Survey: Majority of restaurant operators view technology as key for future success
Restaurant operators view technology investments as important, but cost remains a barrier to integration.
According to new research from the National Restaurant Association, more than three-quarters (77.9%) of operators expect technology, automation, data and AI to be at least “moderately critical" to their businesses over the next five years. Training and education (56.5%) top the list of support they say would help them adopt these tools more effectively.
The top obstacle for adopting or expanding technology is cost, cited by almost half (48.8%) of those surveyed. This is followed by business fit and value (43.8%), workforce and expertise gaps (41.3%) and integration challenges (38.8%).
More than a third (38.6%) of restaurant operators surveyed reported using AI tools for their business. When asked about their attitude toward AI, 42.4% said they're cautious, and 26.2% said they're excited about the technology.
Only 3.2% are implementing AI projects companywide, while 20% are running small-scale pilots. Complexity (46.1%), cost (43.5%) and customer acceptance (41.9%) are among operators’ top AI concerns.
Nearly half of operators (47.6%) expect technology, automation, data and AI to improve labor productivity at their restaurants. More than a third (37.2%) said they expect employee roles to shift toward greater technology skills.
Despite some roadblocks, restaurant operators still believe technology is beneficial overall for their operations. Nearly two-thirds (65%) say technology has a positive impact on the hospitality their restaurants provide.
[READ MORE: Survey: Restaurant operators raise prices amid steep cost increases]
"Restaurant technology is shifting from tools operators use to intelligence that helps run the business," said Michelle Korsmo, president & CEO of the National Restaurant Association. "Operators are skilled at adopting technology to solve individual problems, from ordering and payments to scheduling and inventory. This research will give those operators a practical way to look at their current technology stack with an eye to evolving it so the combined information across all their tools speeds up decision-making and elevates hospitality."
For its report, the National Restaurant Association surveyed 212 restaurant operators June 18 - July 18 about their use of technology, automation and data.
Founded in 1919, the National Restaurant Association is a leading business association for the restaurant industry, which comprises more than 1 million restaurant and foodservice outlets and a workforce of 15.7 million employees.
