1851

The COVID-19 pandemic changed not only&nbsp; daily life, but also the way that restaurants operate. With a heavy focus on sanitation and preventing the spread of the potentially deadly virus, restaurant owners were forced to turn to technology for contactless communication and interactions with customers. Now, it appears that technology is here to stay, as a digitally driven world adjusts to a new normal.According to <a href="https://www.nrn.com/technology/3-technology-trends-will-shape-how-restaurants-function-2022?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=how-technology-is-changing-the-restaurant-industry-2717814" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Nation’s Restaurant News</a>, about 87% of restaurant operators believe that turning to and adopting new technology since the onset of the pandemic is what has allowed their businesses to survive amidst staffing shortages, health and safety protocols, and supply-chain issues.&nbsp;In the midst of all these changes, it’s clear the adoption of technology is essential to restaurants’ survival.&nbsp;<h4>Three Technology Trends Helping Restaurants Survive in 2022</h4>With a new year, and a new COVID-19 variant upon us, there are several ways in which industry employees and customers can expect technology to remain a significant part of their dining experience.&nbsp;Nation’s Restaurant News said that contactless ordering and service will be the new standard when it comes to interacting with customers. This must-have service includes QR code menus as well as self-pay options that are installed at tables to allow customers to pay their tab without the help of a server.&nbsp;“More and more of the business of running a restaurant — from ordering to payment — has been put in the hands of the customer,” Nation’s Restaurant News stated. “Many customers appreciated this aspect of ‘the new normal’ because they enjoy having a degree of control over their own dining experience.”Ghost kitchens are also a restaurant technology trend that appears to have caught on in such a useful way for operators that they are likely to remain as an integral part to restaurant success in 2022. A ghost kitchen is a hybrid model that focuses on takeout or drive-thrus but offers no indoor seating options for customers, allowing operators to run the business without wait staff or the costs associated with running a dining room. <a href="https://www.restaurantbusinessonline.com/technology/whats-next-restaurant-technology-0?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=how-technology-is-changing-the-restaurant-industry-2717814" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Restaurant Business Online</a> said a recent Deloitte survey found that more than 80% of consumers have no issues with using a ghost kitchen.A third restaurant technology trend expected to take off in 2022 is the importance of <a href="https://www.nrn.com/technology/3-technology-trends-will-shape-how-restaurants-function-2022?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=how-technology-is-changing-the-restaurant-industry-2717814" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">unique customer loyalty programs</a>. While the programs themselves are not new to the industry, the way in which they can bring back repeat customers through apps is what caught on during the continued pandemic. As inflation causes restaurants to evaluate their <a href="https://1851franchise.com/restaurants-increase-menu-prices-due-to-inflation-2717700">menu prices</a>, the U.S. Department of Agriculture is expecting grocery prices to rise as much as 2.5% and food-away-from-home prices to go up as much as 4%. This rise in the cost to eat out makes going out to eat less attractive than eating at home; however, if restaurants are able to offer loyalty programs that offer discounts and rewards, customers are more likely to turn to that when thinking about what to do for dinner.Nation’s Restaurant News reported that a survey of over 1,500 Americans found that 69% of respondents said incentives from loyalty programs encourage them to frequent a restaurant more often. Additionally, pay-at-the-table solutions allow for better use of loyalty and reward programs.“Restaurants that have implemented a pay-at-the-table solution have the capability of integrating loyalty and reward programs automatically when paying their bill, via an easy-to-use self-service interface at the point of payment,” said Nation’s Restaurant News. “In a time when restaurants are operating with reduced staff, this seamless approach puts no extra burden on employees, because customers can scan, pay, collect or redeem points, and go, without any assistance from staff.”Related articles:&nbsp;<ul><li><a href="https://1851franchise.com/restaurants-increase-menu-prices-due-to-inflation-2717700">Restaurants Increase Menu Prices Due to Inflation</a></li><li><a href="https://1851franchise.com/omicrons-spread-perpetuates-restaurant-labor-shortages-supply-chain-issues-2717672#featured">Omicron’s Spread Perpetuates Restaurant Labor Shortages, Supply-Chain Issues</a></li></ul>

How Technology Is Changing the Restaurant Industry

1851 Franchise

Restaurants are turning to technology to help them survive in the “new normal” of COVID variants, supply-chain issues and staffing shortages.

how-technology-is-changing-the-restaurant-industry

Pet Wants

The Power of Personalization: How Custom Nutrition Plans Drive Business Success at Pet Wants

the-power-of-personalization-how-custom-nutrition-plans-drive-business-success-at-pet-wants

Griswold

Griswold Franchisee Beth Copeland Featured in Entrepreneur Magazine

griswold-franchisee-beth-copeland-featured-in-entrepreneur-magazine

Fresh Coat

Photo of two Fresh Coat franchise owners wearing branded polos

How Fresh Coat Franchisees Scale Through Commercial and Multi-Family Projects

scale-painting-franchise-commercial-projects

Beansquad

Franchise Financial Health Check: BeanSquad’s Diagnostic Approach to Bookkeeping

franchise-financial-health-check-beansquads-diagnostic-approach-to-bookkeeping

Paris Baguette

Photo of cross section of Paris Baguette croissant

Is the Paris Baguette Franchise Worth the Investment? Understanding the Franchise Fee and ROI

paris-baguette-franchise-cost-roi

Buying a Franchise Masterclass

 Franchise Opportunities

Get Support Buying a Franchise

How to Buy a Franchise White Paper

How to Buy a Franchise

How to Sell Franchises

How to Grow a Franchise

Find a Franchise Supplier

1851 Franchise Opportunities

Franchisor News

Franchisor Power Rankings

FranCamp Mastermind Summit

Franchise Development Website Builder

Franchise Resources

What ALEC-Laffer's Report Means for Franchising

Website Awards

Power Rankings

About 1851

Advertise on 1851

Contact 1851 Editorial

Terms of Use

1851 Login

GROWTH CLUB LOGIN

facebook

instagram

twitter

linkedin

youtube

Health Care Hiring Slowdown Highlights In-Home Care Franchise Opportunities - 1851 Franchise Agg

Health Care Hiring Slowdown Highlights In-Home Care Franchise Opportunities 

health-care-hiring-slowdown-in-home-care-franchise-opportunities

Caribou Coffee Names Scott Kennedy CEO, Eyes Continued Growth

caribou-coffee-names-scott-kennedy-ceo-eyes-continued-growth

McDonald’s Launches New Extra Value Meals as Consumer Demand for Value Continues to Climb

mcdonalds-launches-extra-value-meals

Power Eats: Smoothie King Rolls Out Food Nationwide To Fuel Franchise Growth

smoothie-king-food-menu-power-eats

Keurig Dr Pepper Splits in $18 Billion JDE Peet’s Deal, Creating Global Coffee Giant

keurig-dr-pepper-splits-in-18-billion-jde-peets-deal-creating-global-coffee-giant

Hardee’s Lawsuit Highlights the Risk of Going Off-Model in Franchising

hardees-franchise-lawsuit-paradigm-investment-group

Wendy's CEO Kirk Tanner Steps Down - Breaking News - 1851 Franchise

Wendy’s CEO Kirk Tanner Steps Down Amid Challenges, Leaving Franchisees Facing Uncertainty

wendys-ceo-transition-kirk-tanner-franchisee-uncertainty

"Come in, We're OPEN" sign against abstract background

Small Business Optimism Dips, Raising Concerns for Franchise Owners

small-business-optimism-dips-raising-concerns-for-franchise-owners

Technomic Releases Annual Ranking of the Top 15 Fast-Food Chains in the U.S.

technomic-releases-annual-ranking-of-the-top-15-fast-food-chains-in-the-us

Hely and Hiral Patel Bring Their Longtime Dream to Life With The Brass Tap

brass-tap-franchise-pasadena-maryland-hely-hiral-patel

Franchisee spotlight graphic with photo of Ricki Oberoi and Layne's Chicken Fingers logo

Multi-Unit Wendy’s Operator Signs 12-Unit Deal With Layne’s Chicken Fingers

ricki-oberoi-laynes-chicken-fingers-growth

Young Entrepreneur Parth Patel Is Bringing Paris Baguette to the Cleveland Area

young-entrepreneur-parth-patel-is-bringing-paris-baguette-to-the-cleveland-area

Cleaning Franchises Offer Stability and Scalability in a Changing Economic Landscape

cleaning-franchises-offer-stability-and-scalability-in-a-changing-economic-landscape

graphic for a spotlight from 1851 franchise featuring Kevin Rarick from caring transitions

Army Veteran Returns Home To Launch Caring Transitions Franchise in Reading, Pennsylvania

kevin-rarick-caring-transitions-reading-pa

How Technology Is Changing the Restaurant Industry

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS