Each week we take a look at the newest companies and tools in restaurant technology and filter them down to give you the 5 best topics of the week.

Here are this week topics:

5 Digital Moves Every Restaurant Should Make in 2025

It is completely understandable to look at some new restaurant software or app and disregard for the sheer headache that comes up with setting some of these systems up. But hey, if you're open to dipping a toe in, promoting events online could fill those slow afternoons without much hassle. Tools like Eventbrite let you set up a quick page for trivia nights or happy hours, and linking it to your socials means locals find you easier, maybe even turning one visit into regulars showing up for the vibe. 

“Food costing” software sounds like accountant stuff, but it's basically a calculator on steroids that tracks what your ingredients really cost per plate. Say you're overprepping a certain item, this software flags it, helps you order smarter, and shaves off that sneaky waste. It's not going to run your kitchen for you, but it might save enough bucks to justify the setup time.

Joining delivery apps or adding QR payments isn't revolutionary, but in 2025, skipping them means missing out on folks who order from their couch. Loyalty schemes via apps track who comes back and reward them with a free side, building that repeat business without you chasing every customer. It's sneaky helpful for steadying revenue, though watch those fees, they can add up if you're not careful.

To summarize, the 5 moves are:

Pecan Presents Smarter POS

It seems like we write about point of sale systems every week, and we do, but the technology is changing fast. Pecan, a POS company out of Brooklyn focusing on flexible POS systems, is pushing a modular setup where you pick what fits your joint, whether it's a pizza place or a bar. Their Smarter POS integrates with delivery apps and offers deep reports on sales, so you see what's moving without guessing.

What sets it apart is ditching the one size fits all trap, letting you mix in your favorite loyalty or payment tools instead of locking you in. For operations, it means less training time since it's intuitive on mobiles, and their kiosks are cheap to roll out, easing the load on staff during peaks. It's not a miracle, but if your current system's a pain, this could smooth things without breaking the bank.

They even offer perpetual licenses or subscriptions, giving you control over costs, and quick feature adds based on what owners ask for. Honesty check: if you're a tiny spot, it might be overkill, but for growing ops, it could cut down on those daily frustrations we all deal with.

Top Beverage Innovations August 2025

Stocking your bar or soda station with the usual suspects is safe, but these new drinks popping up might spice up your menu without much effort. Take Danone's Oikos Fusion, a muscle building dairy shake with fiber and vitamins aimed at folks on weight loss meds, it's like a protein boost in a bottle. For restaurants, it could slot into health focused sections, drawing in gymgoers who want something functional over sugary stuff.

Spindrift's cranberry sparkling waters, no sugar and real fruit, fit the clean label wave, easy to upsell as a mixer or standalone. Bloom's apple energy drink packs caffeine with gut prebiotics, maybe for your brunch crowd needing a pick me up. These aren't gamechangers alone, but rotating them in could keep things fresh, though watch spoilage on perishables.

Lipton's tea concentrates let you mix custom iced teas quick, saving prep time, and Patron's lighter tequila bottles cut your carbon footprint a bit. Overall, not essential if your drinks are flying off anyway, but handy for variety without overcomplicating ops.

Here are the top picks:

What's Next for Restaurant Tech?

We've come a long way in the past 20 years in terms of how kitchens operate. Olo, the folks behind early mobile ordering, kicked off this digital shift, and now kitchen displays have ditched paper tickets for screens that speed up the back house. It's made ops smoother, cutting errors and wait times, though getting everyone on board took some nudging.

Reservation tech evolved from books to apps that predict crowds and remember guest preferences, helping fill tables smarter. The pandemic forced us all online with QR menus and contactless pay, keeping the doors open when dine-in tanked. It's useful, sure, but if you're skeptical, start small, it won't upend your whole setup overnight.

Heading into the last quarter of 2025, it's all about guest data for personalization, like unified platforms that track preferences to boost loyalty without creeping folks out. Not every place needs it, but if you're chasing repeat customers, it could help without huge costs.

Qu Unveils Kiosk Upgrades

Two POS system stories in the same post may seem crazy, but where Pecan is better suited for most restaurants, Qu is better suited for quicker service locations. Qu, a tech firm specializing in restaurant systems, just rolled out upgrades to their kiosks for quick service spots, with features like multiselect upsells that nudge customers to add sides without pushing too hard. It integrates loyalty prompts, boosting check sizes by making rewards easy to grab.

The Flex POS flips between staff and guest modes, so during lulls, you redeploy folks elsewhere, easing that constant hiring headache. Dynamic screensavers keep your brand front and center, and ADA support plus languages make it inclusive. Early users saw higher tickets from kiosks versus counters, which is nice, but if your crowd prefers human chat, it might not fly everywhere.

Overall, it's about revenue without overloading your team, freeing them for real hospitality. Not a musthave if things are humming, but could trim labor costs nonchalantly. Be real, though: setup might glitch at first.