The year is 2020 and technology continues to permeate every facet of our lives. The restaurant world is no exception to this rule. It’s no secret that technological advancements have raised the bar in terms of customer expectations. From online delivery platforms to fully automated restaurant technology, automation will continue to revolutionize the restaurant industry. It’s important to stay on top of emerging tech and trends, so we put together an easy guide with the top restaurant technology trends you should know about this year!
Quick Service Restaurant Self-Ordering Kiosks
The quick service restaurant (QSR) model is one of the fastest growing categories in the restaurant industry. QSR’s usually involve ordering from the counter and having the food brought out to the table. Self-ordering kiosks are a relatively new technology trend in the QSR model that enables customers to submit and customize their order and pay from a digital touch screen interface. They speed up the service with a huge reduction in the amount of time it takes to place an order. Also, they do not require the amount of training and overhead that comes with hiring additional team members to take more orders.
Restaurant Mobile App Development
Mobile apps have been around for quite some time so it’s no surprise that many restaurants have invested in developing their own. According to a ComScore study, people spent 90% of their mobile time using apps in 2019 and 44% of consumers said they placed a food order using an app in the last year. The many benefits of using mobile apps include better customer experience, delivering targeted promotions, better order management, and improved return visits.
Handheld Point of Sale Ordering Devices
The days of servers taking down orders on pen and paper before transferring it into a computer system to complete the process are becoming a thing of the past. Handheld POS ordering systems were designed to give waitstaff more flexibility by allowing them to take orders from customers directly at the table and relaying them to the kitchen digitally. Other benefits include taking payments right at the table and increased functionality for things like splitting bills between multiple parties.
Interested in learning more? Read:
- ‘3 Benefits of a Restaurant POS System.’
- ‘How to Keep Your Restaurant Safe from Cyber Security Threats.’
- ‘23 Social Media Ideas for Restaurants.’
Cloud-Based Restaurant Management Systems
More and more restaurants are turning to cloud-based management systems to streamline their entire back-end operations, front-end operations, and customer management.
A cloud-based management system automates restaurant operations by providing:
- Live bill tracking
- Live inventory tracking
- Real-time sales reporting
- Menu item-level reporting
- Food cost control tracking
- Record of staff performance
- Expense management
Restaurant Chatbots
There has been a ton of focus on bringing the human experience to the digital world. While restaurants are relying on online and digital orders to increase revenue, consumers appreciate a personal touch. Chatbots are programmed to take a conversational approach to things like answering frequent questions, taking orders, sending targeted promotions and directing customers to websites. Keep an eye on chatbot technology progression and consider investing to personalize the online experience.
While it is important to stay up to date with emerging restaurant technology trends, be sure to never lose sight of what makes your restaurant unique. Read our restaurant blog series for more information on the latest trends in the industry or contact your local agent to discuss your coverage options today.
