November 25, 2025
The restaurant industry in 2026 is set for a technological overhaul, and the adoption of innovative tools is becoming a necessity, not a luxury. While traditional methods still dominate, the shift towards tech-enabled solutions, like AI-powered POS systems and seamless online ordering integrations, is already reshaping the system.
With 58% of customers preferring to order delivery directly from a restaurant’s app or website, restaurants must adapt to stay competitive. This is achievable by embracing the latest restaurant technology trends, which not only improve the customer experience but also optimize operations for increased profitability.
In this blog, we explore the top 10 restaurant technology trends for 2025-26 that every restaurant owner should know to stay ahead.
In North America, the restaurant technology journey started with manual cash registers and pen‑and‑paper order tickets, shifted in the 1980s and 1990s to PC‑based and early touchscreen POS systems that handled basic sales and reporting. By the 2010s, cloud‑based POS and mobile ordering apps enabled restaurants to accept online, delivery, and in‑store orders through one system.
Today, the technology wave has moved far beyond transaction systems: restaurants now rely on AI analytics, automated kitchens, real‑time menu control, and full channel integration, turning the guest experience, kitchen operations, and back‑office into one connected ecosystem.
Let’s take a look at the most impactful restaurant‑technology trends shaping 2025‑26, from commission‑free direct ordering to AI‑backed operations and cybersecurity. In the following sections, we’ll explore each trend in detail and show how they drive measurable results for restaurant owners.
Third‑party delivery platforms routinely charge restaurants 15–30% of each order in commissions. Shifting to in‑house or first-party online ordering systems, like those offering commission-free online ordering, gives restaurant owners back control of both margin and customer data. With this move, your brand retains the customer relationship, pricing power, and promotional flexibility, all while avoiding high fees that erode profit.
Most restaurants, 55% use AI daily for inventory and demand forecasting, and another 25% are testing these capabilities. Technologies like these improve staffing decisions, reduce food waste, and optimize labor expenses.
For example, a system that forecasts busy windows can schedule fewer staff during slow periods, or prompt re‑ordering of key ingredients only when needed.
Platforms such as iOrders’ AI‑powered review system take these insights further, automating responses to feedback and integrating sentiment into operational workflows without being another tool you must juggle.
This trend involves restaurants offering customers a mobile or online ordering option, followed by contactless payment and access to a digital menu that updates instantly. According to the National Restaurant Association, 68% of limited‑service restaurant diners in the U.S. would choose mobile or contactless payment if available.
For restaurant owners, this means shorter checkout times, fewer errors in order entry, and realigning staff focus from payment processing to higher-value customer engagement.
Restaurants using iOrders can set up their own branded white-label mobile app and website, allowing customers to place orders and make payments securely via their phone screen.
Robotic systems and restaurant automated kitchen equipment are gaining strong momentum in North America’s restaurant sector. According to a report by the National Restaurant Association, restaurants are turning to robotics and automation “to save labor, trim costs, and generate more profit.”
Another market‑research overview shows that the North American kitchen‑robotics market is expected to reach $2.86 billion by the end of 2025.
For restaurant owners, these technologies deliver measurable impact by standardizing output, reducing labor‑heavy processes and waste, and supporting scalability without simply adding headcount. Automation also enables tighter cost control in high‑volume kitchens where staffing is a challenge.
As delivery demand continues to rise, restaurants are integrating delivery services directly into their POS systems. This integration allows restaurants to manage orders and track deliveries without relying on third-party platforms, thus saving on commission fees and offering better service.
Many restaurant owners find that while third-party services offer convenience, they lack the direct control over delivery times, service quality, and customer interactions. This is where iOrders’ Delivery-as-a-Service (DaaS) model helps.
It empowers restaurants to have customers order directly from their own platforms, offering the same benefits as costly third-party platforms, without the hefty commissions.
Real‑time menu control focuses on enabling restaurants to update menu items, pricing, and availability across all channels instantly, whether someone orders in‑store, via mobile, or online.
Modern systems now extend this concept into an automatic menu ordering system, where the menu reflects current inventory, demand, or ingredient costs without manual intervention.
For restaurant owners, this means:
This trend covers restaurants shifting away from siloed systems (separate POS, inventory, ordering, loyalty) to unified, cloud‑hosted platforms where front‑of‑house, back‑of‑house, and online ordering systems share data and workflows.
Cloud platforms allow remote management, centralized reporting, and faster scale‑up across locations. According to industry analysis, the movement toward cloud‑based POS and integrated stacks is accelerating as operators seek operational consistency and data visibility.
With a unified tech stack in the cloud, your restaurant can monitor key metrics from anywhere and reduce hardware/maintenance overhead. For growing chains or multi‑site operations, this removes complexity and delivers stronger brand control.
Also Read: How To Grow A Cloud Kitchen Successfully In 2025?
Restaurants are increasingly embracing smart kitchen systems equipped with IoT sensors, connected appliances, and real‑time dashboards to monitor equipment, track inventory, and manage energy usage. Studies show IoT‑enabled kitchens can cut food waste by 60% and save energy by 10-15% through precise tracking of ingredients and shelf life.
These systems alert kitchen staff when inventory is low, temperature thresholds are breached, or equipment requires maintenance, allowing owners to fix issues before they escalate.
According to Restaurant Technology News, “Using IoT, restaurants can monitor equipment in real time, automate processes and optimize stock management.”
As labor costs rise and competition tightens, smart kitchen tech helps restaurants maintain consistent output, reduce waste, and scale operations without simply adding more staff.
With dining, ordering, and payment every bit as digital as apparel shopping or banking, restaurant operators are now defending a barrage of data points, customer payment information, loyalty profiles, POS‑system logs, and delivery integrations.
One recent IBM “Cost of a Data Breach Report” found the average hospitality‑sector breach reached US $3.82 million. Investing in cybersecurity and data privacy is no longer a “nice” add‑on; it’s an operational necessity for restaurant owners. This shift means:
For restaurant owners in Canada and North America, embracing a “privacy‑first” tech stance safeguards not just data but brand standing and long‑term profitability.
Personalized dining experiences are creating an edge over others in the restaurant industry, with customers increasingly expecting tailored experiences. According to a recent survey, 70% of diners prefer restaurants that offer personalized smart menu recommendations based on their preferences and past orders.
For restaurant owners, this trend goes beyond customizing menus; it’s about using data-driven insights to create meaningful, targeted engagement with guests.
With platforms that capture customer behavior and preferences, restaurants can automate personalized communication and promotions.
For example, iOrders' Smart Campaigns and Managed Marketing Services allow owners to set up automatic, customized rewards for birthdays, anniversaries, or even favorite dishes, directly based on customer data. This improves customer retention and drives higher lifetime value by turning occasional diners into regulars.
Ready to upgrade your tech toolkit? Here are smart practices to help restaurant owners roll out new technologies smoothly.
The restaurant industry is evolving, and technology is playing a central role in shaping its future. From commission-free online ordering systems to AI-powered analytics and smart kitchen technology, adopting the latest restaurant tech trends for 2025‑26 is no longer optional for owners looking to stay competitive. These innovations help restaurant owners streamline operations, reduce costs, and deliver a more personalized experience for customers.
iOrders is helping restaurants adopt the latest trends with powerful features like commission-free online ordering. The platform also bypasses third-party delivery platforms and gains full control over customer interactions.
iOrders also offers QR code and website ordering, making it easier for customers to place orders directly from the restaurant’s branded online presence. With these tools, restaurant owners can reduce reliance on costly third-party services and maintain control over their pricing, branding, and customer data.
Book a free demo today to explore how iOrders can streamline your ordering process.
1. What is the next big food trend in 2025?
Restaurants are prioritizing direct‑to‑consumer ordering models, upgraded kitchen automation, and sustainable menus that cater to value‑conscious consumers seeking convenience and transparency.
2. How will technology shape food in 2025?
Technologies like AI analytics, IoT‑enabled kitchens, and cloud‑based ordering systems will drive smarter inventory and staffing decisions, reduce costs, and allow restaurants to respond in real time to demand shifts.
3. What is the Gen Z trend in food?
Gen Z diners are embracing flexitarian diets, global flavor mash‑ups, and social‑media‑driven snack trends, while favoring dining experiences from brands that align with sustainability and authenticity.
4. What are the kitchen design trends for 2026?
Kitchen layouts in 2026 will emphasize automation readiness (robotic cooking stations), real‑time monitoring with IoT sensors, and modular workzones that adapt quickly to delivery vs. dine‑in demand shifts.
5. What is the Food Wise 2025 strategy?
The Food Wise 2025 plan is a ten‑year strategy from Ireland’s Agri‑Food sector focused on "Local Roots, Global Reach,” boosting value‑added exports, sustainable growth, and innovation through the food supply chain.
