As a restaurant operator, it’s easy to feel a little isolated.
When we were running our own restaurants and faced operational challenges, we often asked ourselves “are we the only ones experiencing this?“.
Every operation manages orders in slightly different ways. But despite this, the state of restaurant tech means there are plenty of shared experiences (and challenges) in the running of day-to-day operations and the pursuit of growth.
To shine a light on these shared restaurant tech trends, we partnered with KAM, a hospitality-focused consumer research agency, to conduct research into the relationship between restaurant operators and the tech they use.
Our new research report ‘Hospitality tech 2024: Bridging the efficiency and profitability gap is out now.
Discover three top restaurant tech trends straight from the report below…
Unsurprisingly, growth and profit are the top focus areas for restaurant operators:
However over 50% report that a lack of time is blocking them from achieving these business goals.
A significant time sink for restaurants is caused by the constant battle of managing a fragmented tech stack.
Hours of manual menu updates, laborious account switching and other complex admin tasks stop businesses from operating efficiently. In fact almost 40% of operators recognise that having multiple providers is inefficient.
However, only 28% of operators report that improving efficiency is a top focus area for the business.
In order to achieve the profitability and growth operators are looking for, focus needs to shift to efficiency first. By solving these inefficiencies that are getting in the way, brands will experience exponential growth, faster.
Deep Blue – the largest fish and chip chain in the UK – have seen a 30% increase in ATV, with 500 hours saved on menu updates alone by focusing on operational efficiency and simplifying their tech stack with the Vita Mojo Order Management System.
Managing fragmented restaurant tech is a complex, time consuming job.
Tech innovation might have opened up new revenue channels for operators, but with so many individual point solutions to manage, this has come at a significant cost.
Constant account switching, mind-numbing manual admin, inevitable human error; and that’s just to update menus.
When the tech that was supposed to make life easier is itself causing new problems, it’s understandable that one in five operators feel risk averse to any further change.
Thankfully, overly complex and fragmented tech stacks are no longer the only way to manage operations.
Alternative approaches such as an order management system combine all aspects of the order lifecycle – including POS, digital ordering, kitchen management and loyalty – into one system.
With over 40% of operators reporting they would be encouraged to change POS providers if it meant tech was easier to use for their teams, these alternative approaches offer much more efficient solutions, perfect for operators who have been let down by tech in the past.
A strong data strategy can be the driving force behind business growth and profit.
Revenue-boosting menu design, loyalty personalisation and site-level reporting all contribute to growth, and all depend on agile, data-driven decision making.
However:
How are operators combating these data struggles? Along with centralised reporting platforms that simplify data access, operators are moving away from the ‘install and go’ mindset and instead expect more of a partnership from their tech providers.
53% of operators report that a consultative approach is the most valuable aspect of a POS provider. This extends to data strategy. It’s becoming increasingly important to operators to find a partner that will help answer their unique data requirements, put the time into building personalised reports, and empower all levels of the business with data ownership.
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