Restaurant technology changes rapidly. If you're not adapting to the latest restaurant industry trends we're going to discuss, you'll:
- Lower staff productivity
- Spend more money
- Lose potential revenue
We're going to list the trends that we expect to be the most popular in 2025 and what you can do to adopt them in your own eatery.
AI Enters the Kitchen
Artificial intelligence (AI) isn't going to cook the food - not yet - and it's not serving your customers yet, either. But where AI is disrupting the industry is actually in the data that you collect.
For example, predictive analytics is one area where artificial intelligence shines.
You can use AI to help with:
- Optimally stocking your kitchen
- Reducing your food waste
- Managing inventory better
AI can help you understand what dishes do not sell well and can recommend which items you need less of to reduce food waste. If you run a kitchen and know how tedious it is to run the numbers and manage inventory, you can breathe a sigh of relief because you can let a machine crunch the numbers for you.
Customer service is getting a boost this year with the help of AI chatbots that will assist with customer interactions and order-taking. Due to potential errors, a lot of eateries are likely to be reluctant to adopt 100% customer service bots.
And if you've been wanting to expand into new markets or even start your first eatery as a cloud kitchen, a popular option this year will be cloud kitchens.
Virtual Brands and Cloud Kitchens Continue to Rise in Popularity
A cloud kitchen, also called a ghost or virtual kitchen, allows you to use a commercial kitchen as your own with the help of facilities that are already in place. You only need to prepare a menu and handle delivering food.
And you can even create a virtual brand that runs out of your own brick-and-mortar business if you wish.
For example, you can be "Bob's Vegan Paradise," and take orders online and deliver while running your own diner where people can sit down to eat.
Cloud kitchens and virtual brands allow you to try out unique ideas with an adaptable business model and low costs.
Prepare for Personalization to Continue to Grow
Restaurant owners who are hands-on get to know the "regulars." You may know the person's name, and over time, you will learn their preferences. And in 2025, personalization at this level is extending to more customers with the help of data-driven personalization for:
- Curated menus that analytical tools recommend based on order histories.
- Promotion recommendations for those times when sales are slow or you want to bring in new customers.
- Reducing customer churn by increasing the guest experience.
You can extend personalization further with the help of smart scheduling that will help you maintain adequate staff to cater to guest needs.
Automation Will Continue
Automation isn't a new thing in the restaurant industry. For years now, restaurant technology solutions have included automated features to save time and reduce the risk of errors.
But in 2025 and beyond, we will be seeing advancements in automation that will enhance these benefits and offer even more advantages.
Chipotle, for example, has adopted new automation software that will use intelligent automation to build salads and bowls. The goal is to free up time that employees can use to focus on prep work and other tasks.
Self-service kiosks are also becoming increasingly more popular at restaurants of all types.
Subscription Models Come to the Restaurant Industry
Subscriptions are becoming the new standard business model for many industries, including the restaurant industry.
In recent years, several large chain restaurants have adopted subscriptions in some way.
- Taco Bell launched its "Taco Lover's Pass" in 2022, which offers one free taco daily for just $10 per month. It was such a success that they launched the "Nacho Fries Lover's Pass" shortly after.
- Panera Bread's "MyPanera+ Coffee" subscription offered unlimited coffee for just $8.99 per month. It attracted over 500,000 paid subscribers, prompting Panera to expand by offering its "Unlimited Sip Club" and other subscription options.
Of course, these are just two examples of successful subscriptions. Even if your restaurant isn't in the fast food or fast casual categories, you may still be able to leverage subscriptions to boost your revenue.
For example, your subscription could offer:
- Exclusive menu access
- Tasting menus
- Access to exclusive events
- Discounts and special perks
Implementing subscriptions has never been easier, either. There are now several restaurant technology services that can help you launch and manage your subscription.
Deliver Will Finally Get an Overhaul
The future of restaurant industry delivery will also get an overhaul. We've been hearing talk of drones handling deliveries of all sorts, from Amazon products to pizza. Now, it seems that dream may become a reality in the near future.
In 2024, we saw a surge in drone delivery systems. Flytrex, for example, completed 100,000 successful food deliveries.
If you're not ready for such advanced restaurant tech, don't worry - we've seen advancements in traditional delivery methods, too.
For example, more restaurants are using Relay Delivery to handle their delivery needs. The platform offers courier services for the food industry, but they take a different approach from other similar companies. The platform can integrate with your mobile app, and they also provide you with access to your customer data and order histories.
Easy integration and greater access to data make this delivery platform an attractive choice for restaurants, and their platform will surely pave the way for other similar providers.
Which Tech Trends Will You Adopt?
Restaurant technology is constantly evolving. In the last five years alone, we've seen significant advancements in delivery options, online ordering and order management systems. To stay competitive, restaurants must be agile and willing to embrace new developments as they emerge.
The question is: which of these emerging trends will you adopt this year or in the coming years? Weigh the pros and cons of each one and create a plan to implement them into your operations.