The restaurant industry is entering a defining moment in its digital transformation journey. After years of rapid adoption, from delivery platforms to AI-assisted ordering and automated kitchen operations, operators are now shifting their focus from βwhat technology should we use?β to βhow do we integrate it, scale it, and ensure it delivers real ROI?β
As AI matures, automation becomes more accessible, and data security takes on greater importance, 2025 is shaping up to be the year restaurants refine and consolidate their digital foundations.
Against this backdrop, the newly released Restaurant Technology Outlook 2025 offers timely insights into how operators are reassessing their tech investments and operational strategies.
Bringing the Insights to Life at FutureFWD 2026
This yearβs findings also come at a meaningful moment for us at FHA. With technology now influencing everything from guest experience to back-of-house workflows, we are introducing FutureFWD, a new dedicated edition at FHA 2026 focused entirely on innovation in hospitality, foodservice, and retail.
Many of the themes highlighted in the report, such as AI readiness, fragmented tech stacks, growing data pressures, and the need for a more digitally confident workforce, are the same topics shaping the FutureFWD agenda.
The conversations operators are having around the world are the same ones we will be bringing to the stage next April.
To see whatβs lined up, you can view the FutureFWD agenda here:
https://www.foodnhotelasia.com/futurefwd-agenda/
If you would like to be part of these discussions and connect directly with the leaders shaping the next wave of hospitality and foodservice technology, registration for FutureFWD is now open.
Click here to register now!
Inside the Report: Key Themes Shaping Restaurant Technology in 2025
Now in its third annual edition, the Restaurant Technology Outlook 2025 examines how more than 550 restaurant operators across different segments are approaching digital transformation in the year ahead.
This includes how they are adopting AI, managing integration challenges, strengthening workforce readiness, using data, and addressing operational pressures.
The report highlights several major themes, including shifting investment priorities, widening differences in AI readiness, and growing concerns around data silos, API limitations, and the complexity of managing multiple systems.
It also looks at how confident operators feel about using data effectively, and what they need to turn information into useful action.
A segment-by-segment comparison reveals how Limited-Service Restaurants, Full-Service Restaurants, and independent operators differ in digital maturity, priorities, and constraints.
These distinctions offer a clearer picture of where the industry is heading in 2025.
The report also includes perspectives from senior industry leaders such as:
- Brian Wayne, VP of Customer Success, QSR Automations, on building a flexible tech stack
- Jeff Loukas, VP of Product-AI for Restaurants, SoundHound AI, on real-world AI applications
- Keith Szot, Chief Evangelist, Esper, on securing your digital ecosystem
- R.J. Hottovy, Head of Analytical Research, Placer.ai, on mastering data strategy
- Scott Hudson, VP of Global Sales and Services, OpenTable, on blending tech and hospitality
Together, these viewpoints provide a comprehensive look at the opportunities, challenges, and considerations shaping the next chapter of restaurant technology.
Download the Brochure to Read More: https://www.foodnhotelasia.com/futurefwd-download-collaterals/
This report is brought to you by Saladplate.
