Category Archives: A-Restaurant

Restaurant Technology

Restaurants today rely on a variety of technology solutions to enhance their operations and improve guest experiences. The majority these days are cloud-based, which comes with its positives and negatives. Here are some essential types of restaurant technology:

  • Touchscreen Point of Sale (POS) Terminals: Modern POS systems with intuitive interfaces allow efficient order-taking, payment processing, and tracking. Some even have guest-facing screens for a seamless experience
  • Self-Order Kiosks: These interactive kiosks enable guests to place orders directly, reducing wait times and streamlining the ordering process
  • Kitchen Display Screens: These screens display incoming orders in the kitchen, helping chefs manage preparation efficiently and ensuring timely service
  • Printers for Restaurant: Printers are essential for generating order tickets, receipts, and kitchen chits
  • Cash Drawers: Secure storage for cash transactions at the point of sale
  • Integrated Online Ordering Solutions: Seamless integration with online platforms for delivery and takeout orders 1.
    Payroll Solutions: Streamline payroll management for restaurant staff
  • Scheduling Software: Efficiently manage employee schedules and shifts
  • Inventory Management Software: Helps track inventory levels, reduce waste, and optimize stock
  • Reservation Software: Facilitates table reservations and guest management
  • Customer Relationship Management (CRM): Tools to manage customer data, loyalty programs, and feedback
  • Digital Menu Design Tools: Create visually appealing digital menus for guests
  • Online Ordering & Delivery Platforms: Enable online ordering and delivery services

Steak ’n Shake’s Automation Playbook: How Kiosks and Digital Ordering Rewired a Legacy QSR Brand

steak-n-shake

From Decline to Discipline: Why Steak ’n Shake Turned to Automation For decades, Steak ’n Shake built its reputation on made-to-order burgers, table service, and late-night diners. But by the late 2010s, that model was under severe pressure. Rising labor costs, inconsistent service, shrinking margins, and declining traffic forced leadership to rethink the fundamentals of how orders were… Read More »

2026 Hall Of Fame Inductees

Hall of Fame Inductee

Recognizing Industry Pioneers and Innovators The Kiosk Industry Group Hall of Fame recognizes individuals whose long-term contributions have materially shaped the self-service, kiosk, accessibility, automation, and interactive technology industries. It exists to document and honor sustained impact over time, not short-term success or product cycles. Announcements 2026 Hall Of Fame Inductees Best of 2025 Kiosk Industry Group Awards… Read More »

Insight: Acrelec’s Leadership Reset Signals a New Phase for Global QSR Technology

acrelec bruno

Glory Global Goes For Scale with Acrelec This is not a leadership shuffle—it’s a business model declaration.  Glory is now signaling that Acrelec will be its growth engine for unified commerce in foodservice automation.  Glory’s push to integrate Acrelec and Flooid reflects a deliberate move to redefine itself from a cash automation vendor to a full-stack retail technology player… Read More »

Restaurant Self-Order Europe – Ordu and Lazenby

ordu lazenby kiosk europe

New Europe Kiosk Partnership Overview – Irish-headquartered Ordú, a provider of advanced online ordering systems for the food service industry, today announces a new €1.5 million investment with global kiosk manufacturer Lazenby Group. Over the next three years, this collaboration is forecasted to generate €9 million in additional revenues for Ordú. It will facilitate the expansion of Ordú’s… Read More »

McDonalds Touchscreen Kiosks – Not Taking Jobs CNN Story

McDonalds touchscreen kiosk Cash

McDonald’s touchscreen kiosks were feared as job killers. Instead, something surprising happened McDonald’s touchscreen kiosks are explained as having surprising and unintended results such as “labor redistribution”.  This is probably the first article for this fellow on kiosks and we are surprised he didn’t touch on robotics. All in all, it is a nice article, though. For reference, McDonald’s… Read More »

Self Order Restaurant Kiosk Buyers Guide

QSR Kiosk

The Rise of the Restaurant Kiosk This Restaurant Kiosk Buyer’s Guide will teach you what you need to know when buying kiosks for your restaurant operation. Over the last couple of years, we’ve experienced a significant digital transformation in the quick-service restaurant (QSR) industry. It has seen the integration of technology into everyday operations. Among the most impactful… Read More »

Android Handheld Mobile POS

android handheld mobile pos elo

Android Handheld Computers and Mobile POS Upcoming at NRF is the Elo booth which we plan on visiting to see the Android handheld and Mobile POS units.  Here is specsheet for M60, About Mobile POS Mobile POS (point of sale) is a technology that allows merchants to accept payments using a smartphone or tablet device. Mobile POS can… Read More »

McDonald’s Kiosk – Magnification and Reach Mode Accessibility

McDonald's Kiosk Accessibility ADA

Extending Accessibility to Kiosks and Online From McDonald’s — Accessible to Everyone – Including Online! At McDonald’s®, we believe it’s important that all our customers feel welcome and comfortable – both in our restaurants and online. That’s why we’ve improved our digital channels and technologies to make them more accessible to everyone. We aim to ensure that everyone… Read More »

Self-Ordering Kiosk LG Announcement – Hands Free too

LG kiosk Mike

Accessibility From The Start – Designed, Configured and Tested This is the first kiosk designed from the ground up for accessibility. TFA is known for its work with Southwest Airlines and their check-in units.  This is the first AI-assist for conversational AI voice kiosk we have seen. Not surprised to see Soundhound in the mix. Starting at $2667. … Read More »

LG’s Next-Gen Kiosks Advance a “Better Life for All”

The Industry Group Kiosks and Digital Signage

Designing Accessibility into Everyday Interactions This year marks the 35th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the landmark legislation that transformed public spaces, workplaces and digital platforms in the United States by protecting the rights of people with disabilities. This milestone is ushering in a new generation of B2B technology that is reshaping the way accessibility… Read More »

CES 2026 to highlight booming tech investment, announces record innovation awards

Cover photo provided by the Consumer Technology Association. CES 2026 Preview Economic uncertainty hangs across much of the globe, but technology remains on the march. AI spending will continue to rise in 2026, with 68% of CEOs increasing investment, according to Teneo, the CEO advisory firm. Next week’s CES show in Las Vegas (Jan. 6-9) will preview much… Read More »

Custom Kiosk Enclosure Design – Branding

Custom Kiosk design enclosure design

Why Custom Kiosk Enclosure Design Matters Understanding kiosk enclosure design — The difference between a kiosk that thrives and one that fails often comes down to design. Expert kiosk designers don’t just design kiosks that work—they design kiosks that delight, inspire confidence, and deliver results. It takes years of trial and error to understand the nuances of kiosk design. … Read More »

AI Connect Bar – Conversational AI Audio Gets a Leg Up

A black rectangular soundbar speaker with rounded edges and a perforated front grille, shown at an angle on a white background. An orange, abstract shape appears above the speaker, hinting at conversational technology and AI advancements inside.

Audio in High Noise Environments with AI The first unified communications product designed to leverage the full power of Conversational AI. The new AI Connect Bar combines the industry’s best microphones with a tuned, amplified speaker system into one sleek peripheral with a single USB connection to seamlessly attach to most All-in-One (AiO) touchscreen computers and kiosks. If… Read More »

Custom Kiosks Self Service & Self Order

Custom Kiosks

Custom Configured Kiosks: Unlocking the True Potential of Self-Service Kiosks   Nice article by Olea Kiosks on custom kiosks and all the details that have to be considered.  Olea actually is one of the candidates for “Best Of” awards in NYC this January. Thanks to several units but specifically the Empire State Building (which Trip Advisor selected as… Read More »

Benefits of Restaurant Kiosks by Acrelec Video

A woman in an orange shirt speaks into a microphone. Text reads: The hidden benefits of self-order kiosks and digital signage for restaurants. Acrelec and GLORY company logos appear at the bottom right. The background features a restaurant setting.

The Hidden Benefits of Self-Order Kiosks Nice video by Acrelec covering main benefits of self-order kiosks. Self-order kiosks have become a  familiar sight in restaurants, offering convenience and efficiency to  customers. But beyond the obvious advantages, these kiosks bring several hidden benefits  that can transform operations and elevate the dining experience. Let’s uncover what makes  self-order kiosks a game-changer for restaurants.… Read More »

Your Pie POS Review

your pie point of sale

Your Pie PPOS Review We decided last night to try and challenge our current pizza place with a new one, Your Pie. On the internet they all say best pizza ever in my area so I thought “Let’s See”. Ordering and paying  are the real pains in the process.  I always think about the ordering and the payment… Read More »

2026: The Year Self-Service Stops Being Optional

TIG Self-Service Predictions

Predictions from The Industry Group For more than two decades, self-service technology advanced in cycles—touchscreens improved, hardware got cheaper, networks got faster, and operators layered efficiency gains on top of familiar models. That era is ending. 2026 is not about incremental improvement.It is about structural shifts already underway becoming unavoidable. This pillar article outlines where those shifts converge—and… Read More »

Best Verticals for Self-Service Technology

best verticals for self-service technology

Where Kiosks, Digital Signage & Unattended Retail Deliver ROI We are constantly asked. “Where does self-service technology these days benefit the retailer and the customer. Self-service technology has moved far beyond simple ticketing or check-in. In 2025–2026, the strongest growth is coming from multi-modal automation ecosystems — kiosks, digital signage, vending, AI-driven POS, smart lockers, and cloud analytics.… Read More »

Kiosk Self Order – Clover

kiosk self order

Kiosk Self Order with Ordering Kiosk Every week another case study for a restaurant going self-order hits my desk. While monsters like Chick-Fil-A do a test delivery site and suck all the oxygen out of the media, another small to medium business takes advantage of self-service done right. Hero Boy Sandwich in Georgia Hero Boy Sandwich Co. in… Read More »

McDonald’s Kiosk – Top Three Questions

McDOnalds Cash Kiosk

Why Did They Introduce? Fewer Employees?  Higher Sales? 1. Why did McDonald’s introduce kiosks? People wonder whether kiosks are meant to replace workers or just improve speed and accuracy. The answer usually highlights customer convenience, higher order accuracy, increased upselling, and the ability to free up staff for food prep and table service rather than just taking orders. … Read More »

Market Research Restaurant Report for McDonalds and Other – Worldwide

Market Data Research for McDonald’s and Other Restaurants Report on restaurant market research and kiosks worldwide by Dataos (RBR). Much better than the usual internet scrapes for the Indian datamarts like Research & Markets.  They actually contacted us and we provided input on McDonald’s and Burger King.  Wendy’s too. Other research conpanies do not canvas people so kudos… Read More »

Press Release May – Self Service Kiosk Machine Industry

NRA National Restaurant Show

Self Service Kiosk Machine Industry News May 2024 WESTMINSTER, Colo., May 13, 2024 (APnews and PR Newswire)— This week the National Restaurant Association show in Chicago starts. Booth 5536 (near Square and Toast) will have 6 different demos from the Kiosk Manufacturer Association (KMA). See the Clover POS kiosk integrated with digital menus. Also a Square kiosk with… Read More »

Analysis – Revel Systems Acquisition by Shift4

revel systems acquired by shift4

Brutal Analysis of Acquisition From Retail Systems Analysis of acquisition of Revel by Shift4 — From Reforming Retail. Excerpt Mistruth #1 Shift4 offers payments and other technology to a range of industries, including restaurants. Its restaurant POS system, SkyTab, is used by operators of many large chains, including Burger King, Applebee’s and Denny’s. Huh? Here’s how Shift4’s communications will… Read More »