Research by industry
Restaurant Technology Research
Explore Starfleet Research studies on how restaurants choose and use technology, from point of sale and ordering to forecasting, cost control and day-to-day operations.
Selected findings
What the research found
The findings below come from Starfleet Research eBooks that draw on surveys of restaurant operators and technology practitioners. The figures describe what respondents reported.
Forecasting confidence
18%of surveyed restaurant operators were very confident in their ability to forecast sales, labor needs or guest traffic daily or weekly.
Source: The Restaurant Optimization Playbook · Study sample: 379 qualified respondents
Handheld ordering
79%of surveyed operators using handheld ordering devices said those devices were integrated with their kitchen displays.
Source: The Restaurant Optimization Playbook · Study sample: 379 qualified respondents
System failures
70%of surveyed restaurant operators reported losing revenue when critical systems failed.
Source: At the Edge: Powering Peak Restaurant Performance · Study sample: 253 qualified respondents
Systems integration
20%of surveyed restaurant owners and operators said their technology systems were fully integrated.
Source: At the Edge: Powering Peak Restaurant Performance · Study sample: 253 qualified respondents
Kiosk wait times
76%of surveyed kiosk-enabled restaurants in the quick-service study reported shorter waits.
Source: The Future of Fast · Study sample: 264 qualified respondents
Bar tabs
59%of surveyed handheld users in the bar and taproom study reported an increase in average tab size.
Source: Raising the Bar
Selected publications
Explore the studies
These publications are a small selection from our restaurant technology research, which spans restaurant operations, profitability and the guest experience.
Research eBook
The Restaurant Optimization Playbook
A look at real-time visibility, forecasting and the technology decisions that affect restaurant margins.
Research eBook
At the Edge: Powering Peak Restaurant Performance
How local computing and system design can help restaurants keep operating through disruptions.
Research eBook
Raising the Bar
How bars, taprooms and brewpubs use handheld ordering and other technology to streamline service.
Read the findings on RTN
Smart Decision Guide
Smart Decision Guide to Restaurant Management and POS Systems
How to evaluate restaurant management and POS systems, from ordering and payments to reporting and integrations.
Research eBook
The Future of Fast
How quick-service and fast-casual restaurants use handheld ordering, self-service kiosks and performance dashboards.
Read the findings on RTN
Research eBook
Built for the Cloud: Using New Data-Driven Technologies to Reduce Restaurant Food Costs
How cloud-based tools and better data can help restaurants manage food costs.
Research eBook
How Top-Performing Restaurants Optimize the Guest Experience
How restaurant technology can improve the guest experience.
Research eBook
Recapturing Catering Revenue: Technology’s Vital Role
How technology can help restaurants rebuild their catering business.
Research coverage
The decisions behind the research
Ordering and payments
Compare POS, handhelds and kiosks in the context of how orders move from guests to the kitchen.
Profitability and planning
Examine how operators use data to forecast demand, manage labor and protect margins.
Technology reliability
Assess how integration and local computing affect a restaurant’s ability to keep serving guests when systems fail.
Keep up with restaurant technology
Visit Restaurant Technology News for industry news, analysis and stories about technology in use. To see what we’re studying next or take part in a survey, explore our upcoming research.