With all the massive economic upheavals and challenges since the pandemic, margins in the hospitality industry are thinner than ever. Energy and supply costs are climbing, staff turnover rates are as high as ever, and every table left unturned is revenue left behind. Today’s restaurants and cafes have to do more to earn their customers’ patronage and loyalty. There’s less room for error and a greater need for precision. Orders must be fulfilled perfectly, payments need to feel frictionless, and workflows can’t buckle under pressure when it gets busy.

To achieve this, it’s essential for restaurants and cafes to digitise their business. But it takes more than integrating the latest food ordering app or swapping paper menus for QR codes. Digitisation is more about building a system that streamlines operations, yet holds up when the rush hits, when staff are stretched, when expectations spike. The right digital tools help teams move faster, serve smarter, and recover from mistakes before they get out of hand. In a climate where one bad shift can cost more than a week’s profit, technology can be the glue that keeps the whole operation from falling apart.

Let’s take a look at five technologies that can help restaurants and cafes keep up with the digital times, all while making their business more efficient.

Interactive Digital Menu Boards

The days of handwritten specials and paper menus taped to the counter are numbered. Digital menu boards, often mounted TVs or sleek displays, give restaurants the ability to update offerings instantly, showcase high-margin items, and run promotions without printing costs or delays. Even the local kebab shop can swap static paper for dynamic visuals that scroll, animate, and sell.

Beyond menus, these screens double as advertising real estate. They can loop short videos, highlight limited-time deals, or even show allergen info and sourcing details. Not only can they help give your establishment a modern look, but they can help you communicate with customers faster and with less friction.

Kiosk Ordering

Kiosks aren’t just for fast food giants. They’re becoming essential for any venue that wants to serve more customers with fewer staff. Self-service ordering reduces queue times, minimises order errors, and frees up team members to focus on prep and service.

For smaller operations, kiosks can be a serious boost to both top line revenue and bottom line profits. They handle upselling automatically, remember customer preferences, and integrate directly with POS systems. With the faster throughput, leaner staffing, and a smoother customer experience, kiosks can save establishments both time and money.

QR Code Menus & Table Ordering

QR code menus have evolved from pandemic stopgaps into permanent fixtures. They let diners browse the menu, order directly from their phones, and even customise their orders. And it doesn’t matter whether they’re seated, standing, or ordering ahead. They don’t have to wait for a server or flip through a menu that’s maybe sticky from a previous customer.

Table ordering systems take it further. Guests can split bills, reorder drinks, or flag dietary needs without interrupting the flow of service. It’s efficient, discreet, and increasingly expected, especially by digitally native customers who value autonomy over face-to-face service.

Kitchen Display Systems (KDS)

Paper tickets get lost. Shouts across the kitchen get misheard. There’s a lot of room for error in a busy kitchen.

Digital kitchen screens almost eliminate the margin for error entirely. Orders appear instantly on touchscreens, organised by station, and can be pushed down the line as each component is completed, streamlining plating and assembly.

Timers add another layer of precision. One tracks the time from order placement to appetiser delivery. Another triggers when a course is sent out, prompting the kitchen to start cooking the next course. Multiple screens across prep zones keep everyone aligned, reducing lag and boosting consistency.

Checkout & Post-Visit Touchpoints

When it’s time to pay, diners don’t always want to flag down a server or wait for them to bring a card machine. QR code payments and online checkout options let them settle up instantly, whether at the table, counter, or curb. It’s fast, secure, and is becoming increasingly standard in eateries around the country.

But after the customer pays and leaves, you don’t want your connection with them to end. Post-payment, electronic receipts, thank-you messages, and quick surveys can be triggered automatically to keep the customer engaged while also collecting important data that can help you fine tune your business. Add in loyalty programs and brand touchpoints that extend the experience beyond the meal, all of which can be automated, and your establishment can turn one-off customers into life-long fans.

Is the Staffless Restaurant Possible? 

Although it’s important not to lose the human touch in hospitality, it’s conceivable that putting all these digital technologies together could lead to a restaurant that runs without a single face-to-face interaction. From digital menus to self-ordering kiosks, kitchen screens to QR code payments, the entire experience can be seamless, efficient, and fully automated.

That doesn’t mean hospitality disappears. It just shifts. Staff can focus on quality control, ambiance, and strategic engagement, while tech handles the mechanics. For owners, it’s a way to scale service without scaling payroll. For customers, it’s dining on their terms.

Are you looking to digitise your restaurant or cafe operations?. If so, Everything EPOS can help! Whether you need a complete EPOS system or just smarter integrations, we provide you with all the tools you need to succeed. Contact our EPOS specialists to talk about your business and what steps you can take to digitise it.