Let’s look at the top technology trends in the restaurant industry we're seeing in 2026 and beyond.

1. More interest in restaurant tech and software

One of the top restaurant trends for 2026 is the growing interest in the different types of restaurant technology. Concepts are constantly looking to improve and connect their restaurant tech stack to streamline daily operations. 

Restaurant tech is a broad term, encompassing everything from reservation management software, kitchen operations tools, analytics and metrics software, inventory management tools, to restaurant marketing automation software. 

2. Reservation and seating solutions

Besides looking for restaurant tech, more dining concepts are looking for advanced reservation, table management, and waitlist software.

The idea is to have a system that can integrate with various tech in the restaurant and reduce front-of-house bottlenecks.

Many concepts are looking for restaurant management software that helps them manage multiple venues, can integrate with restaurant POS systems, and grow with the business. 

Data supports this trend. The global restaurant reservation software market was valued at $2.5 billion in 2024. It’s expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.7% from 2026 to 2033, reaching $5.1 billion in 2033.

3. Data-driven personalization across the guest journey

Personalization in 2026 goes far beyond adding a guest’s name in your campaigns or restaurant newsletter.

McKinsey defines personalization in marketing as “when seller organizations use data to tailor messages to specific users’ preferences.” In restaurants, this applies to both operations and marketing.

In-house personalization (Operational)

F&B tech now enables staff to recognize and serve guests based on real data, not memory.

That looks like:

• Greeting returning guests by name

• Seating them at their preferred table

• Recommending dishes based on previous orders

• Noting dietary preferences or special occasions

This type of restaurant technology turns repeat visits into tailored experiences, increasing satisfaction and average spend per guest.

In terms of marketing restaurant tech trends, we expect more F&B brands to use marketing tools to personalize marketing campaigns. 

Marketing personalization

Personalization also extends beyond the dining room.

Research by McKinsey indicates brands using personalization can reduce their customer acquisition costs (CAC) by “as much as” 50% and boost revenues by 5-15%.

In restaurant marketing, this includes:

• Segmented email campaigns

• Targeted SMS or WhatsApp offers

• Seasonal promotions based on guest behavior

• Loyalty campaigns based on visit frequency

Modern restaurant CRM and customer database software make this possible by tagging and segmenting guests based on preferences, visit history, and spending patterns.

For example, tools like Servme allow restaurants to auto-tag guests (e.g., VIP, Weekend Regular, Sushi Lover) and trigger personalized campaigns directly from the dashboard — aligning operational data with marketing outreach.

Did you know?

Restaurants using Servme create hyper personalized experiences with auto-tags. Concepts can create their own tags like VIP, Monday Regular, Chocolate Lover, among others or use built-in tags to segment guests. This aligns operational data with marketing campaigns, ensuring better conversions.

Further reading: How to Create a Personalized Messaging Strategy for Your Restaurant

4. Increased adoption of AI in the restaurant industry

One restaurant technology trend we're seeing more of in 2026 and in coming years is the use of AI in restaurants.

AI has become a part of our everyday lives. So, it's no surprise it's making its way to the F&B and hospitality industries.

Many dining concepts are adopting AI across chatbots on their websites, customer support, and social media platforms. ChatGPT and Gemini prompts are popular for restaurant owners and marketers, especially in content creation.

5. Contactless payments

Contactless operations, including ordering and payments, continue to be at the top of restaurant owners’ list of tech to explore. 

One reason is that guests are adopting technology faster than restaurants are using them. To keep up with consumer trends and needs, more concepts are turning towards contactless ordering.

Using Near Field Communication (NFC) technology to enable payment solutions like Apple Pay and Google Pay continue to be of interest to restaurants.

In 2025, Servme launched the option to pay with Apple Pay via the Moyasar payment integration. You can book a free consultation to learn more about the availability of this solution for your restaurant.

6. Expanding contactless ordering & digital menus in F&B

Contactless ordering isn’t going anywhere in 2026. QR codes and digital menus have moved from a pandemic solution to a long-term restaurant technology trend.

Research shows 63% of U.S. restaurants plan to invest in QR code technology for menus, ordering, and payments. This signals growing adoption across the industry.

Digital menus and QR ordering help restaurants:

• Reduce printing and operational costs

• Minimize human error from manual order-taking

• Instantly update pricing and limited-time offers

• Launch seasonal or health-focused menu variations

• Create urgency through limited-time items (FOMO)

• Improve tracking through digital menu analytics

This will in no way hinder human hospitality operations. Tech will enhance the human element, helping F&B teams streamline operations to focus on high-value guest interactions that drive satisfaction and repeat visits.

7. Loyalty programs 

More restaurants are looking for ways to boost guest loyalty and retention for their dining concepts.

Research shows a 5% increase in customer retention can boost profits by 25% to up to 95%. Restaurant loyalty programs can help concepts retain guests, boost engagement, generate analytics, and increase restaurant sales.

Further reading: From First-Timer to Regular: A Loyalty Playbook for Restaurants

8. Restaurants will turn to advanced POS systems

An important restaurant tech trend for 2026 involves abandoning legacy point-of-sale (POS) systems. 

Today, the restaurant POS isn’t just for collecting online and offline payments. It's a data tool, providing insights into guest behavior. Especially when integrated with restaurant reservation management systems like Servme. 

POS integrations can help restaurants get data such as previous orders, visit frequency, favorite dishes, and more, across locations.

Further reading: 7+ POS Systems for Restaurants & F&B Operators to Help Grow Business 

9. More restaurants are creating websites 

More concepts will be building their websites, adding their digital menus, and using search engine optimization (SEO) to rank on Google. SEO is important for any business and website that aims to generate organic, unpaid traffic. 

We expect more restaurants to create websites that showcase their venues, locations, menus, and other criteria. Websites are great for building authority and getting more online reservations. 

For example, concepts using Servme can add their reservation widget, get bookings, and collect online deposits and prepayments via their website. 

Further reading: 7 Smart Strategies to Boost Restaurant Website Bookings

10. Self-order kiosks remain a customer-favorite

More common among fast food and quick service restaurants (QSR), self-service kiosks continue to gain popularity, making them an important restaurant tech trend for 2026.

This QSR tech means guests can use touchscreens to place and personalize their orders as needed.

Data shows consumers prefer self-service kiosks when placing orders in QSRs. Nearly 61% say they want more kiosks in the restaurants they visit, citing better accuracy, convenience, and speed.

These kiosks also present a great opportunity for dining concepts to boost average guest spend. 72% of users say they’ve noticed their order sizes increase when ordering via a kiosk.

Kiosks also come with contactless ordering and payments, reducing cashier visits, wait-time, and improving table turnover rates.

11. AR and VR dining experiences

Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) are expected to play a big role in years to come, transforming the dining experience.

AR can enhance menus with 3D visualizations and interactive elements, while VR can create immersive dining experiences and offer unique training opportunities for staff. 

AR and VR can offer more opportunities for personalization, engagement, and experiential dining for guests. They can attract curious guests and boost retention in the competitive hospitality industry.

12. Predicative inventory management 

Last but not least, predictive inventory management is a key restaurant tech trend for 2026. By leveraging data analytics, restaurants can forecast demand, optimize inventory levels, and minimize waste. 

Predictive analytics analyze historical data, seasonal trends, and even weather patterns to guide purchasing decisions. This data-driven approach reduces waste, lowers costs, and aligns with sustainability goals. This can contribute to bolstering a restaurant's profit margins significantly.

It’s important you use restaurant inventory management software that meets your needs and your growth strategy. Supy and Foodics are great examples.