The typical consumer might think that restaurant success is all about the amazing and mouth watering food.
But increasingly, owners and decision makers in restaurants are looking to restaurant technology as part of the success recipe.
Why Implement Technology in Restaurants?
According to a recent American Express survey, restaurant owners and decision makers give three reasons to implement restaurant technology. And it’s quite interesting that customers are at the heart of the most compelling reason to implement technology. The top three reasons are:
- Customer feedback. Sixty-four percent (64 percent) of restaurant decision makers say that customer feedback would compel them to invest in technology.
- Efficiency. Sixty-three percent (63 percent) of restaurant owners and managers said they’d invest in technology if it made their day-to-day operations more efficient.
- Cost cutting. Fifty-eight percent (58 percent) of restaurateurs said they’d invest in technology if it helped them reduce costs and overhead.
What Restaurant Technology is Hot?
Assuming the reasons to implement restaurant technology are compelling, the next question becomes: which technologies should you implement?
In the same survey, restaurant operators predicted four restaurant technology trends would be the hottest in the coming 12 months.
Once again, we see customers are at the center of things — as they should be! The top four technologies are all about customer convenience and service:
- Mobile payments. Forty-eight percent (48 percent) of restaurant operators predicted mobile payments will be a dominant trend.
- Online reservations. This was the second biggest technology, chosen by 38 percent.
- On-demand food delivery. This restaurant technology trend was predicted to be big by 37 percent of owners and decision makers.
- Digital menus. This tied for third place, also with 37 percent.
The information in this survey was collected in April 2016 as part of The American Express Restaurant Trade Survey. In a prepared statement, Gunther Bright, Executive Vice President of Merchant Services-U.S., American Express, said, “American Express has been an advocate of the restaurant industry for over 30 years, providing merchants with insights and resources to help them scale their businesses. Restaurant operators see growing their businesses and making their restaurants more innovative as the two most important priorities, according to our survey, and the American Express Restaurant Trade Program creates an environment that fuels culinary inspiration and ideas to help drive the future of the industry.”
The survey was conducted using a random sample of 503 U.S. restaurant operators (i.e., owners or managers charged with making day-to-day financial decisions for independently-owned restaurants). Percentages may total more than 100 percent because multiple answers were permitted.
Chart image: American Express Restaurant Trade Survey (remixed)
Aira Bongco
I always appreciate technology if it has something to do with delivery. I am always amazed about ordering online and getting my orders in a matter of minutes as if there is someone there waiting for my orders.
Restaurant Technologies (Oil Automation Systems) are another great way to start to look at safety, consistency and customer satisfaction. The “Internet of Things” is here and already installed in 20k restaurants across the country. Check them out! I think you will like what they offer and beyond just cost savings, just think about how much safer you can make your back of house.
I learned a lot. Thank you for the helpful post!