We sat down with Point B’s Senior Client Partner and Restaurant Segment Leader, Rich Faltot, who spearheaded the Restaurant Technology Innovation Center, to uncover the story behind a space that’s reshaping how an entire industry thinks about innovation, integration, and what’s truly possible.
"Company after company, it was the same story; tech decisions made in a vacuum, stacks that didn’t quite work together. We thought, ‘There’s got to be a better way.’" —Rich Faltot
A Vision Born from Frustration
It didn’t start with a strategy deck or an investor pitch. It started with a napkin. Over drinks and scribbled lines, Rich captured the seed of an idea: what if there were a place where restaurant leaders could stop guessing about tech and start seeing it in action? What if technology decisions could be made based on real integration, real outcomes, and real alignment with operations?
That simple sketch has since become the Restaurant Technology Innovation Center. A first-of-its-kind space in the heart of Chicago built not to sell technology, but to change the way enterprise restaurant brands think about and bring technology to life in their operations.
For years, Point B consultants, many of whom come from restaurants themselves, kept hearing the same challenges. Disconnected systems. Expensive platforms that didn’t play well together. Vendor demos that dazzled in isolation but fell flat when rolled out across real teams.
"The old way of selecting restaurant tech might not be what takes us into the future. We knew we could create something better."
The vision? Build a lab. A live, working environment where restaurant brands could:
- Explore integrated technologies
- Workshop strategies for business transformation
- Model their operations using enterprise-grade platforms
- Test systems side-by-side
- Walk out with a clear strategy and confidence to execute
As Rich Faltot put it: "You don’t just come in and see tech. You see it as a reflection of what would be needed to support a real business."
From Sketch to Reality
Getting there wasn’t easy. The idea was bold and a bit unconventional. Some called it risky.
What began as an idea scribbled on a napkin had to travel a long road to become a fully operational, future-forward space. And along that road were roadblocks, skeptics, competing interests, and logistical hurdles that would have stalled a lesser vision.
The Innovation Center was never meant to be just a tech showcase. It was envisioned as a hub for collaboration, experimentation, and problem-solving. Workshops that address some of the biggest challenges that restaurants have on the tech side are at the heart of it all. Designed to go beyond product demos, these sessions invite restaurant leaders to roll up their sleeves and dig into real strategies around scaling smarter, elevating the guest experience, streamlining operations, and empowering frontline teams.
Of course, bringing a vision this bold to life took more than passion. It took persuasion. The Point B team had to win over tech vendors with overlapping offerings. They had to make a case to clients burned out on disconnected systems. And yes, they had to convince internal leaders who initially saw the concept as too ambitious.
“When the CFO, who thought we were nuts, walked in, looked around, and said, ‘This is amazing,’ I just smiled. That was the moment.”
The breakthrough came by shifting the conversation from technology to outcomes. Instead of pitching tools, the team shared a vision of transformation, one rooted in real restaurant realities and built to produce results.
It worked.
With the right alignment and a shared purpose, vendors signed on. Restaurant brands leaned in. The skeptics became advocates. And the Innovation Center became more than an idea. It became proof that when you bring the right people to the table and build for what’s truly needed, you don’t just launch a space. You spark a movement.
Why It Matters
This center isn’t just about technology. It’s about transformation. About helping restaurant leaders make better decisions faster, with less friction and more confidence. It’s about shifting from disconnected tools to unified ecosystems.
The Restaurant Technology Innovation Center is a living space for collaboration, exploration, and transformation. Restaurant leaders walk in with questions and walk out with clarity.
"We’re going to help brands think about technology in a completely different way, an integrated way."
From loyalty programs that integrate seamlessly with POS systems to real-time data that syncs with inventory for smarter menu decisions, the Innovation Center helps leaders see how everything connects—and where it can break down.
"We finally have a space where we can validate real-world viability without the risk."
Built by People Who’ve Been There
What makes the Restaurant Technology Innovation Center different is who built it. The majority of the restaurant team at Point B, which has over 70 members, has worked in restaurants. They’ve led rollouts. Sat in operator seats. Managed the pain of mismatched systems.
So the Innovation Center isn’t just smart. It’s grounded in real-world restaurant life. Here, you don’t imagine the future, you test it. In real time. With real tech. Surrounded by people who get it. Point B is there, side by side, not to push a solution but to help you find the one that’s best for you.
"It’s not about the hottest trend. It’s about what fits your brand best. That’s what we help clients find."
What’s Next Starts Here
We believe the Restaurant Technology Innovation Center will fundamentally change how the restaurant industry thinks about transformation. It’s already helping enterprise brands make smarter, faster, and more confident technology decisions.
It started with a sketch. It became a space. Now it’s your turn to step in and explore what’s possible.
“It doesn’t really matter what challenge you’re trying to solve,” Rich says. “If you’re trying to improve performance, become more efficient, or figure out your next big move, we built this space to help you do exactly that. You bring your brand. We bring our experience. And together, we figure it out. There is no other place you can do this.”
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