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Hey GoTabbers,
As we close out Q1, we’ve been thinking a lot about inventory.
And as the wife of a chef, I know that word alone can raise a person’s blood pressure.
Inventory in hospitality usually means counting, reconciling, discovering something walked away, and wondering how you’re somehow out of the one thing you definitely thought you had enough of.
But this time of year, it also feels like a good excuse to take stock in a different way: what we’ve learned, what we’ve heard, and what smart operators are doing differently right now.
Over the past few months, we’ve spent time on the road talking with craft brewers in Wisconsin, Colorado, Ohio, and across the Mid-Atlantic. And while every market has its own personality, one thing has come through loud and clear: the strongest breweries aren’t just focused on what’s in the glass. They’re getting sharper about the role they play in people’s lives and communities.
That same theme came through in our recent conversation with TapWyse. Breweries have a real opportunity right now to take back control of their guest relationships and stop relying so heavily on disconnected systems or third parties to stay connected to the people who already love what they do.
Now we’re heading into the Craft Brewers Conference in Philadelphia with a lot to show, from new hardware and Sync for Cloud and On Premises to a continued belief that the best technology should help breweries build deeper, more profitable guest relationships.
If Q1 taught us anything, it’s this: the breweries that win make great beer AND build strong connections to the people drinking it.
Patricia Mejia, CMO
Equal parts “let’s talk shop” and “let’s grab a coffee and compare notes,” you’ll find us at Booth #2434 showing off a few things we’re pretty excited about, including new hardware, Sync for Cloud and On Premises, and all the ways we’re helping breweries keep service flowing and guests happy (even when the WiFi isn’t).
We’re also co-hosting Refresh & Refuel with Tripleseat, because after night one of CBC, a little rest, respite, and some hardy, healthy snacks feels just like what we’ll all need.
So if you’re heading to CBC, come say hi, tell us what’s working (or not), and let’s trade a few ideas.
For a long time, social media felt like a direct line to your customer. Post a new release, announce a trivia night, share a great photo, and people showed up. These days, it’s a lot less reliable. Algorithms decide who sees what, paid reach keeps creeping in, and the platforms you helped build your audience on now often stand between you and the people you actually want to reach. You may still be getting attention, but that’s not the same as building a real, lasting relationship with your guests.
That’s exactly what came through in our recent conversation with Ross Stensrud at TapWyse. If you don’t have a direct way to connect with your guests, you’re essentially renting access to your own audience. And at a time when acquisition costs are rising and organic reach is shrinking, that’s a tough place to be.
The opportunity isn’t just getting people in the door. It’s staying connected after they leave. The breweries pulling ahead are focused on owning that relationship. They’re capturing guest data, making it easier to come back, and creating experiences that keep people engaged beyond a single visit.
If you’re not familiar, Beer30 helps breweries run smarter operations across inventory, production, and planning. Their new marketplace brings together tools that actually work together, which is a pretty refreshing change if you’ve ever tried to duct-tape your tech stack. It’s worth a browse if you’re looking to tighten up operations or build a more connected brewery tech ecosystem.
And if you happen to spot GoTab in there… let’s just say there may be a pretty compelling POS offer tied to signing up through the marketplace.
But you didn’t hear that from us.
If sales tax is one of those things you know you have to deal with but would prefer to think about never again, this one’s for you. Our integration with DAVO by Avalarahelps take one of the least glamorous parts of running a business and make it a whole lot less painful. By automating the collection, setting aside, filing, and payment of sales tax, DAVO helps operators avoid the last-minute scramble, surprise shortfalls, and “wait… was that due yesterday?” moments.
We also recently featured DAVO by Avalara on our Behind the Tab Podcast, where we dug into why sales tax creates so much unnecessary stress for operators and what it looks like when that burden is actually handled the right way.
In other words: one less thing to worry about, which frankly feels like a pretty strong product feature these days.
"Inside, we do full table service unless guests prefer the QR. Outside, it’s completely QR or walk-up service. Either way, the bartenders bring your food and drinks right to your table. You just relax.” — Rachel Callison, Regional Manager, Little Pub Holdings
