So, with a new year on the horizon and digital advancements continuing to grow\u2026 <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here are the five restaurant technology trends we\u2019re expecting in 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1 \u2014 Artificial Intelligence (AI Solutions for Staff Shortages)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
AI has been used in the restaurant industry for over a decade, albeit with more humble beginnings; think less \u201crobots of the future\u201d and more automated voice systems<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, since 2020 \u2014 and the unprecedented events that came with it \u2014 AI has skyrocketed in popularity. Now, AI remains one of the hottest technology trends the restaurant industry has ever seen\u2026 and we don\u2019t see that slowing down in 2026. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Restaurant AI is evolving on an (almost) daily basis, with tech providers constantly upgrading AI\u2019s use cases to better solve industry-wide problems \u2014 like the restaurant staffing crisis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The National Restaurant Association (NRA) reported staffing as one of the leading challenges across restaurant segments in 2025, with 77% of operators<\/a> naming \u201crecruiting and retaining employees [as] a significant challenge for their businesses.\u201d And, even for operators that do<\/em> have job openings, they\u2019re not always easy to hire for. 59% of operators<\/a> report having openings that are hard to fill, especially chef and cook positions at full-service restaurants.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Luckily, that\u2019s exactly where AI can help. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Restaurant owners can now look toward AI-powered solutions<\/a> to bolster less-than-ideal staffing levels, from automating customer service<\/a> with AI chatbots to reducing staffing pressure with digital and self-serve ordering<\/a> options.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n In 2026, we expect to see further exploration of how AI can relieve the restaurant industry\u2019s staffing struggle, with new, tech-first solutions that eliminate the need for constant hiring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With country-wide restrictions limiting dine-in abilities over the past few years, it\u2019s no surprise that guest preferences have changed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n And, in 2025, diners told us their preferences loud and clear: they want more out of their restaurant experiences than before (especially Gen Zs<\/a>).\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n In June 2025<\/a>, Yelp explored search data to see what people were looking for in the restaurants they dined at. Their data<\/a> showed a boost in consumer searches for dining experiences,<\/em> with increases in terms like \u201cLe Petit Chef\u201d (+509%) and \u201cHibachi catering\u201d (+55%), among others.\u00a0 Menu Matters also reported that today\u2019s consumers just want \u201csomething brand new<\/a>\u201d from restaurants \u2014 because they\u2019re tired of seeing the same old stuff from every business.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n So, how can you combine new experiences with exclusivity?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tech-powered customization (like a Craver app<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Leveraging restaurant technology like mobile apps or online ordering puts the power of customization in your guests\u2019 hands. Not only does this make it easier for your guests to upgrade their order with add-ons or edit for allergies and preferences, but it also allows them to enjoy that sense of exclusivity through \u201csecret menu\u201d customizations<\/a> or \u201capp only\u201d options.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to respondents from Menu Matters\u2019 2025 Need State of the Year Report<\/a>, restaurants need to remember that \u201ca good dining experience can make or break a meal,\u201d so creating \u201cmemorable dining experiences\u201d should always be top of mind \u2014 something tech-powered customization can really help with.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n In 2026, we expect to see a lot more restaurants jumping on exclusive, technology-powered customization trends with mobile apps and exclusive recommendations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using technology to automate restaurant operations has been on the industry\u2019s radar for years. <\/p>\n\n\n\n But, in 2025, many of those tech-powered automations turned from futuristic ideas to time- and money-saving realities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Take Chipotle, for example. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In August 2025<\/a>, the Mexican food brand announced a new tech partnership with Cava, testing out the tech brand\u2019s \u201crobotic makeline technology.\u201d Throughout this year, Chipotle will be testing out Cava\u2019s automated makelines, a move that CEO Brett Schulman says will help \u201c[free] workers on [the] back-of-house lines<\/a>\u201d so they can focus more on \u201cconsumer-facing work.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n We\u2019ve also seen industry-wide shifts toward ordering-focused automation, especially self-service tech like touch-screen kiosks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n According to Tillster\u2019s 2025 Phygital Index Report<\/a>, consumers seem to prefer self-service kiosks for ordering, too. 61% of respondents said they want to see more<\/em> kiosks in the restaurants they eat at because they\u2019re more accurate, more convenient, and faster.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n And, the cherry on top of the \u201cautomation benefits\u201d cake? 72% of kiosk users<\/a> have noticed their order sizes increase when they order on a kiosk \u2014 a huge opportunity for restaurants to boost average order size without extra labor or overhead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Because of automation\u2019s ability to save operators and diners time, money, and effort, we expect to see more innovative restaurant automation solutions in 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In their 2025 State of Subscriptions Report<\/a>, Recurly shared that \u201csubscriber counts across industries have grown by 15.4% year over year.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n With subscription growth of that caliber \u2014 and with 44% of diners<\/a> ordering takeout and\/or delivery at least once a week \u2014 it wasn\u2019t long before restaurants connected the dots and launched their own restaurant subscription programs.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Throughout the year, we\u2019ve seen a ton of success from \u201cOG\u201d restaurant subscriptions like Panera\u2019s \u201cUnlimited Sip Club.\u201d <\/a>\u00a0But we\u2019ve also seen some new-and-improved restaurant subscriptions hit the market \u2014 like Pret A Manger\u2019s revamped Club Pret.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n In mid-2024<\/a>, Pret A Manger announced they\u2019d be ditching their existing Club Pret subscription model, where \u00a330\/month got members up to five discounted drinks a day and a 10% discount on food. Then, in early 2025<\/a>, the brand new Club Pret officially launched, offering members up to 50% off five drinks a day for just \u00a35 a mon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And, while it\u2019s obvious that the new Club Pret subscription is extra appealing for consumers, it\u2019s been delivering great results for the brand, too. In Q3 2025, Pret announced a 10% increase in growth<\/a> from last year, thanks to a new strategy that \u201cdoubles down\u201d onconsumer value.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOur priority will be to drive transactions and sustainable growth by offering great value for money for Pret customers,\u201d said the brand\u2019s CEO, Pano Christou<\/a>. \u201c[In coming years, our] focus will be on growing Pret\u2019s market share in the UK and internationally.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n In 2026, we\u2019re looking forward to more coffee shop subscriptions as operators explore how effectively this strategy marries customer benefits with guaranteed monthly income.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When stay-at-home orders were in full swing, many of us saw delivery cars and bikes dropping off our dinner orders\u2026 but what if it was a drone instead? <\/p>\n\n\n\n The development of advanced delivery systems \u2014 like drones \u2014 has been underway for years, with restaurants like El Pollo Loco testing drone delivery since 2021<\/a>. However, 2025 saw these delivery systems go from \u201cstill in development\u201d to launching and succeeding, with companies like Flytrex even hitting milestones like \u201c[delivering] over 200,000 meals to suburban housholds<\/a>\u201d (and counting).\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n And, if you\u2019re a restaurant operator whose jam isn\u2019t drone delivery, don\u2019t worry \u2014 this year has seen other, more grounded delivery advancements, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For example, Relay Delivery \u2014 a company offering courier services for restaurant delivery\u2014 has risen in popularity this year, most notably because of its commission-free, money-saving, and power-restoring features<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n While Relay might be less \u201cadvanced\u201d than drone delivery technologically, the company\u2019s unique take on delivery is advanced in other ways. Unlike other third-party apps, Relay gives you access<\/a> to all of your customer data, preferences, and order histories. They also pay their couriers ethically and integrate seamlessly into your restaurant\u2019s new (or existing) mobile app<\/a>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n So, whether you\u2019re testing out drone delivery or just want more advanced ground delivery, we anticipate the adoption and refinement of exciting new delivery systems to continue in 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Since the beginning of 2025, the restaurant industry has undergone massive changes, from better online ordering and new subscription models to AI automation and advanced delivery. <\/p>\n\n\n\n But, despite the ebbs and flows in any given year, the restaurant industry saw a ton of growth this past year \u2014 especially in the restaurant technology department. <\/p>\n\n\n\n And, if this year\u2019s digital advancements are any indication of what\u2019s to come\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n Then we\u2019re extra excited to see what 2026 has in store.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Looking to stay ahead in 2026? See how a custom-branded mobile app from Craver can propel your restaurant into the future.<\/p>\n\n\n2 \u2014 Hyper-Personalized Ordering Experiences<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Craver](\"https:\/\/www.getcraver.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Craver-App-Customization-Trends.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n3 \u2014 More Restaurant Automation Trends<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"McDonalds](\"https:\/\/www.getcraver.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/McDonalds-self-serve-kiosks.-.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n4 \u2014\u00a0 Coffee Subscription Models Adapted for Restaurants<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
5 \u2014 Advanced Delivery Systems<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Drone](\"https:\/\/www.getcraver.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Drone-Delivery-Trend.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nLooking Ahead to The Future of Restaurant Technology<\/h2>\n\n\n\n