Episode 215

215 Dave Dittenber - From Dish Pit to SaaS CEO: Empowering Restaurant Managers With Real-Time Data

In this episode of SaaS Fuel, we explore the journey of Dave Dittenber, who transitioned from a humble dishwasher in Northern Michigan to a tech innovator revolutionizing the restaurant industry.

Discover how Dave’s innovative solutions, such as BYOD (Bring Your Own Data) and Mabel, a virtual restaurant assistant, are enhancing decision making and streamlining operations without losing the essential personal touch.

Learn practical tips for improving employee efficiency through customizable checklists, gamification, and structured processes within mobile apps. Finally, dive into the strategic challenges and partnerships that have fueled the growth of Dave’s tech-driven solutions in the hospitality sector.

Don’t miss this episode— it’s a masterclass in balancing people, processes and technology for operational success.

Key Takeaways

00:00 New leadership, changing market, outdated business models.

03:56 Platform as a service enables scalable, sticky relationships.

08:45 Leadership, followership, security insights from experts.

11:41 Balancing technology and hospitality in restaurant management.

16:21 Alerts to adjust TV for marketing initiatives.

18:18 Historical data alone can't accurately predict sales.

23:00 Need easy, customizable checklists to improve documentation.

24:13 Easy-to-use customizable checklist for staff operations.

28:13 Technology aids onboarding, enhances communication, personal touch.

34:18 Lacked technology expertise after co-founder Frank passed.

37:52 Challenges in adapting technology due to uncertainties.

40:38 Shifting focus from small customers to enterprise.

43:00 Converting convenience stores to digital for efficiency.

47:11 Our product ensures user-centric data solutions, strategically.

51:15 Different standards; resilience and learning are essential.

52:46 Transitioned from simple bank debt to private equity.

Tweetable Quotes

Strategic Sales Relationships: "Instead of going out like lead gens and a lot of things that we were told in the beginning that we had to worry about, like, we can be a lot more tactical or strategic by through relationships and getting to know people." - Dave Dittenber 00:48:15

Bootstrapping and Private Equity: "We bootstrapped, and we self funded, probably the 1st 2 years. And then as we were looking to say, okay, as you're gonna, you know, be more viable and you're gonna build build a business, it has to be investable." - Dave Dittenber 00:53:19

The Weight of a Title: "The other thing is sometimes they put the CEO title behind your name and you think that you should know everything." - Dave Dittenberg 00:54:53

Transparency in Business: "We also are really transparent with our investors. Right? If we're gonna go do something or thinking about doing something, you know, we communicate that." - Dave Dittenberg 00:55:09

SaaS Leadership Lessons

Embrace an Unconventional Journey: Dave’s path from dishwasher to tech entrepreneur highlights the importance of diverse experiences in shaping innovative solutions. His background in hospitality provided unique insights that a traditional tech background might not have offered. Embrace and leverage unconventional journeys to drive innovation in SaaS products.
Integrate Technology with Human Touch: Dave’s innovations like BYOD and Mabel show the importance of integrating technology to enhance human operations rather than replace them. The concept of “augmented intelligence” rather than “artificial intelligence” emphasizes that technology should support human decision making, especially in industries that rely heavily on personal interactions, such as hospitality.
Foster Employee Engagement Through Technology: By incorporating customizable checklists, gamification and rewards into mobile apps, Dave has created a more motivated and efficient workforce. Focus on building tools that not only streamline operations but also enhance employee engagement and satisfaction, which is crucial for retaining talent in the post-COVID era.
Navigate Challenges with Strategic Partnerships: Dave’s experience in overcoming the loss of a key technical founder and his strategic partnerships with state restaurant associations and enterprises like DirecTV underscore the significance of collaboration. Forming strategic alliances can provide valuable resources, market access and support that are vital for scaling a SaaS solution.
Balance Sales and Product-Led Strategies: Being flexible between sales-led and product-led approaches is necessary. While Dave’s team provides tools to integrate existing tech stacks, they also focus on building long term relationships and understanding customer needs. Aim to balance these strategies to cater to diverse customer requirements while driving growth and innovation.