The companies announced their collaboration back in July, just as restaurants were forced to limit staff to ensure social distancing while keeping up with the increasing demand for delivery and take out orders due to the coronavirus pandemic. Back in September, they formally started a pilot program to test Flippy at one White Castle location, and the machine has helped serve 14,580 pounds of food and over 9,720 baskets since then. The burger chain will install the commercially available version of Flippy ROAR that was launched earlier this month into its kitchens. It expects Flippy to free up time for human staff members, so they can take care of logistics and customer service, and to help keep 24-hour locations running. The ChefUI software that powers Flippy can also be integrated with delivery apps to sync an order's completion with its pick-up time. Meanwhile, the machine's sensors and cameras can keep eye on inventory and recommend bulk orders for supplies when needed.

Making payments using your cellphone is easier than ever. In fact, the process of buying something now often starts on a mobile device, and the relative ease of paying virtually is eliminating the need for cash or even a credit card--a trend that is sending ripples through the business world. "Why do you need cash? It's fundamentally less efficient," said Dan Schulman, the president and chief executive of payments company PayPal Holdings Inc. He said he believes digital payments will become an ever-larger industry, with many key players.