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How Restaurant IT Can Drive Revenue Growth

  • guest experience, hospitality, IT leadership, it strategy, Jon Manes, Mambo Seafood, network redundancy, restaurant IT, revenue growth
Portrait of Jon Manes, VP of IT at Mambo Seafood, with podcast branding for Go Beyond the Connection on an episode about restaurant IT revenue growth strategy

How Restaurant IT Can Drive Revenue Growth

In fast-paced hospitality environments, technology is more than infrastructure—it’s a direct connection to revenue. For Jon Manes, Vice President of Information Technology at Mambo Seafood Restaurants, IT isn’t a cost center. It’s a growth engine.

With over 20 years of experience, Jon shares how embedding IT in leadership conversations and investing in redundancy transforms operations and unlocks measurable results.

Key Takeaways:

  • Empathetic IT support prevents lost revenue during POS outages
  • Redundant networks and battery backups ensure seamless service
  • Including IT in leadership leads to smarter, faster decisions
  • Resilience and responsiveness boost customer satisfaction
  • Technology planning must align with long-term business goals

Why IT Belongs at the Leadership Table

Jon’s approach starts with one key shift: bring IT into strategic conversations early. At Mambo, IT collaborates with finance, operations, and marketing before any technology decision is made. That cross-functional input saves time, avoids costly mistakes, and keeps the team aligned on shared goals.

“We are not a support department. We are not a cost center. We are a direct connection to customer experience, revenue growth. We support every single department and enable them.” — Jon Manes

For example, when the marketing team pitched a new loyalty program, IT’s early involvement revealed integration risks. The team pivoted to a more flexible platform—delivering faster rollout and lower costs. This kind of partnership turns IT from reactive support into a proactive business partner.

Support That Understands the Pressure

Restaurant staff don’t have time for ticket queues and callback windows. Jon’s team provides 24/7 support that’s both fast and empathetic. Technicians know what it’s like to be on the floor with a guest waiting to pay—and they act accordingly.

Calm, knowledgeable support helps employees solve issues in real time, while protecting the guest experience and minimizing downtime. That empathy-driven approach builds trust across the organization.

Building in Resilience

Downtime costs money. That’s why Jon implements layered redundancy, including dual internet providers and multi-hour battery backups. Even without fiber, restaurants stay online thanks to wireless-first deployments powered by 4G/5G connectivity.

This infrastructure ensures that POS terminals, security systems, and guest-facing tech stay up and running—even when the unexpected happens.

The Bottom Line

Jon Manes makes a clear case: when IT is seen as a strategic partner, it drives measurable business impact. Seamless support, resilient systems, and a seat at the table all add up to better experiences—for both staff and guests.

Restaurants that embrace this mindset won’t just avoid costly outages. They’ll unlock new paths to growth.

Related Links: 

▶ Go Beyond the Connection