Restaurant Expansion: The Role of Technology in Facilitating Restaurant Growth - By Heather Apse

If restaurant expansion is on the table for your business, make sure you approach it with technology leading the way. Numerous strategies exist for expanding your business, such as adding new revenue streams and building on new locations and spaces. No matter what strategy you move ahead with, make sure you implement the right technology to help with that growth.

Having the right technology stack in place is critical for any restaurant looking to grow their business. Gone are the days of running disconnected operations. Modern restaurant tech allows owners and managers like you to efficiently manage and optimize multiple operations. Let’s dive into various technologies that would help with restaurant expansion and growth opportunities.

Technology Examples When Adding Revenue Streams

Here are some ways technology can drive smart, sustainable restaurant expansion by adding new revenue streams:

1. Integrated Online Ordering, Delivery, Take Out, and Catering

Implement an online ordering system that integrates with your POS and allows customers to order delivery or pickup from any location. This adds a new revenue channel.

Learn about TripleseatDirect to provide your customers with a simple online booking solution where they can book, plan, and pay for in-house private events, off-site catering, pickup, and delivery with zero friction.

2. Corporate/Bulk Ordering

Offer easy corporate/bulk ordering through your online platform to tap into the lucrative catering and large order market as you grow.

3. Subscription Meal Plans

Launch a subscription meal plan program enabled by tech for pick-up or delivery. This provides a recurring revenue stream.

4. Branded Retail Products

Use technology to sell your own branded retail products like sauces, seasonings, meal kits, merch etc. across all restaurant sites.

5. Restaurant Marketplace

Create an online marketplace where customers can purchase food/drink gifts, event tickets, cooking classes and more from all your locations.

6. Dynamic Pricing & Promotions

Leverage data and analytics to offer dynamic pricing and targeted promotions based on demand, location, customer segments etc.

7. Large Parties, Events, and Experiences

Use technology for booking and managing large parties, private events, cooking classes, tasting experiences and more at your restaurant.

8. Loyalty & Subscription Programs

Implement tech-enabled loyalty programs and subscription clubs to foster recurring visits/orders as you expand.

9. Delivery As A Service

With the right logistics tech, you could offer delivery services for other restaurants/brands in new markets you enter.

10. Ghost Kitchens/Virtual Brands

Launch delivery-only ghost kitchen concepts or virtual restaurant brands powered by your brick-and-mortar locations’ kitchens.

Options to Leverage Tech for Adding Locations

Here are some ways technology can aid in restaurant expansion by adding new locations:

1. Data-Driven Site Selection

Use data analytics tools to analyze demographics, traffic patterns, competition, and consumer demand to strategically identify ideal locations for new restaurant sites as you expand.

2. Virtual Restaurant Tours

Create immersive virtual tour experiences of potential properties using 360° cameras and VR technology to thoroughly evaluate locations without traveling.

3. Streamlined Construction Management

Implement construction project management software to coordinate and oversee all aspects of building out new restaurant locations efficiently.

4. Centralized Operating Systems

Cloud-based restaurant operating systems allow you to seamlessly integrate new locations into your existing technology stack for unified inventory, staffing, reporting etc.

5. Standardized Training & Onboarding

Use training and onboarding software/apps to ensure consistent execution of operating procedures and service standards across all new locations.

6. Remote Kitchen Automation

Leverage automation and Internet-of-Things technology like smart fryers, ovens and dishwashers to streamline back-of-house operations at every new site.

7. Optimized Staffing & Scheduling 

Utilize AI-powered workforce management tools to optimize staffing levels, scheduling, and labor costs as your number of locations grows.

8. Contactless and Mobile Ordering

Implement contactless dine-in technology like QR code ordering to provide a seamless experience as you rapidly open new fronts.

9. Business Intelligence Dashboards

Centralize data across all locations into visual dashboards and reports to easily monitor new restaurant performance metrics.

10. Virtual / Augmented Reality Training

Use VR/AR technology for immersive training experiences to accelerate employee onboarding across all of your new expansion sites.

Event Management Made Easy to Grow Your Restaurant Business

Event management technology is the best way to streamline your restaurant’s private dining and event planning. Increase bookings, grow revenue, and put your venue ahead of the competition.

If you’re not a Tripleseat customer and you’re interested in learning more about Tripleseat’s features, schedule a demo at your convenience to take a closer look.

Heather Apse

Heather is a Content Specialist at Tripleseat. Connect with Heather on LinkedIn.