According to Forbes, more than 40% of restaurants struggled to survive during the COVID-19 pandemic crisis. What’s interesting is that G2 research highlights that almost 50 million people in the U.S. will use food apps by the end of 2021.
Digital and Tech Transformation
It is no secret that it takes a lot of manpower and resources to maintain restaurant operations. And this is where new tech initiatives can play an integral role for restaurants of all sizes in near future. In fact, the digital shift in the restaurant sector is already transforming a wide range of restaurants.
With the roll out of the vaccination, it looks the world is headed for normalcy. But even in the post-COVID-19 world, new technologies can help new restaurants emerge and establish a more robust presence of establishes food chains.
Let’s look at the essential tech advancements that can reshape the restaurant sector for good in 2021:
Delivery Apps for Online Ordering
Delivery apps such as Doordash and UberEats continue to become more navigational and accurate. The truth is that people love the idea of ordering food from their famous restaurant from the comfort of their home. You can expect more advancement in the order preference of food delivery apps. It would help customers order food with more flexibility and ease. While food delivery apps are famous, most fast-food outlets have a dedicated app for the convenience of the customers.
Digital Kitchens
KDS or Kitchen Display Systems are high in demand right now. These digital board kitchen menus allow restaurants to streamline their entire operations and link to POS systems. Plus, the automated features of digital Kitchen Display Systems appeal to modern restaurants. It also makes it easier to track food delivery timelines and get alerts when a specific inventory item is almost out of stock. This tech initiative can improve workflows and communication.
Contactless Payment
Yes, there is a mainstream adoption of contactless payment technology in the restaurant sector. In fact, data confirms that contactless payments will reach $6 trillion by 2024. So, expect more smart, secure, and transparent contactless payment technologies in the coming years. It is a big leap for restaurants across the world to streamline food payments through touchless devices and apps.
QR Codes and Automated Inventory Management
Long before the COVID-19 pandemic came into the mix, QR codes were already popular. For instance, Chinese restaurants use QR codes for mainstream services. The touchless scanning barcodes allow customers to dine in their favorite restaurants without having to worry about contact. You can access online pay, order, and menus through a QR code.
Throughout the pandemic, QR codes managed to ensure the safety of employees and diners across the U.S. the best thing about QR code technology is that you don’t need to download (any) app.
With a low cost-structure attached to the QR codes, it would be fair to state that restaurants will make the most out of QR code technology in 2021. You can also expect more adoption of automated inventory management programs and air purification devices in the restaurant sector.
The Bottom Line
You may not realize it, but there are already robot servers and chefs. Plus, it looks like biometric payments, voice assistance, and cloud-based POS systems are here to stay. Of course, larger restaurant chains perform better than new and small restaurants. But now small restaurants have the opportunity to leverage new and advanced technologies that can maintain optimal operations and drive unprecedented growth.
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