In today's rapidly evolving restaurant industry, operators are facing unprecedented challenges that threaten their ability to deliver exceptional dining experiences and maintain profitability. From consumer spending cuts to labor shortages, the hurdles are significant. The right technology can address these challenges head-on, empowering restaurants to thrive in a competitive market. Explore how a platform-first software architecture benefits restaurants by tackling key pain points, delivering exceptional value and revolutionizing operations for smarter, more efficient management.

Key pain points and challenges for restaurants today

With consumer spending cuts and inconsistent customer experiences, restaurants are struggling to maintain their competitive edge. Labor shortages and margin pressures add additional obstacles for operators working to meet customer demand and protect their revenue. Some of the key pain points and challenges restaurants are facing include:  

• Consumer spending cuts: 46% of consumers have cut back on eating out
• Customer loyalty decline: 45% of operators anticipate increased competition this year
• Inconsistent customer experiences: 44% of operators say the lack of a clear customer data strategy is a roadblock to providing a good customer experience across channels
• Labor challenges: 62% of operators can't staff up to meet demand
• Margin pressure: There has been a 30% increase in both average food costs and average restaurant wages over the past five years
• Revenue protection: 39% of operators say their restaurant was not profitable in 2024, and 89% of operators expect wages to keep climbing over the next 12 months

How platform-enabled software addresses these challenges head on

A platform-first technology strategy addresses these common pain points and supports restaurants in their efforts to thrive. By leveraging innovative solutions, platform technology provides the tools and capabilities needed to tackle these challenges effectively.

• Attracting new customers in cost-effective ways: Integrating smart capabilities within menu management to optimize pricing and promotions ‍
• Engaging customers and maximizing revenue: Implementing software-enabled secure payments to allow brands to expand their service methods for guests ‍
• Managing omni-channel experiences seamlessly: Centralized order management and an omni-channel open check service for both in-store and above-store use ‍
• Operating more efficiently with less staff: Utilizing a smart kitchen with predictive capacity management and promise times, integrated with robotic use cases ‍
• Leveraging data for better decision-making: Employing predictive analytics and embedded benchmark data for improved operational control over inventory, as well as utilizing LLM-enabled recommendations for next-best actions within the restaurant

Helping restaurants win today and transform for the future

Using a platform approach has revolutionized how restaurants operate and how technology enables their efficiency and success. By ensuring data ubiquity and seamless access to microservices, the platform supports each customer's unique business strategy. It offers flexibility and choice, allowing our customers to select the best solutions for their key pain points.

This platform-first strategy decouples capabilities from the point of sale (POS) and transitions them to the cloud, enabling operators to centrally manage their omnichannel data and experiences, accelerating innovation cycles and increasing uptime. The POS is now a mere entry endpoint, rather than the central component of the store architecture as it has been used historically. The result of this platform approach is that brands are now enabled to fully own their unique and differentiating experiences through a cloud-based transaction engine that unifies and streamlines order, payment and menu data across all channels, whether staff or guest.

Today, restaurant operators are facing headwinds; fleeting customer loyalty, inconsistent customer experiences and consumer spending cuts are preventing brands from being able to own the experience. Restaurants big and small need to be able to meet these challenges head-on. With the right tools and technology partner, they can win today and transform their restaurant for the future.

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