NEW ORLEANS - Here is the view of foodservice from 30,000 feet: everybody eats, snacks and drinks. But the challenge is how the retail landscape attracts and retains customers, and how technology is helping savvy retailers compete for foodservice dollars.

As more convenience store retailers expand their foodservice programs, quick-service restaurants and fast-casual chains are keeping a watchful eye on the industry. And when it comes to foodservice, "the QSRs biggest concern is whether convenience stores get it right...they already know how to compete with each other ?" they??re watching you," said Ira Blumenthal at the NACStech workshop, "Mixing In Technology to Improve Your Foodservice Offering."

Here??s where technology comes into play: speed of service. Convenience stores do it well, and so do QSRs.

If you think the drive-thru at McDonald??s is effective, it??s because the person taking your order isn??t actually at that location. It??s someone at a home base who can talk to the customers (bilingual if necessary) while the employees inside that McDonald??s are fulfilling orders. The idea behind this, noted Robert Grimes of Accuvia, is to improve order accuracy, up sell orders and streamline speed of service.

So while the McDonald??s example is food for thought, attendees wanted to know what they can do in a convenience store space; how they can offer bundling and combo meals through their POS. Grimes noted that most convenience store POS systems were likely was developed with fuel as the main selling point of the location, and not foodservice. Therefore, upgrades are necessary, whether it??s a touch-screen POS or installing new software.

"Technology budgets never move as fast as the technologies themselves," advised Grimes, suggesting that retailers should outline their overall technological strategy moving forward if they are trying to grow their foodservice program ?" and if they want to stay ahead of the competition.

Look for more coverage of NACStech in this week??s NACS Daily and the upcoming special issue of Convenience Store News, specifically focusing on NACStech.

NACStech continues May 6 and 7 at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans. For up-to-the-minute information about NACStech, download the mobile app and visit nacstech.com.