5 restaurant tech trends to watch in 2023

The food service industry has witnessed a few turbulent years since the pandemic. In 2022 operators faced new challenges like increased prices and labour shortages. While consumers returned to in-house dining, the global online food delivery and grocery markets also continued to grow. That’s because today’s consumer has grown used to the convenience of online ordering – and they’re even willing to cut back on other activities to keep enjoying restaurant-quality meals from home.

To meet customer expectations and adapt to changing trends, F&B operators must be flexible and agile. But today, restaurants must satisfy consumer demand across multiple channels and touchpoints, giving customers a seamless experience wherever they are and whenever they want it.

That’s where restaurant technology comes in. Adopting technology enables restaurants to run an efficient business across the board because it automates tedious or error-prone processes, streamlines your Back of House (BOH) and Front of House (FOH) operations, and allows business systems to communicate. As a result, technology helps owners achieve their ultimate goal of creating an extraordinary customer experience and making their companies as profitable as possible.

Technologies reshaping the restaurant sector

#1 Automation, AI and robotics

Automation has been around in manufacturing and food processing for some time, but it hasn’t been as important for restaurants. That’s changing. Operators are looking into automation, robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) in response to high labour costs, staff shortages and menu inflation. These technologies automate specific tasks or, at the very least, eliminate a few steps for staff. As a result, they increase efficiency and product consistency, helping them offer better service. Additionally, the F&B industry is taking to AI. While you may think AI sounds a bit extreme, some smart kitchen technologies are relatively simple, easy to implement and already commonly used. Finally, drone food delivery took off in 2022, making deliveries faster and less expensive for customers. Undoubtedly, more delivery restaurants will start teaming up with drone companies soon.

#2 Virtual brand marketplaces

Due to the widespread success of virtual brands on delivery platforms more restaurants will launch their own virtual brand in the year ahead. According to a recent survey conducted by Deliverect and Qoot, 70% of the respondents expressed that they are planning to open new dark/cloud kitchen operations. That’s because virtual brands help expand the reach and delivery radius, improve sales and experiment with new dishes to meet demand. Kitchen space can also be optimised by preparing food for delivery at off-peak times. However, while setting up a virtual brand is easy, it requires market research to define gaps in the market, compare competitors’ offers and develop a fitting marketing and branding strategy. That takes time and resources that may not necessarily be available.

#3 Contactless payment and ordering systems

The demand for contactless processes has been growing considerably since the onset of the pandemic. Mobile ordering, payment apps and QR code menus offer plenty of benefits for food businesses and their customers. They help increase table turnover, optimise the operational flow, and give restaurants access to customer data helping them build a meaningful connection with guests. On the customer’s side, going contactless ensures more secure payment transactions, increased order accuracy and an overall improved dining experience.

#4 Digital loyalty programmes

With diners cutting expenses due to the global economic crisis restaurateurs are investing in loyalty programmes to increase customers’ spending and encourage repeat business. Retaining an existing customer is five times cheaper than acquiring a new one. Current customers are also more likely to try new dishes and spend more. So, investing in your loyal regulars makes a lot of sense. While some companies prefer old-school punch cards, digital loyalty programmes are trending because they fulfil consumers’ need for contactless experiences. A digital loyalty scheme allows customers to register online or through an app – using a phone number or email, for instance. The programme then keeps track of their spending and suggests rewards based on past purchases. The best thing about loyalty programmes is that they come in different shapes and sizes. In other words, they can be as simple or complex as you want. Finally, most digital loyalty schemes can be integrated directly into the restaurant POS, making tracking, personalising and redeeming rewards easier than ever.

#5 Online order aggregator software

The global online food delivery industry is showing no signs of slowing down and is estimated to be worth $369.97 billion by 2030. Over the past few years, food service operators and Q-commerce businesses have been turning to online ordering systems and (third-party) delivery services to meet increased demand. As next step, they’ll be looking to optimise their online ordering operations and maximise potential. That’s why delivery aggregator software will gain even wider-spread adoption in 2023. Online order aggregator software is designed to help restaurants manage online orders without effort. At its most basic level, it aggregates all online orders and synchronizes them with the restaurant’s POS, improving the business’ operational flow. But state-of-the-art delivery management platforms do much more than that. They also enable restaurant owners to efficiently manage their menus and stock and help you gain valuable insights into your sales and consumer behaviour. The cherry on top is the software’s ability to integrate with other software systems seamlessly offering a 360° view of business in real-time.

Insights by Deliverect