With each passing year, technology becomes a bigger part of the vendors and exhibits at the National Restaurant Association Show. The 2024 show will be no different. With the rise of generative AI and data-driven front and back-of-house solutions, technology is powering almost every decision for operators.
We expect the Technology Pavilion at the 2024 National Restaurant Association Show in Chicago to showcase just how much technology has evolved beyond the confines of the CTO/CDO office. Another important observation is: Sushi-making robots and automated bartenders will probably be the most flashy demonstrations in the technology pavilion, but behind-the-scenes software is fraught with labor issues, transportation issues, and pricing conundrums.
Here's what we're looking forward to at this week's National Restaurant Association Show.
Technology that touches every aspect of your business
Technology will be in surprising places this year on The Show. From recipe automation tools to food safety monitoring solutions, the technology on display at the National Restaurant Association Show this year explores how and why technology is no longer a category or section of the show, but can be seen in every aisle. And show why it's on display. We respond to all your operational needs.
Data as king
Data analytics tools and digital marketing platforms may not be as visual as some of the hardware at previous National Restaurant Association shows, but one topic that will likely be talked about on the show floor is data. Data collection has become the backbone of restaurants of all sizes, and operators have endless options to choose from, from loyalty programs to their point-of-sale systems, as their primary means of gaining information about their customers and their business.
Data solutions will be on display at more than 60 show booths, from food lockers with labor optimization insights, to behind-the-scenes data organization solutions for accounting and inventory, to vendors offering food delivery intelligence.
green technology
Another technology trend prediction from the National Restaurant Association Show is the intersection of sustainability and technology. Both hardware and software will be showcased as tools in the fight for a greener restaurant industry (and a healthier planet), from eco-friendly automatic fryers to robot chefs making plant-based steaks.
robot will try again
Robotics isn't new to the show, but we're looking forward to the next generation of robot chefs, bartenders, fry cooks, servers, and more. At past exhibitions, operators commented that many robot employees are too expensive or unwieldy to be useful in production environments, especially small-scale concepts. It will be interesting to see whether this feedback is heeded as employers continue to look for solutions to the labor shortage.
Contact Joanna: [email protected]meter
