Manoj Kumar is the visionary Founder of Orderific, a platform revolutionizing the restaurant industry by offering innovative, AI-powered tools that were once only available to large chains. With a mission to make technology accessible to small and mid-sized restaurants, Manoj has led Orderific to become a leader in the hospitality tech space. Under his leadership, the platform empowers restaurant owners to own their data, improve customer interaction, and optimize operations through advanced features like AI-driven inventory management, smart QR ordering, and loyalty programs. Manoj’s dedication to helping restaurants utilize customer data has not only increased profitability for users but also created a more sustainable and customer-focused restaurant environment. With a background in tech innovation and a passion for solving real-world problems in the restaurant sector, Manoj continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible in hospitality technology, enabling businesses of all sizes to thrive in an increasingly competitive environment.
Company: Orderific
We are thrilled to have you join us today, welcome to ValiantCEO Magazine’s exclusive interview! Let’s start off with a little introduction. Tell our readers a bit about yourself and your company
Manoj Kumar: I’m Manoj Kumar, Founder and CEO of Orderific. With years of tech experience, my focus has always been on helping restaurant owners make the most of technology, simplifying their processes and driving growth without adding complexity.
At Orderific, we give small restaurants the same tools as big chains. Our QR code system lets customers order and pay seamlessly from their phones, while our AI suggests menu items to naturally boost sales. With real-time inventory tracking, restaurants can reduce waste and stay efficient. Most importantly, owners control their customer data, helping them build direct relationships and grow their business—without third-party commissions.
What emerging technology trends do you believe will have the most profound impact in the next 5-10 years?
Manoj Kumar: In the next 5 to 10 years, I believe the most transformative technologies will be artificial intelligence (AI), automation, and data ownership, particularly in industries like hospitality. We’ve seen firsthand how AI can equip even small restaurant owners to compete with large chains. By automating tasks such as inventory management, personalized interactions, and flexible pricing, AI simplifies operations, helping restaurants adjust more quickly to the needs of their diners.
As we move forward, immersive technologies like augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR) will revolutionize dining experiences, transforming restaurants into venues for interactive and personalized experiences. Furthermore, the growing use of contactless payments and in-house delivery systems will give businesses more control over customer relationships and profits, eliminating third-party fees and boosting customer satisfaction.
Orderific is dedicated to ensuring small and mid-sized restaurants have access to advanced technologies, enabling them to manage their own data, grow their businesses, increase customer loyalty, and improve profitability.
Can you share a specific technological breakthrough from your company that has the potential to reshape your industry?
Manoj Kumar: One of the key technological breakthroughs at Orderific is our data-driven AI integration, which is reshaping how restaurants of all sizes—particularly small and mid-sized businesses—operate. Traditionally, only large chains had the resources to utilize advanced technologies for managing operations, inventory, and customer engagement. We’ve changed that by introducing AI-powered systems that enable restaurant owners to own their data and use it effectively for personalized marketing, customer retention, and operational efficiency.
Our cloud-based POS system, for example, not only tracks orders and inventory in real time but also uses AI to predict future demand, optimize stock, and reduce food waste—a game-changer for any restaurant dealing with fluctuating supply costs and staffing issues. This capability equips even the smallest establishments to function with the flexibility and precision of much larger enterprises, without the heavy infrastructure costs that typically come with advanced tech.
By offering these tools to smaller restaurants, we’re closing the technology gap in the hospitality industry and helping businesses not only survive but thrive in a competitive market. This goes beyond operational improvement—it’s about empowering restaurants to leverage their customer data for more informed business decisions and, in the end, achieve greater profitability.
How do you approach innovation while balancing the need for practicality and market readiness?
Manoj Kumar: Our approach to innovation focuses on balancing innovative technology with practical, market-ready solutions. The key is understanding that innovation isn’t just about being first—it’s about delivering value that works for everyday business owners, particularly smaller restaurant operators who traditionally haven’t had access to high-end tech.
One breakthrough for us has been making AI-driven data ownership accessible to small restaurants. By offering tools that allow owners to collect and utilize their own data, we help them develop personalized marketing campaigns and loyalty programs, just like the big chains. This is crucial because market readiness for small businesses means providing easy-to-use, low-cost solutions that fit effortlessly into their existing workflows. Our QR code ordering system is one example of this—it simplifies operations without adding complexity, helping restaurants manage orders, inventory, and payments in real time.
By focusing on technology that enhances efficiency without overwhelming users, we ensure that innovation is practical, accessible, and directly tied to increasing profitability. It’s about using technology to solve challenges, not create them, while also making sure our tools are affordable and versatile for businesses of all sizes.
What challenges do you face in integrating cutting-edge technology into existing business models?
Manoj Kumar: Integrating advanced technology into traditional restaurant business models presents exciting opportunities along with unique challenges. One of our main goals has been to ensure that our innovative solutions, such as AI-driven customer data ownership, are not only powerful but also accessible and easy to use for small restaurant owners. While many of these businesses may not have the resources or technical expertise of larger chains, we see this as an opportunity to simplify and streamline the implementation of these tools, helping them compete more effectively and succeed.
For example, our QR code ordering system is designed to optimize efficiency, but the challenge is making sure it integrates smoothly with existing workflows without overwhelming staff. Small restaurants often rely on manual processes, so the transition to digital tools needs to be gradual and easy to understand. We address this by offering hands-on support and real-time updates, allowing owners to maintain control over their operations while adopting new technology.
Another opportunity lies in shifting the mindset of smaller businesses. Many hesitate to adopt AI and data-driven models because they perceive them as expensive or unnecessary. To address this, we focus on showing immediate ROI—demonstrating how tools like AI-driven upsells and customer data analytics directly lead to higher revenue by improving customer retention and reducing operational costs. Our zero-commission model also makes it easier for owners to see the financial benefits without being burdened by third-party fees.
The key is striking a balance between innovation and simplicity while delivering clear, immediate benefits. We continuously refine our technology to meet the practical needs of restaurant owners, making it adaptable, cost-effective, and user-friendly enough to fit seamlessly into any business model.
How do you foster a culture of innovation within your organization to stay ahead in the tech race?
Manoj Kumar: Building a culture of innovation at Orderific begins with empowering every team member to think like a problem solver. We emphasize open communication and continuous learning, creating an environment where ideas—big or small—are always welcomed. This approach helps us stay ahead in the tech race by continuously evolving and adapting our solutions for the restaurant industry.
A key strategy is ensuring our team fully understands the real-world challenges our customers face. We actively maintain a feedback loop with small restaurant owners so their insights directly shape the development of our technology. For instance, our QR code ordering system was developed after recognizing how restaurants struggled with managing data and maintaining efficient operations. This led to a solution that not only streamlines ordering but also gives restaurants the ability to take ownership of their data for more targeted marketing.
Internally, we motivate our team to innovate by viewing failure as a stepping stone for improvement. When launching new features, we quickly adjust them based on customer feedback. This flexible approach allows us to refine tools like our AI-powered upselling and inventory management, keeping them practical, user-friendly, and immediately beneficial for our customers.
We believe that by promoting curiosity, embracing adaptability, and aligning innovation with customer needs, we can continuously deliver solutions that make a meaningful impact in the hospitality space.
