The Invisible Backbone: Why Reliable Connectivity Keeps Hospitality Running

Tech on Toast, The Hospitality Tech Podcast

💡 Connectivity in hospitality is no longer optional — it’s as important as gas, water and electricity.

Host Chris Fletcher chats with Andy Maynard (Head of IT services and Solutions Caffè Nero) and Joe Strudwick (Head of National Accounts, Sky Business) about why reliable networks now power everything from card payments to coffee machines — and how smart operators are treating connectivity like a true utility, not an afterthought.

☕ How do you keep 600+ stores online?💸 What’s the hidden cost of downtime?🔐 And how do you build resilience that protects your brand, your teams and your guests?

Powered by: Sky Business

⏱️ Chapters00:00 – Why connectivity is as vital as gas, water & electricity ⚡01:24 – Meet Andy & Joe02:09 – Inside Caffè Nero’s global network05:08 – Every SaaS tool depends on uptime08:01 – When Wi-Fi drops, operations stop10:02 – Fibre, EPOS, IoT & SD-WAN explained12:58 – Creating one “gold-standard” store setup16:59 – Downtime = money on the floor 💷17:42 – Staff experience and tech frustration24:03 – Treating connectivity like a utility30:04 – 4G failover & real-time monitoring35:03 – The future: security, resilience & smarter sites43:56 – Wrap-up & next steps

✨ Key Takeaways

• ​⚙️ Connectivity is as essential as your utilities
• ​🚀 Uptime = revenue, morale & guest loyalty
• ​📶 Standardise, monitor & build in resilience
• ​🕓 Match support to trading hours — not office hours
• ​🔐 Cyber security is now a board-level topic

🎙️ Guests

• ​Andy Maynard – Head of IT services and solutions
• ​Joe Strudwick – Head of National Accounts, Sky Business

👋 Host: Chris Fletcher🎛️ Production: Tech on Toast🤝 Series Partner: Sky Business