumer demand and better serve their customers. Through our Delivery Manager app, customers can run their sales directly from the Deliverect app and consolidate all sales channels there. This gives a clear overview of all orders while providing access to our other unique features and tools. Customers also have the choice of using the Deliverect app with their own POS.

Our solutions portfolio helps restaurants take control of their delivery experience. For example, Deliverect Dispatch allows restaurants to offer delivery on their direct channels easily. We empower restaurants to sell directly through their own online store. Similarly, Deliverect’s Pickup Manager informs drivers when to go to the counter to pick up their order. This avoids having a long queue of drivers at the restaurant, which could jeopardize the dine-in experience.