Recently, Hospitality Technology released its 27th annual 2025 Restaurant Technology Study, a yearly survey that follows its MURTEC conference. This premier annual event is all about restaurant technology and innovation and is considered the gold standard for education and networking.
So, what did this year’s survey reveal in the ever-changing world of ResTech?
It uncovered the top strategy goals for tech investment, what restaurant operators are investing in, and why.
Let’s see what they have to say.
Technology Budgets Remain Unchanged
While 58% of survey respondents noted their IT budgets will increase, 33% said the increase would be less than 5%. During a panel discussion at MURTEC 2025, industry experts discussed why the tech budgets remain relatively unchanged.
According to David Naumann, a thought leader and influencer in the restaurant and retail industries, part of the issue is our economy and the uncertainty revolving around tariffs and inflation. Restaurants are looking keenly at the ROI before investing in technology.
Amber Trendell, Senior Director of Strategy at Oracle Restaurants, believes tightening budgetary constraints may have a silver lining, prompting operators to look at what technology isn’t working and providing a meaningful return on their investment. This ROI, however, is not always clearly visible or quantifiable. The key is demonstrating how adopting technologies has resulted in improved business outcomes.
For example, TABLZ enhances the guest experience for a small fee by providing them with a 3D journey that allows them to select their ideal table. This tech is readily justifiable, enabling operators to clearly see the elevated experience for their guests and the corresponding revenue.
Top Tech Investment Goals
The three main goals for tech investment include:
- Improve Digital Customer Engagement: 61% of respondents are putting their money on the line to improve the digital experience for their customers.
- Reduce Costs: 42% are investing in tech as a means to reduce costs.
- Improve Business Analytics: 39% want to see business analytics improve.
Digital Customer Engagement
According to Sid Shetty, a technology expert known for his work on digital infrastructure projects, while takeout and third-party delivery used to account for 5% of a restaurant’s business, now it accounts for about 30%. This changing landscape results in the loss of the direct relationship. For this reason, improving digital customer engagement is essential. For Trendell, this means promoting ways to engage that are authentic and experiential, such as voting on a new menu item.
Naumann suggests that this direct connection and the process of building a better relationship with your customers may lead to them ordering directly from the restaurant. This removes the third party and gives restaurants access to their customer data.
Enhancing the Customer Experience
At EMERGING Fund, we invest in restaurant technology, leaning heavily toward the tech that enhances the guest experience and the human connection. This was one of the biggest concerns in the industry as technology became more prominent. Would ResTech take away from this connection, one of the essential ingredients to our success and our guests’ happiness?
Time has proven that the right technology can improve the customer experience in ways that are impossible without it.
For instance, generative AI that can detect sentiment is helping staff optimize their workflow. It’s taking over job processes that don’t require humans so that staff can spend more time with customers instead of performing menial tasks.
Another way AI is gaining traction is through training. An example is 1Huddle, an AI-powered game-based training app for staff that up-skills employees while making it fun.
Reducing Costs
According to SevenRooms’ recent annual U.S. Restaurant Trends Report, 79% of operators are using AI, and of those that are, 99% are seeing benefits. These benefits include increasing guest satisfaction, greater team efficiency, and reduced operational costs.
Improve Business Analytics
Data and information tend to be fragmented. It comes from review sites, the POS system, surveys, loyalty programs, and social media platforms. Turning to technology that can consolidate this data and provide a bird’s-eye view leads to less confusion and more actionable insights.
We’re excited to be a part of this transformational period in our industry. To learn more about the EMERGING Fund and our growing portfolio, contact EMERGING.
