NCR: Restaurants say technology impacts revenue

Duluth, Ga. - A majority of restaurant owners and managers believe that technology has a direct impact on increased revenue.



According to the 2015 NCR Restaurant Technology Pulse, 67% of respondents say technology helps drive revenue growth and 35% of restaurants are more dependent on tech tools compared to a year ago.



While the majority of respondents are experiencing a positive impact on profits, only 31% of respondents have an internal employee who can manage technology for their business. Furthermore, a majority of respondents (83%) ranked costs to maintain or upgrade technology as one of the biggest obstacles that keep them from upgrading to new technologies. More than half (53%) also stated they lack the staff to manage IT upgrades.



Despite challenges, technology still plays a significant role for restaurant owners and management. Sixty-two percent of respondents view technology as “important” or “very important” to their businesses. When looking at which solutions they relied on most, mobile POS systems outranked mobile apps:



• Cash registers (91%)

• Wi-Fi (74%)

• Mobile point-of-sale (60%)

• Accounting software (58%)

• Inventory management (54%)

• Time clock software (53%)

• Voice and broadband services (52%)

• Mobile apps (42%)



Eighty-nine percent of respondents attributed cash registers and credit card readers to boosting productivity at their business. Eighty-four percent said Wi-Fi improves efficiency, and 78% said the same about mobile POS solutions.



Additionally, more restaurants are going online as a way to connect with current and potential customers. Almost 70% of the surveyed restaurants have accounts on social media, and 63% have traditional websites.



Only 17% of the respondents still lack an online presence. At the same time, 81% of respondents do not offer their menu items through mobile takeout apps like GrubHub and Eat24.