The covid-19 pandemic has battered every economic activity in the US, and the restaurant business has not been unaffected. Covid-19 forced the industry to quickly adopt innovative digital solutions over the last couple of years. So, which emerging restaurant technology trends should you consider in 2022 to survive in the near future and stay ahead of the competition? Let’s find out:

Innovative Technologies in Restaurant Industry

1. Online Ordering System and Food Delivery Apps

The Covid-19 pandemic has brought about several behavioral and operational changes among restaurant owners, as well as their customers. For restaurant owners, there has been business uncertainty, restrictions on seating capacity, and strict regulations about hygiene. Similarly, some restaurant customers are still apprehensive about mingling with crowds.

Thankfully, online ordering and food delivery apps have come to the rescue of everyone. For owners, such practice allows running restaurants with less staff, smaller spaces and lower operating costs. On the other hand, this restaurant technology allows their customers to get the food when, where, and how they want it. It is, therefore, no surprise that a recent Mckinsey report estimates the global food delivery business to be over 150 billion dollars.

2. USB Wireless Charging Laminate Restaurant Table Tops

Nowadays, it’s hard to imagine our daily activities without a Smartphone. USB or wireless charging on restaurant tables can be an attractive yet practical feature that might come in handy for your guests. While selecting the material for your restaurant table top, go for laminate. Why laminate, you ask? Well, laminate is a sturdy material without being as heavy as other materials and is strong enough to withstand the fast-paced environment in restaurants. On top of that, it is affordable yet durable, looks premium, and is available in various colors, patterns, shapes, etc. In a nutshell, USB or wireless charging technology in restaurant industry is a perfect combination of functionality and stunning looks.

3. Online Table Reservation System

Gone are the days when diners used to call the restaurants to book a table. In an app-driven world, restaurant-goers prefer ordering through online table reservation systems. This new technology in restaurants facilitates an immersive experience for the diners by allowing them to see the available tables/slots and book at their convenience.

Similarly, for restaurant owners too, an online table reservation system makes it easy to manage seating, waitlists, staff, and other services. More importantly, you can access the data pertaining to customers dining and ordering preferences for improving your services.

4. Digital Menus

If you thrive on being a class apart from your competitors, the last thing you would want is to take orders on a smudged, wrinkled paper and run back and forth between the table and kitchen area. Instead, go for a digital menu technology used in restaurants to streamline your back-end operations.

You can integrate digital menu boards and kitchen display systems into your restaurant’s POS system for smoothly managing your staff, time, and resources. Digital menus can also be accessed by customers’ phones or other electronic devices, making it more sanitary than printed menus. You can also track inventory, prioritize orders, and customize dietary requirements, which results in efficient workflow and clear communication. Moreover, a digital menu presents unlimited design options for a unique brand image and dining experience.

5. Inventory Management System

Restaurant businesses tackle stringent supply chain requirements. Manually managing the inventory of raw materials can be a time consuming, tedious affair. An automated inventory management system can be a handy technology in restaurant industry for such tasks. It not only allows you to track the stocks of food and beverages, but you can even schedule orders effortlessly. Moreover, by managing inventory efficiently, you can reduce wastage of food which is estimated to be around 100 billion dollars every year globally.

6. QR codes

QR codes are another great, contactless technology used in restaurants to keep your staff and customers safe. The low-cost QR technology contains auto-scanning barcodes at convenient locations like tables, coasters, glasses, posters, etc., to access the digital menu, order food, pay bills, give feedback, etc. Using QR codes helps your staff to concentrate on serving customers rather than taking order and collecting cheques. Do you know what the best part about QR technology is? Your customers don’t have to download and install any app to access them.

7. High-tech Feedback Systems

Food delivery and online ordering not only allow you to streamline your bookings, but you can also use them to manage feedback from your customers. While instant communication over texts has been the industry standard in tech companies for a while now, it has somehow eluded the restaurant business.

Nowadays, customers give ratings and reviews on multiple platforms like public reviews, social media posts, food ordering apps, restaurant websites, etc. Therefore, it’s crucial to find a way to integrate, analyze, and respond to feedback across multiple channels. An efficient feedback system makes it convenient for your guests to give feedback and effortless for your staff to address or respond to it.

8. Contactless Payments Systems

Contactless payment options have emerged as the biggest and game-changing technology in restaurant industry over the last few years, and Covid-19 has accelerated their growth further. They are faster, safer, and less cumbersome than other in-person payment methods. According to the MasterCard Global Consumer Survey in 2020, nearly 80% of the respondents said they use contactless payments. Additionally, you can consider partnering with other tech giants like VISA, Amazon, Google, etc., for an effortless payment medium and checkout experience.

9. Air Purification Technology

With an emphasis on well-ventilated places having clean and germ-free air, investing in an air purification technology used in restaurant industry is the smart way to win back the trust of your customers. There are several novel techniques that provide a safe and comfortable dining environment for your guests. For example, UV light sanitization works effectively on air and surface. Similarly, bipolar ionization is another harmless and promising technology that cleans air or surfaces by neutralizing pollutants and contaminants.

10. Self-Order Kiosk

Self-ordering kiosk is another innovative restaurant technology which is becoming increasingly popular in fast-casual restaurants and commercial spaces like food courts, airports, shopping malls, etc. Investing in a kiosk is a smart way to increase efficiency and indulge customers through a simple interface for ordering food.

Additionally, a self-order kiosk allows you to run your restaurant with fewer staff and reduced labor costs. Also, you can use the large screen of the kiosk as an advertising medium to promote your menu items. All in all, self-order kiosks help in up selling, you get shorter lines at your counters, and your customers get more accuracy with their orders.

11. Prep Lines Automation

Do you know you can automate most mundane and repetitive back-end tasks? The latest, innovative restaurant technology in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) technology can help in optimizing your staff, increasing capacity, and maximizing efficiency.

For example, automating your food preparation tasks can spare your cooks from performing predictable monotonous activities. As a result, your kitchen performs efficiently with fewer staff. More importantly, by using automation for preparing pre-mixed ingredients, your kitchen can produce meals faster, safer, cleaner, and consistent in flavor or quality.

12. Food Delivery Robots and Drones

If you have been following the news recently, many global companies, from Amazon to Domino’s, Google to Uber, are investing in drones and self-driving cars for food delivery. This technology in restaurant industry is faster, safer, economical, and aims at solving problems for restaurant owners as well as customers.

However, despite appearing extremely promising, this revolutionary technology still has a long way to go. For example, there are regulatory concerns, logistical issues, and weather-related difficulties. Still, delivery robots and drones are primed to be the most hopeful technology in the years to come.

13. AR-VR Technology

Most diners complain their dishes seldom look like what they envisaged while ordering. How can restaurant technology help address this issue? The answer is the use of Augmented Reality (AR) or Virtual Reality (VR) in your restaurant.

With AR-powered apps, your guests get to visualize the dishes and preparation beforehand. So, even before they order, they understand how the dish will be prepared, what ingredients will the dish use, and how the dish will look once it’s ready. In short, AR-VR technology reduces the chances of error between your guests and staff due to any misunderstanding or miscommunication.

14. Chatbots with NLP for Restaurants

A chatbot is another new technology in restaurants that saves time for your employees and improves the customer experience on your website. Chatbots come with natural language processing (NLP) technology and are basically automated programs for communicating with your guests. These chatbots are available 24×7 to assist your guests in several tasks like announcing promotional events, reserving tables, recommending dishes, placing orders, processing payments, collecting feedback, and many more.

What Is the Importance of Restaurant Technology?

Restaurant technology offers unique and out-of-box solutions to common problems faced by owners and diners. Technology in the restaurant industry improves operating efficiency, reduces food wastage, optimizes the workforce, and enhances the dining experience. More importantly, it saves you time and energy from doing monotonous, routine activities so that you can concentrate on your passion for food and entertaining your guests. Also, restaurant technology helps you create a brand image and rise above your competitors.

Summing it up

While Covid-19 has disrupted the entire food and beverage industry, it has emphasized the need for restaurant technologies. As a result, professionals across the globe are working to make the most of the opportunity to redefine the restaurant business. This article lists some latest restaurant technology trends that result in safer, faster, interactive and more immersive dining experiences for your guests. Hopefully, these trends will help you reimagine your restaurant’s future with an unforgettable dining experience and profitable business.

Restaurant merchandise has evolved significantly in the last couple of decades. Gone are the days when restaurant merchandise used to be an afterthought. Nowadays, owners consider visual merchandising an integral part of their restaurant design and restaurant marketing strategy. After all, selling restaurant merchandise helps you strengthen your bond with your customers and generates revenue as well. More importantly, a well-planned merchandise corner in your restaurant instills curiosity among guests and can be a crowd-puller, especially during the festive season.

The idea of creating restaurant merchandise might appear a herculean task in the beginning. However, with plenty of e-commerce platforms and design services around, creating a brand image for your restaurant has never been more economical or easier.

What Are the Most Popular Restaurant Merchandise Ideas?

1. Branded T-Shirts and Sweatshirts

Big restaurant chains have a global brand value and strong connection with their customers, and apparels like T-shirts and sweatshirts are one of the most popular restaurant merchandise ideas. After all, clothes provide an identity to the customers. So, what better way to show allegiance than your customers wearing your restaurant T-shirt.  

2. Restaurant Cookbooks

If your restaurant has a famous chef or dishes, you can consider curating a cookbook that showcases your lip-smacking dishes. Even if you don’t employ a world-famous chef in your restaurant, you can still collaborate with renowned chefs to compile a theme-based set of recipes.

3. Sauces & Marinades

If people are raving about your sauces or other toppings, you can sell bottles of sauces and marinades to your regulars. Moreover, such bottles act as a great souvenir for your out-of-city guests who enjoy dining in your restaurant. These merchandises are extremely helpful for barbeque restaurants.

4. Mugs & Glassware 

Mugs and Glassware with the restaurant’s logo are one of the most hot-selling restaurant merchandise, especially for coffee shops and bars. More importantly, mugs and glassware are favorite gifting items during the festive season.

5. Tote Bags

Big restaurants worldwide have become a lifestyle brand for their customers. Capitalize the trend by offering merchandise like Tote bags. Why tote bags? Well, tote bags are probably the most practical and economical option for any diner. Further, you can consider natural materials having a minimal carbon footprint for your environmentally-conscious customers.

6. Wine Keys & Bottle Openers

Wine keys and bottle openers with your restaurant logo have a nostalgic effect on your customers. Consider adding a quirky phrase or an insider joke to connect better with your loyal and regular customers.

7. Gifts for Pets

Pet-friendly restaurants can go a step further by extending their merchandise for pets. For example, selling fashionable bandanas or leashes with your restaurant’s name or logo is a perfect way to connect with your customers and their furry friends.  

8. Hats & Beanies

During winters, beanies and hats are other restaurant merchandise ideas you can consider for your customers. As the temperatures drop below freezing point, you can sell beanies to keep your customers warm. Additionally, beanies are great for gifting, especially during the winter holidays.

9. Stickers, Flags & Banners

Since restaurants thrive on the local visitors, you can develop your brand around merchandise. Products like stickers, flags, banners, etc., that represent your locality or highlight landmarks give a sense of belonging to your customers. Also, such products double up as a perfect souvenir for tourists.

What Are the Advantages of Creating Branded Restaurant Merchandise?

1. Additional Revenue Stream

Restaurant merchandise allows you to generate an additional revenue stream. Sure, you would have to work initially in designing your products, finding partners, planning logistics, etc. However, once you have finalized these details, you only need to monitor your inventory and reorder before running out of stock. This passive, regular income can help tremendously in growing your business.

2. Reach More Customers

Typically, the restaurant business thrives on local visitors and has a limited customer base. Restaurant merchandise is a great way to increase the visibility of your business. For example, mugs with your restaurant logo are a great marketing medium to reach out to the family members of your guests. Similarly, you can connect with more customers across different cities or states by accepting online orders for restaurant merchandise. So, you generate revenue even from remote customers who would not be able to dine in your restaurant otherwise.  

3. Stay top of mind with your guests

Merchandise can be a constant reminder of your restaurant for your guests. For example, if someone owns a sweatshirt bearing your restaurant’s logo, it reminds them whenever they see it. Whether they wear it or it just sits in their closet, every time they look at it, it inspires them to revisit your restaurant.

4. Great up selling opportunity

Merchandise offers an unparalleled upselling opportunity in increasing your guests’ spending. For example, a sports bar can generate additional revenue by selling football jerseys or caps of the favorite club of your guests. Further, you can take upselling to a whole new level by adding personalized merchandise. For example, if yours is a fine-dine restaurant famous for romantic evenings or anniversaries, you can consider selling personalized wine glasses, photo frames, or mug sets for the couple.  

5. Customers become your billboards

Ever noticed how shoppers become a walking advertisement for stores by carryings shopping bags? You can use the same tactic to market your restaurant business in public. From t-shirts to hats, from car bumpers to bags, make customers become a walking billboard for your restaurant. With a quirky yet unique design, people might even create social media posts to make your restaurant popular and draw more customers. 

What Is the Most Important Merchandising Tool of a Restaurant?

A restaurant menu is perhaps the most crucial and often underused merchandising tool, and you must use it wisely. Since a customer typically spends 2-3 minutes scanning the menu, use it to impress them and cross-sell your products. A well-designed menu goes beyond only listing the dishes and entices customers with cross-merchandising products and menu items.

Customers seldom have any idea of what they want to eat in a restaurant. By combining relevant items together or offering combo-meals, you enhance their meals and prompt them to spend more as well. For example, a combo meal including a burger, fries, and soft drinks or juices is quite popular across the globe. Another classic example of cross-merchandising is the McDonald’s kids’ meal combo with a toy or action figure. Create a well-designed, attractive flyer for such combo offers and place them strategically on the restaurant tables to increase visibility.

How Do Restaurants Sell Merchandise?

Restaurant merchandise is a great way to connect with your customers, instill brand loyalty, and increase revenue. When it comes to merchandise ideas, the sky is the limit for finding creative products that can become a part of your customers’ lifestyle. So, as an owner, how can you plan best restaurant merchandise for your customers? Here are a few important things you should consider:

• Begin by profiling your customers to understand which items or products would appeal to them.
• Consider selling unique items to stand apart from your competitors.
• Collaborate and research with local businesses or vendors.
• Come up with quirky, fun designs.
• Check the quality of your restaurant merchandise.
• Price your products appropriately.
• Have an online store on your website to promote products.
• Promote your products through social media and email campaigns.

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