Survey: Most restaurant operators view technology as key for future success
Restaurant operators view technology investments as important, but cost remains a barrier to integration.
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, according to research from the National Restaurant Association. 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.
