Culinary Evolution: Latest Tech Tools For Your Restaurant’s Growth

In a rapidly changing world, technological breakthroughs are commonplace. Various industry verticals are expanding as businesses harness the latest technological advancements. The restaurant industry is no exception.

Often, people think the restaurant business is all about food, and that technology doesn't have a significant role to play in it. The following statistics highlight the relevance of technology in restaurants:

●        Nearly 63% of customers find online food ordering easier compared to dining out with a group.

●        Over 80% of restaurants are embracing innovative technologies in their daily operations, such as restaurant analytics and reservations.

●        Close to 68% of customers have shared that server tablets improve the overall dining experience.

New-age tech tools help restaurants expedite processes and enhance customer experience. In this article, we will discuss some of the popular tech innovations that can help your restaurant business grow and flourish in the future.

Tech Innovations That Make a Difference

At the 2022 Franchise Customer Experience Conference, several restaurant brands won awards for their commendable innovations, including the Technology Leadership Award and the Franchise Operations finalist title. Prominent names among the winners include Inspire Brands, Smoothie King, and Checkers and Rally’s restaurants.

Some of the best tools and applications for restaurant owners include:

Geofencing

Geofencing refers to the use of GPS devices or radio frequency recognition tools to create virtual boundaries in a specific territory. Restaurants can use geofencing to track consumers who are visiting their outlets. Those who have downloaded the restaurant mobile apps on their smartphones can use this technology.

Food delivery services and restaurants use geofencing to coordinate cooking and customer service, ensuring that the food is prepared at the correct temperature based on the consumer's location.

Restaurant staff can track customers who have placed orders to estimate cooking times. Customers also receive online coupons for eateries and restaurants they visit regularly the moment they enter the geofenced area near the restaurant.

Geofencing also allows customers to track their orders. The delivery drivers are equipped with apps and devices so that customers can follow their routes and check the order status. Leading brands like Panera Bread have leveraged geofencing to make their ordering and delivery processes seamless.

Restaurant Management Tools

Running a restaurant is challenging. Thanks to technological advancements, restaurant owners today can leverage restaurant management tools that offer ample benefits.

A restaurant management tool is a comprehensive solution that effectively manages every aspect of the business. It functions as a digital assistant, enabling restaurant owners to oversee all operations according to their preferences. They can purchase and use this tool on various devices, including tablets, POS systems, PCs, and mobile phones.

The tool helps to:

●        Automate online order management, table management, and billing

●        Track everything from guest preferences to sales figures

●        Set certain recipes for dishes and track inventory

●        Generate reports on a monthly, weekly, or daily basis

Grand View Research predicts a 16.3% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) for the restaurant management software market from 2023 to 2030. This growth can be attributed to factors such as the increasing number of global restaurants, the popularity of quick service restaurants (QSRs), and the widespread adoption of cloud technology.

CheddrSuite asserts that new-age restaurant management tools help restaurants thrive in a competitive market by providing enhanced operational performance. The leading names in this niche provide solutions that manage everything from payroll tools and perceptive scheduling to staff management systems. Furthermore, the tools help maximize every aspect of the restaurant business, allowing owners to focus on other matters.

Handheld Entertainment

Besides facilitating quick orders and payments, there are other ways in which restaurants can use tablets. Companies like Buzz Time offer tablets equipped with games and entertaining trivia for restaurants. This enables customers to participate in national competitions that run for 15 hours a day, seven days a week.

The tablets can be used for organizing live trivia or poker tournaments in any restaurant. This innovative and entertaining feature can help restaurants attract various customers and increase their profits.

Reordering Via Facial Recognition

Today, selected restaurants are conducting experiments on a facial recognition trial that enables customers to repeat their last meal orders at self-service kiosks. This trial is being conducted only in restaurants that provide a menu with multiple options.

The easy reorder technique encourages customers to make repeat visits as well. This technology can build customer loyalty and create enduring relationships between businesses and their customers.

Leading fast-food chains like KFC in Beijing and UFood Grill in Owings Mills, Maryland, have embraced this technology. The entire experience makes the customer feel as though they have walked into a tech-savvy restaurant, which adds to the overall appeal of the place.

Conclusion

Every restaurant business needs a high level of reliable performance and compliance with the best quality standards. Tools such as restaurant management software or tablets help make restaurant operations more effective and seamless. When restaurants embrace the latest technology offerings, the scope for mistakes reduces. This results in effective customer engagement.

The global restaurant industry is currently undergoing a major digital transformation. Restaurants are trying to find the correct mix of technological tools and applications that will work in their favor and help expand their business. Restaurant owners can choose either one or a combination of the tools mentioned above to grow their business.