1851

Kiosks are taking over the restaurant industry.&nbsp;During the pandemic, the self-service&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nrn.com/first-bite/next-big-restaurant-trend?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=restaurant-kiosks-are-riding-a-pandemic-induced-wave-into-2023-2720330" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">kiosk trend</a> gathered momentum as restaurants looked to expand while offering a safer, more convenient option. Almost three years later, the trend has stuck around, and brands are investing more than ever.&nbsp;&nbsp;Notably, McDonald’s started testing self-service kiosks back in 2003 — much earlier than most brands. However, it took a while to prove the effectiveness of the technology, and the brand’s U.S. system didn’t actually implement them systemwide until 2020. Panera was also an early adopter of kiosks in 2014 and has since made them a large part of its digital-only formats.&nbsp;Taco Bell was among the brands to jump on the kiosk bandwagon in 2020 and even introduced a kiosk-only&nbsp;location in 2021. The technology is expected to be a big part of the franchise’s goal of reaching a 50% digital sales mix.&nbsp; Meanwhile, during Shake Shack’s Q3 earnings call, CFO Katie Fogerty noted that kiosks are the brand’s most profitable channel, yielding higher check sizes, higher margins and better labor utilization. The labor utilization aspect is particularly noteworthy as the industry remains around 500,000 employees short of pre-pandemic numbers.&nbsp;In fact,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.expresspros.com/Newsroom/America-Employed/Rising-Employee-Turnover-Costing-Companies-an-Average-of-26511-Annually.aspx?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=restaurant-kiosks-are-riding-a-pandemic-induced-wave-into-2023-2720330" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">a survey</a> from The Harris Poll commissioned by staffing franchise Express Employment Professionals found that 42% of U.S. companies said employee turnover increased in 2021, costing them an average of $26,511 in lost productivity and recruiting.Read the full article on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nrn.com/first-bite/next-big-restaurant-trend?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=restaurant-kiosks-are-riding-a-pandemic-induced-wave-into-2023-2720330" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Nation’s Restaurant News</a>.&nbsp;

Restaurant Kiosks are Riding a Pandemic-Induced Wave into 2023

1851 Franchise

After a surge in 2020, kiosks continue to be implemented by restaurant brands looking to take advantage of the digital format.

restaurant-kiosks-are-riding-a-pandemic-induced-wave-into-2023

Test Brand

Guide To Building Out an Effective Social Media Strategy for Your Restaurant: LinkedIn Ads

guide-to-building-out-an-effective-social-media-strategy-for-your-restaurant-linkedin-ads

Comfort Keepers

Comfort Keepers - Midyear Press Release 2025 - 1851 Franchise

Comfort Keepers® Hits Mid-Year Stride With Strong Franchise Growth and Rising Demand for In-Home Care

comfort-keepers-franchise-midyear-momentum-2025

petbar

petbar - Garrett Dewan - Why I'm Investing - 1851 Franchise

Why Garrett Dewan Is Choosing To Reinvest in petbar

petbar-franchise-austin-garrett-dewan-multi-unit

Paris Baguette

NJBIZ: Paris Baguette Ramps Up Expansion With New Franchises, Facility and 2030 Growth Target

njbiz-paris-baguette-ramps-up-expansion-with-new-franchises-facility-and-2030-growth-target

Busy Bee Jumpers

Top 10 Reasons To Buy a Busy Bee Jumpers Franchise in 2025

top-10-reasons-to-buy-a-busy-bee-jumpers-franchise-in-2025

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

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

Photo of Roof Scientist truck and trailer

Roof Scientist Expands Into Northern Indianapolis as Entrepreneur Dale Speckman Launches New Business in Fishers

roof-scientist-expands-into-northern-indianapolis

Image of Donald Trump pointing with red stripes in the background

August 1 Tariff Deadline Is Said to Have ‘No Extensions’: What This Could Mean for Franchises

august-1-tariff-deadline-franchise-impact

What June’s Jobs Report Means for the Franchise Industry

what-junes-jobs-report-means-for-the-franchise-industry

Hooters Leans Into Franchising With Closure of 30 Company-Owned Stores - Agg - 1851 Franchise

Hooters Leans Into Franchising With Closure of 30 Company-Owned Stores

hooters-franchise-model-company-owned-closures

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

The Ultimate Guide to Selling Franchises: How To Create a Strong Incentive

how-to-build-strong-incentives-to-attract-prospective-franchisees

Kansas Couple Revitalizes Local Childcare With Children’s Lighthouse

From Corporate Careers to Community Roots: Kansas Couple Revitalizes Local Childcare With Children’s Lighthouse

kansas-couple-opens-childrens-lighthouse-gardner-olathe

From Prescriptions to Pastries: Kari Khandelwal Creates a Comforting Community Bakery 

From Prescriptions to Pastries: Kari Khandelwal Creates a Comforting Community Bakery in Overland Park, Kansas

paris-baguette-franchise-overland-park-khandelwal

Blending Tech, Hospitality and Health Care: How Three Women From Different Worlds Came Together to Build a Paris Baguette Franchise

paris-baguette-franchise-flower-mound-texas

Restaurant Kiosks are Riding a Pandemic-Induced Wave into 2023

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS