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In fact, according to the National Restaurant Association’s 2024 State of the Restaurant Industry report , more than half of millennials and Gen Z adults report they would choose a restaurant that offers technological services like mobile payments over those that don’t. Some may even share login credentials.
At the same time, a rise in fast-food prices driven by inflation is reshaping consumer behavior, with many customers now treating fast food as a splurge rather than a convenience. For example, AI can help QSRs make smarter inventory decisions by analyzing purchasing trends and aligning ingredient orders with demand.
Physical menus are being replaced by the increased use of mobile-centric applications, such as restaurant apps and QR codes. Thanks to these technologies, tasks such as orderingfood and paying bills can take place on a self-service basis. In quick-serve restaurants, staff can focus on preparing food rather than taking orders.
Now, they're on their phones before they arrive, checking your reviews, looking at food photos, and getting recommendations based on their past orders. Remember when guests used to walk in, grab a menu, and browse through every page? Your future staff is doing the same thing with their job search.
Over the last two decades, I’ve worked alongside operators in just about every hospitality setting—independent cafés, high-end dining rooms, food halls, and regional chains. We saw widespread adoption of mobile payments, digital ordering, and contactless dining almost overnight.
A third of diners said their favorite restaurant changed in the past 12 months, with “better food” (46 percent) and “better value” (40 percent) cited as the leading reasons, according to Tillster’s 2025 Phygital Index Report. The survey of 1,500 U.S.-based
One location might offer seamless mobileordering, while another struggles with glitchy payment systems, creating inconsistencies that can frustrate customers and impact revenue. Customers crave simplified steps at the beginning and end of their food service experiences, and it’s not hard to understand why.
Self-serve kiosks, QR-code menus, and personalized ordering systems will continue to redefine how patrons interact with venues. In 2025, expect to see more restaurants and bars adopting eco-friendly practices, such as reducing food waste, sourcing locally, and using energy-efficient equipment.
To tackle these challenges, restaurant owners are relying more on digital tools like mobileordering, self-service kiosks, and AI-powered workforce management. Self-order and payment kiosks as well as QR code menus are streamlining front-of-house operations, improving order accuracy and speeding up service.
A Dilemma of “Super Size” Proportions Amid rising food prices and shifting consumer preferences, the restaurant industry is facing a dilemma of “super size” proportions. Red Robin climbs 3 percent to 78 thanks in large part to its focus on menu and food. Still, the food and service metrics are quite high.
Inefficient restaurant inventory management practices, improper storage, gaps in inventory logs, theft, and waste can cause even the most successful kitchens to struggle or fail. Below are the top seven inventory management mistakes restaurants are making, and how to correct them.
Customers on average will order more menu items, resulting in a larger bill for the restaurant and a larger tip for the employee. With the slim margins, there is tremendous pressure to pour through each of your supplier’s catalogues in an attempt to alter your menu items to make sure you don’t order when prices are high.
The restaurant industry is going mobile, and restaurant apps are at the center of this transformation. Diners want the convenience of ordering, booking, and engaging with their favorite restaurants straight from their phones. Beyond mobileordering, restaurant apps support operations in ways that were never available before.
Is online ordering inefficient? Do you lose money due to food waste? Experiencing over-ordering or last-minute shortages? Experiencing over-ordering or last-minute shortages? An inventory management system with automated restocking alerts keeps your stock levels in check. Are labor costs too high? Set clear goals.
Today, the global food delivery app industry is predicted to reach $320 billion by 2029 — up from $140 billion in 2022. As such, implementing a robust food delivery and takeout service has become critical for restaurants’ longevity and success. You can also consider creating your own mobile app.
"These tariffs could deeply affect the food service and hospitality industries on both sides of the border," Alex Thalassinos, President of Silverware POS, one of the first tech providers dedicated to Canada’s hospitality industry, told Modern Restaurant Management (MRM) magazine.
Fast-casual concepts like Sammy’s Sliders, which offer high-quality, craveable food with speed and flexibility, are perfectly positioned for this shift. Customers expect seamless online ordering, loyalty programs, and delivery options, and franchise systems need to invest in tech to stay competitive.
You are sitting in your favorite restaurant and have placed an order on a tablet at your table. After a few seconds of placing the order, a notification appears on your messaging app. Ding* ‘Your order is being prepared by Chef Bot 19 and will be delivered to your table in approximately 19 minutes.
And no, increasing restaurant sales doesn’t mean turning your restaurant staff into pushy upsellers trying to squeeze a few extra dollars out of every order. Create Limited-Time Offers That Drive Action Limited-time offers (LTOs) give potential customers a reason to order now, not later.
and Canada, found that technology such as interactive digital menus, in-restaurant mobile apps, and augmented reality experiences are playing a vital role in empowering restaurants to stay relevant and meet the evolving needs and expectations of diners. When was the last time you placed an order in a restaurant app for curbside pick-up?
Restaurants have made great strides in the digital realm—from contactless payments to online ordering—but 32 percent of them feel like they could add to their technology stack to optimize operations. From orderingfood to reserving a table, they want to do things digitally.
Inventory stock changed significantly. The ingrained customer behavior over the past year, delivery, mobileorders, curbside pick-up, will likely continue. Digitize Your Ordering Function and Enhance Your Presence. Lavu, the restaurant technology services company, estimates 42 percent of food purchases are made online.
We were greeted by the manager of the restaurant and shared with him the concept of contactless dining, an experience where dine-in guests can view menus, order, and pay directly from their mobile phones. contactless payment, mobileordering, text on arrival for seating).”
Nowadays, running a successful restaurant takes more than great food and good service. Build a mobile-friendly restaurant website In 2024, roughly around 63% of all web traffic came from mobile devices. Build a mobile-friendly restaurant website In 2024, roughly around 63% of all web traffic came from mobile devices.
The report also includes additional key industry insights, including: Delivery sales and transactions increased industry-wide despite economic uncertainty: Kiosk as a channel is up 27 percent YoY and 49 percent since 2020, and mobile is up 21 percent YoY and 368 percent since 2020. billion in 2024 and is anticipated to rise at a CAGR of 3.74
Participants reported continued food and labor cost increases, with 88 percent experiencing rising staff expenses, compared to 89 percent in last year’s annual survey, and 86 percent reporting an increase in food costs. Franchise 2.0:
The food industry has been historically slow to integrate technology and digital solutions. Customers expect efficient and convenient payments, and restaurants must adapt to meet those demands Tap-to-pay, tableside QR codes, tablets — you name it — help the food service industry embrace flexible and intelligent payment systems.
A bar is a profitable business option if you’re looking to enter the food industry. Start by tracking all the income your bar generates, including sales from drinks, food, and any additional services. Once you have that total, subtract all of your costs, such as labor, inventory, rent, utilities, and other operating expenses.
Integrating mobileinventory systems with POS platforms simplifies restaurant operations by automating inventory updates, reducing errors, and providing real-time insights. Here’s what you need to know: Benefits : Real-time stock updates, improved accuracy, and smarter inventory planning.
A spike in food costs, a drop in sales volume, or one slow season can wipe out months of hard work. They tell you how much money your restaurant keeps after paying for everything from food costs to labor expenses to utilities and rent. Keep them too low, and youre losing your net profit margin every time someone orders.
Over the next decade, a generation passionate about health and wellness will demand restaurants be transparent about food from farm to table. Guests will expect to know every aspect of sourcing and meal preparation, which will disrupt traditional back-of-house systems with technology that connects the farm to the food.
But there’s much more that tech has to offer, especially when it comes to AI being integrated into guest order systems, training, and restaurant operations. Here are some standout tech innovations that forward-thinking business owners are investing in today in restaurant technology: Smart ordering.
Therefore, restaurant operators are embracing guest-focused technologies within their restaurants, such as kiosks and mobile devices to serve their guests at a safe distance. Business begins at the endpoint, especially in food service and hospitality. Focus on the Endpoint.
By optimizing their websites, restaurateurs make it easy for patrons find their business online which can lead to more customers dining in and/or ordering online. To “Google optimize” their websites, restaurateurs should: Make them mobile friendly. The fact is, mobile optimized websites fare better in search rankings.
Food safety and restaurant cleanliness. Having a retail management tool with a mobile application, for instance, reduces the need for wait staff to move around when communicating with each other. Similarly, restaurant visitors expect their food to be of a consistent quality every time they visit. Kitchen operations.
US Foods Holding Corp. launched its COVID-19 online operator resource, the US Foods Restaurant Reopening Blueprint. The Restaurant Reopening Blueprint is informed by interviews with key stakeholders such as diners, restaurant staff and US Foods consultants and chefs. Click here to view the application and instructions.
Managing food costs is a growing challenge for restaurants as ingredient prices fluctuate and margins shrink. Real-Time Inventory Tracking offers a powerful solution by giving operators instant visibility into whats in stock, whats being used, and what needs to be reordered.
One of the most effective tools for achieving this is mobileinventory management. This system helps restaurant owners and managers track stock in real-time, reduce waste, and maintain optimal inventory levels. By automating inventory processes, restaurants can save time, improve accuracy, and enhance overall efficiency.
Behind the success of a restaurant — regardless of size — is delicious food, great service and seamless experiences across every touchpoint. Common challenges include managing inventory across multiple locations, maintaining consistent brand identity, quality and service, and effectively analyzing data to make strategic decisions.
Meanwhile, food service workers are in high demand. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the food service workforce decreased by 42,000 individuals in August 2021. Order accuracy is a pivotal part of the diner experience. Restaurateurs can’t afford to lose employees amidst the current labor shortage.
Restaurants will continue to embrace digital on-premise, including mobileordering and payment at the table, to streamline operations and improve the guest experience. Restaurants will continue to embrace digital on-premise, including mobileordering and payment at the table, to streamline operations and improve the guest experience.
The dishes in your menu that are prepared with local products tell your customers that the food is fresher, as those ingredients have a shorter distance to travel. Digital Menus for Real-Time Updates Digital and QR-code menus allow for instant updates, making it easy to test pricing, add specials, or respond to inventory changes.
I own a restaurant supplies delivery service and a month ago we were faced with a warehouse full of food and perishables and massive orders that were suddenly cancelled. The community was now aware of how they could help by ordering takeout and buying gift cards. Offering Wholesale Food and Supplies to Those In Need.
in-restaurant dining and online ordering for pickup or delivery), which can be leveraged to drive highly customized campaigns using a built-in marketing solution. General Mills Foodservice' s Neighborhood to Nation Restaurant Recipe Contest will award $100,000 to restaurants and food trucks nationwide.
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