A new report by the National Restaurant Association (NRA) is projecting an increase in sales for the fourth straight year, reaching an all-time high of $660 billion. With that growth will come major investments in technology.
According to an NRA survey, 54 percent of restaurant owners say they will invest more in technology in 2013.
"Technology has gone to the top of restaurant-owner action lists for 2013," Hudson Riehle, senior vice president of research at the association, told USA Today.
Part of the reason behind the investment in technology is the demographics of restaurant patrons. According to Mr. Riehle, 18- to 34-year-olds are the key demographic for restaurants.
Technologies that will become more prominent in 2013 include tableside and mobile payment options.
According to the survey, 44 percent of those going to sit-down restaurants would take advantage of a tableside option if it were available. Roughly one in three would pay with a mobile device.
Research by Technomic shows consumers are interested in a variety of ways to use technology to order meals, including: mobile ordering, iPad kiosks, Facebook, tabletop e-waiter and digital menu boards.
- Economist's Notebook: Restaurant job growth set to double overall economy in 2012 - National Restaurant Association
- Consumers demanding more mobile meal options - USA Today
- How Restaurants Are Using Technology to Deliver Better Customer Service - Forbes
- U.S. Restaurant Sales May Top Record in 2013, Association Says - Bloomberg News