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Restaurant Technology: Where Should You Start?

Published: March 4, 2025

The rapid rise in restaurant technology offers a wealth of tools promising to help you address core challenges like costs, labor and traffic. With 53% of operators reporting that automation will be essential to their future success,¹the pressure to adopt the right tools is mounting.

But how do you determine which solutions are worth pursuing and which to disregard?

How can you ensure these tools will truly drive growth while protecting your first-party data?

In this article, we’ll explore how you can identify the right partners, leverage first-party data and use it all to help you achieve your goals.

Identify Your Key Concerns

When evaluating tech tools, start by identifying your priorities. Are you seeking food inventory management software, POS systems, loyalty programs, order management solutions—or something else? Perhaps you need an integrated solution that combines these functions while addressing your operation’s unique needs. Defining your need will help you find the right solution. Once you’ve identified your need, consider the logistics:

• Will these tools integrate seamlessly?

• Can they help me better manage my costs or staff?

• Are they user-friendly for my team and me?

• Will I fully utilize the platform’s capabilities?

• Will this partner scale with me as I grow?

Balancing tailored solutions with scalability is key to achieving optimal results. These questions can guide you toward selecting technology that aligns with your goals.

Leverage Technology to Solve Pain Points

Sixty-eight percent of operators believe implementing automation will be too expensive, while 54% aren’t sure how it will benefit their operation.¹ But with the ongoing challenges of rising costs, labor shortages and increased wages—and with driving traffic being the leading business challenge²—it’s an investment that should not be overlooked. The right technology partners can help you:

• Manage food and operating costs: Inventory management systems improve accuracy in forecasting and demand—helping reduce costs.

• Train and retain staff: Intuitive solutions can streamline process and help employees adapt.

• Enhance customer engagement: Loyalty programs and marketing automation platforms allow you to connect with customers in meaningful ways, driving repeat visits and incremental sales.

First-Party Data is Critical

Owning first-party data is becoming increasingly critical in future-proofing your businesses—and can be captured through POS systems or delivery app integrations. Yet, only 56% of operators report gathering first-party data from their POS system and 35% from owned digital-ordering channels.³

First-party data—collected directly from customers via owned platforms—empowers you to communicate with your audience on your terms, driving traffic and building loyalty.

Many emerging chains are investing in proprietary tech to reduce dependency on third-party vendors and enable seamless scalability as they grow. This is a great solution for an operator who can invest more now, for the ultimate ROI later.

Applying the data can be most effective through a loyalty app and marketing automation platform that will enable seamless deployment of emails and text messages. Part of the success of these solutions is engaging customers—rewarding them for current visits rather than future ones, especially in the early phase of adaptation.

Involving employees in loyalty solutions is also an effective strategy. For example, when team members are trained on and actively engaged with a loyalty program, they are more likely to discuss it with customers. This engagement can boost customer return rates, with loyalty members often visiting twice as much as non-loyalty customers.⁴

Technology as a Growth Enabler

While the upfront cost and learning curve of new technology may feel daunting, the long-term benefits often outweigh these challenges. Additionally, 72% of operators believe technology should focus on solving existing problems, reinforcing the need to adapt solutions that address pain points rather than chasing trends.¹Operators who embrace the right mix of tools tailored to their needs can scale efficiently, better manage costs and enhance customer relationships. For instance, operators who leverage loyalty apps report a significant increase in return visits from loyal customers compared to non-loyalty participants.

The Bottom Line

In a rapidly evolving industry, leveraging technology to tackle cost, labor and traffic challenges while strengthening customer connections is more important than ever before. By identifying partners who offer solutions that align with your goals, and who allow you to own your first-party data, you can position your business for long-term success.

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