Dewey’s Pizza Blog
Dewey’s Online Ordering
Author: Chris Abrams, Director of Technology
As Director of Technology for Dewey’s Pizza, my goal is to consistently take our company to the next level, turning innovative ideas into practical solutions. My professional history, including time at YUM! Brands like Zappos and Amazon, among other tech startups, have shaped my perspective and approach. My philosophy: “Technology should enable, not distract,” guides my role in leading technology for our 27-unit independent pizza company. Since joining Dewey’s, my team and I have supported the entire brand, from guest experience to daily operations. All of this has directly led to the development of our new online ordering system, which we named DOLO.
The Vision
In the last few years, advancements in data accessibility have enabled cloud-first, rather than “store-isolated” design. Restaurant technology vendors have flooded the market to capitalize on technological advancements, creating new ways to serve customers and employees. Vendors are always looking to provide more solutions and continually add features around their core function.
Although Dewey’s has benefited from our vendor’s solutions, we have less control over when, where, and how to use them. This reduced control has changed our view on technology and who we partner with on our next-level strategy. We look to maintain our vision of:
- Own the direction of our tech stack – build where appropriate vs. buy.
- Create flexibility and provide a framework for growth.
- Control the timing of innovation.
- And We Create Exceptional Experiences Every Day.
The first phase of this strategy focuses on a new online ordering platform. We built this platform with a growth mindset and the ability to quickly add exceptional features within our timeline for our customers and employees.
Dewey’s Online Ordering
I am thrilled to share that Dewey’s Online Ordering site has entered its crucial beta testing phase across multiple locations. We will rigorously test the system in a real-world environment and ensure that every detail supports our operational goals. Looking ahead, we will roll out to all locations and continually add new features to provide exceptional experiences for our customers and employees.