According to the 2024 Restaurant Technology Landscape Report, 76% of restaurant operators believe using technology gives them a competitive edge, only 13% thinks their restaurant is on the leading edge in terms of how they’re using technology compared with their peers. But technology adoption is coming quickly to a restaurant near you. We’re already seeing transformation with adoption of everything from digital menu boards, self-order kiosks and Vision AI.
However, there’s lots more to come as new generations of customers come to expect convenience, speed and flexibility in their restaurant experience. So far, we’ve only scratched the surface. In the coming years, the restaurant experience will be truly transformed by technologies that personalize the customer experience, reshape back-end operations, and enhance efficiency and profitability for restaurants. Envision some of the possibilities that lie ahead with advanced technology adoption.
Frictionless at a whole new level – Great strides have already been made in terms of streamlined ordering and payment, but restaurants will continue to enable a truly frictionless experience. Facial recognition is expected to streamline frictionless payment for those who opt in at a new level in the coming years. Voice technologies, both in-store and on mobile apps, will make voice ordering a snap, further speeding the time from order initiation to food delivery.
Happy hour pricing at any time – Advanced technologies make it possible for operators to change pricing of menu items in an instant. Consumers have adopted variable pricing on everything from flight reservations to concert tickets, so why not menu items? Operators can use value pricing on new items to encourage diners to try them or to drive increased traffic on low-traffic days or non-peak hours. Mobile apps, digital signage and in-location tablets and kiosks support instant price changes, which will increasingly become the norm.
A new food experience – Diners will get a taste of new menu items before ordering with the adoption of AR. Diners will scan menu items with their smartphones to access 3D models of dishes, detailed information about ingredients, and animations of food preparation. These interactive encounters will let customers experience the menu in a new way.
Last-minute labor - As labor challenges continue to plague restaurants, operators will adopt automation technologies, robotics, Vision AI and IoT to streamline repetitive tasks, provide on-the-job guidance to employees, and verify safety and compliance in food handling and preparation. This will allow operators to rely on temporary labor and handle turnover with greater efficiency by providing on-the-job guidance, training and support rather than investing in a multi-week on-boarding training programs.
Getting up close and personal – Technology gives operators the ability to personalize dining experiences at a new level. Loyalty programs will not be exclusively focused on discounts for repeat diners or a free dessert offering on their birthday. True loyalty programs will leverage analytics and AI to create custom menus for individual diners based on their preferences, order history and dietary restrictions. Loyalty perks may include allowing them to book their favorite table in the restaurant in advance, or having their order started before they arrive at the restaurant.
These are just a few of the exciting high-tech changes coming to restaurants in the months and years ahead. If you’re ready to envision your restaurant or QSR at the next level, talk to us to help ensure you have the proper infrastructure in place and have prepared for a smooth, on time, on budget pilot and deployment. Telaid is here to serve you!
