Restaurant Tech Trends for 2013, because Dave McClure says so
Who is Dave McClure? Basically, he is a super-smart, tech investor who started 500 startups, self-described as "a new kind of seed fund and startup accelerator." Here is a link to his wikipedia page.
So, what has he got to do with restaurant tech trends in 2013, you ask? A lot, considering he spends a considerable amount of time in a recent blog post talking about Why Menus Suck + Other Deep Thoughts on the Food Tech Revolution.
His own abstract says it best: "we need less items, more pictures, and [just] a few recommendations. menus should be online, so they can integrate user data & purchase history to customize selection, offer discounts, and to connect with friends for favorites and referrals / group offers. the market is huge, purchase behavior is frequent, industry incumbents are old, slow, and easily disrupted.everyone eats, everyone is online; what the hell we waiting for?"
So, let's dig a little deeper. Restaurant tech in general, both consumer and operations, is behind the times. There are some obvious leaders starting to emerge, but for the most part restaurants still operate the same way they operated way back in 1980.
Enter 2013, which has the potential to be the biggest year in restaurant tech evolution since Waffle House started accepting debit cards.
Social media, apps and mobile accessibility drive eating decisions today, and the restaurant industry needs to pick up the pace. Eating out today is about using the digital world to maximize your dining experience, but many restaurants are still operating very much in the analog world, starting with the menu. And, that is McClure's bigger point. Restaurants must evolve from a technology standpoint. Technology provides the opportunity to empower exceptional hospitality, allowing both the guest and restaurant staff to contribute to a delightful dining experience.
From guest profiles that show restaurants as much or as little as you want them to know about your likes, dislikes and preferences to remotely adding yourself to a waitlist, 2013 could be the year that the restaurant industry has its own tech revolution.
Here is the long-tail link to McClure's post mentioned above: http://500hats.com/why-menus-suck-food-tech-revolution