News

Study: Technology as important as food for QSRs

October 7, 2016

The quick-service restaurant industry is primed to go all in for all types of technology, with particular emphasis on digital signage and front-of-house POS systems, according to a new reportlinker study.

The findings indicate QSR operators as a group, view technological investment as nothing short of a business necessity in food service these days where customers are demanding faster, easier service regardless of what kinds of food they're ordering. The survey found heavy activity would be the rule for restaurants seeking to purchase or even upgrade technological solutions. This trend is driven by QSR operators' growing need for front- and back-end operations data analytics and mobile device-related technology that will grow their businesses. 

The report reveals hardware segment growth will be driven by kiosk and signage replacement purchases for quick service. In the software segment, upgrades and new system purchases will grow as restaurants restructure daily business operations to accommodate software applications that enhance each business' profit margin, according to a news release.

The report highlights purchasing trends in five hardware segments, including signage, kiosks, point of sales, handheld devices, and digital menu cards. Software is studied in the categories of front-of-house, inventory management, reconciliation, labor management, HR software, data analytics, marketing, restaurant operation, support operation and franchise management. 

Food service's overall growing dependency on social and  digital media marketing will drive sales in those sectors, which are now seen as critical to overall QSR success. Additionally, the report finds many customers choose QSRs that offer self-service options like kiosks, because they believe it will reduce wait times — a pain point for the millennial demographic.  

Significant expansion is anticipated for the sales of POS systems, kiosks, handheld devices, signage systems, digital menu cards, as well as data analytics related to marketing and front-of-house operations.

Finally, the report includes information about the competitive strategies of key QSR players in the U.S., as well as an IT price trend analysis for both the purchase and annual maintenance of software through 2024. Top QSR hardware solutions manufacturers studied, include: 
•    Panasonic Corp.
•    NEC Display Solutions of America, Inc.
•    LG Display Co. Ltd.
•    Oracle Corp.
•    VeriFone Systems, Inc.
•    NCR Corporation
•    PAR Technology Corporation
•    Revel Systems, Inc.
•    HM Electronics, Inc.
•    Delphi Display Systems Inc.