Market
leader report
A restaurant industry study of more than 550 decision makers
9%
Probably Not
Will your operation invest in new technology in the next 12 months?
March 2025
34%
Definitely
Nearly nine in 10 operators plan to invest in technology in the coming year, including one in three who “definitely” will.
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Opportunities are everywhere across a typical restaurant for gaining efficiencies with technology, yet business leaders must prioritize certain areas for their limited IT budgets. While around one in six operators say they get the best return for their tech investment when upgrading their digital-marketing and back-office systems, most agreed that the front of house and back of house are where they prefer to start.
Where Restaurants Target Tech Investments
Key Findings
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2025 Restaurant
Technology Outlook
88%
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Only 20% of respondents say they spend less than 8 hours.
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A full 30% of respondents dedicate 8 to 16 hours.
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50% of respondents said they allocate more than 16 hours, or two full workdays.
operators say they get the greatest bang for their buck investing in technology for the front of house or back of house.
3 in 5
25%
Possibly
Presented in partnership with:
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OpenTable is a global leader in restaurant tech, helping 60,000+ restaurants worldwide fill 1.8 billion seats a year. From reservations to guest relationship management, OpenTable’s world-class tools help restaurants focus on what matters: their guests, team, and bottom line.
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QSR Automations is a global industry leader in kitchen automation, guest management, and off-premise technology. Used in 21 of the nation’s top 25 casual dining chains, ConnectSmart leverages data to create purposeful solutions that make calmer kitchens, simpler workflows, and happier guests.
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Placer.ai is the most advanced location analytics platform describing physical locations, the people and businesses that interact with them, and the markets they inhabit.
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As a leading innovator of conversational intelligence, SoundHound AI offers an independent voice AI platform that enables restaurants and businesses across industries to deliver best-in-class conversational experiences to their customers.
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Restaurants run better on Esper. We deliver mobile device management (MDM) software that will save you time and money. Easy to deploy and even easier to use, Esper makes running your restaurant hardware (like point of sale and self-ordering kiosk devices) a piece of cake.
See how your tech stacks up
Foodservice leaders are in the market for upgraded hardware, difference-making data sets, and new software, meaning that technology will enable more than just the sales growth and the cost savings that operators always seek. Decision makers will also be looking for ways they can use their performance and customer data to make informed decisions about strategy and to keep their brands relevant as foodservice evolves.
Nation’s Restaurant News and Restaurant Business surveyed more than 550 people from
across the industry to study their needs and planned upgrades for their technology stacks.
Operators Weigh How Best to Scale Their Capabilities
Insights Report
Uncover the latest tech insights
Foodservice operators need their investments in technology to pay off in various ways, from driving top-line sales to saving on food and labor costs via increased efficiency. Most often, they focus on the front-of-house and back-of-house as the areas of their business that get the greatest returns from upgraded technology, though some target their investments on digital-marketing solutions to elevate their brand reach outside the four walls.
NRN Intelligence surveyed more than 550 operators, spanning every style of service and every size of brand, for their investment strategies and priorities.
Targeting Tech Upgrades for Maximum Impact
Insights Report
4% No
29% Probably
