7 Technology Trends In Food Service

Technology & The Food Service IndustryAs we approach the end of the first decade of the new millenium, technology has become a stronger and stronger force in our lives.  Every industry has been affected, and food service is no exception.  Yet it seems that many restaurants lag behind when it comes to harnessing the power of technology to their advantage.

The following Back Burner posts peg the cutting edge of technology and how it is being applied in the food service industry.  And while you may not Twitter or have wireless access in your dining area just yet, knowing what’s coming in the near future will help you stay ahead of the curve and on top of the competition.

1.  Can Google Improve Food Safety? – Tracking a food-borne illness outbreak takes time, which is precisely the last thing we have when attempting to control one.  Google has developed a way to track outbreaks accurately, and above all, quickly, beating the CDC by over a week in identifying a sickness trend.

2.  Should You Use Digital Media In Your Restaurant? – As we make the transition to a digital society, customers are becoming more and more familiar with digital media.  Sooner or later, it will become the primary way to communicate with your guests.  Learn what some restaurants are doing to engage customers with digital media.

3.  Become a Hotspot! – Speaking of digital technology, wireless internet access has long been the domain of coffee shops, but that doesn’t mean you can’t use it to improve lunch and afternoon traffic in your restaurant.

4.  10 iPhone Apps Your Customers Are Using– Several iPhone Apps are helping customers find your restaurant.  Learn more about it in this post.

5.  Online Ordering: A Blessing Or A Curse? – Can your restaurant handle orders coming in from the web?  More business is always good, but what are you going to do to handle it?  And what happens when customers start expecting to be able to order online?

6.  Make Tableside Ordering Easy With New Technology – Hand-held wireless devices like BlackBerries and iPhones are now common.  What if your server had a similar device for taking orders?

7.  Should Your Restaurant Have A Website?– A website is the most basic building block of the technology revolution.  The short answer to this question is yes, definitely.  Get some tips on how to do it right in this post.

About Greg McGuire

Greg has blogged about the food service industry for years and has been published in industry magazines, like Independent Restaurateur and industry blogs like Restaurant SmartBrief. He lives in Colorado with his wife and two sons and enjoys reading, live music, and the great outdoors.

Check Also

Three Timesaving Products We’re Thankful For

Thanksgiving is almost here, which means it’s time to feast and give thanks for the …

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *