Panera and Chili’s Turn to Tablets to Streamline Service

Panera and Chili’s Turn to Tablets to Streamline Service - NYTimes.com:
BRAINTREE, Mass. — An idea came to Ronald M. Shaich, the chief executive of Panera Bread, as he was driving his children to school about four years ago:
What if everyone could order lunch the way he did?
...They had to go to another line, and if they wanted any kind of espresso drink, we sent them to a fourth line.”
So, the corporate chieftain who once declared that “the food business is not a technology business” has spent $42 million to update Panera. 
“The goal is to eliminate friction points so that customers have a better experience,” Mr. Shaich said, “because if they have a better experience, it will help our business.”