Korean Food Startup Cooperative Prioritizes 'Digital Transformation' for Dining Industry
Creatrip Team
3 months ago
Myeongrang Era Youth Dining Startup Cooperative (Myeongrang Era) names digital transformation of the dining industry its core task for 2026, creating a new Digital Strategy Division to digitize headquarters, factories and franchise outlets. The group plans long-term strategies across three areas: ordering/service, cooking/preparation and management. While some management-side digital tools like CRM and data analytics have helped revenue, they have not solved labor cost or efficiency issues. Kiosks are spreading in ordering but don’t fully address staffing shortages, and platform-focused solutions favor delivery over offline store operations. Automation in kitchens remains at an early stage. Myeongrang Era has invested in digitalization since its founding — operating a smart factory since 2019, using AI for menu development and site analysis, and now adding AI to POS and kiosks and expanding RPA (robotic process automation) to cut repetitive tasks. The cooperative says digital change should support staff rather than replace them, aiming to boost productivity, competitiveness, new business and job creation long-term.
