NRA National Restaurant Show

By | March 18, 2026
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Looking for Accessible Kiosks?

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Last Updated on April 7, 2026 by Craig Allen Keefner

National Restaurant Show — See Association of Kiosk Manufacturers

Experience the future of restaurant automation at Booth #5829 (North Building). May 16-19 McCormick Center. As the central hub for the self-service industry, the Kiosk Association (KMA) and The Industry Group (TIG) bring together world-class experts in accessibility, hardware design, and Artificial Intelligence. This year, we are featuring three powerhouse partners transforming the guest experience.

Featured Innovations:

  1. Vispero – Universal Accessibility Accessibility is a fundamental pillar of modern hospitality. Vispero, the world’s leading assistive technology provider, demonstrates how QSRs and fast-casual brands can provide a truly inclusive experience.  What to See: The JAWS for Kiosk screen reader and tactile input solutions. See how low-vision and blind guests can navigate menus, customize orders, and pay independently with total privacy.
  2. Pyramid Computer – Precision Engineering When high-traffic environments demand durability and sleek design, Pyramid Computer delivers. We are showcasing two distinct self-order kiosk models known for their German engineering and modular versatility.  What to See: Slimline, high-performance kiosks designed for maximum throughput. Explore various configurations—from wall-mounts to double-sided pedestals—built to withstand the rigors of 24/7 restaurant operations.
  3. URway Holdings – Conversational AI Step into the next generation of guest interaction with URway Holdings. The “AI Connect Bar” represents the shift from simple touchscreens to intuitive, voice-activated engagement.  What to See: The AI Connect Bar. Experience how generative and conversational AI allows guests to speak naturally to a kiosk to place complex orders, reducing friction and increasing average ticket sizes through intelligent, real-time upselling.
  4. Sitekiosk — SiteKiosk is a kiosk and digital signage software platform that locks down Windows and Android devices for secure, unattended use in public spaces. Latest release notes. It combines OS/browser lockdown, remote management, and a built-in CMS so you can configure, monitor, and update self-service kiosks and interactive displays from a central web portal.
  5. Intel — Intel self-service computers power kiosks, self-checkout, smart vending, and other unattended retail systems using Intel Core processors, IoT platforms, and vPro remote management for security and fleet control. These edge systems increasingly integrate computer vision and AI, enabling item recognition, loss prevention, and autonomous micro-stores that reduce labor while improving customer experience.

Expert Consulting & Strategy

Led by 40 year industry veteran Craig Allen Keefner, our team provides the strategic roadmap for your digital transformation. We specialize in mobile-first optimization, ROI modeling, and “Store-in-a-Box” architectures. Whether you are solving for labor shortages or enhancing order accuracy, we offer the vetted solutions you need. You should review our 2026 Strategic Compliance Checklist

Book a Private Briefing: Ensure you get dedicated time with our consultants during the show. Contact us today:

Craig Keefner Email: [email protected]

Phone: 720-324-1837

See you in the North Building at Booth #5829!

What and Where To See

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Super Supporters

Restaurant Industry — 10 Key Metrics (2026)

  • Global market size: ~$4.2–4.5 trillion foodservice industry worldwide

  • U.S. market: ~$1.1 trillion (National Restaurant Association estimate range)

  • Digital ordering penetration: 35–45% of total orders in developed markets

  • Self-service kiosk adoption: 55–65% of top 50 QSR chains deployed or piloting

  • Average ticket lift (kiosks): +20% to +30% vs cashier ordering

  • Labor cost pressure: 30–35% of total operating cost (and rising)

  • Drive-thru share (QSR): 60–70% of revenue for major chains

  • Contactless payments: 70%+ of transactions in North America / UK

  • AI/automation investment growth: 18–25% CAGR (ordering, forecasting, robotics)

  • Store formats shifting: 15–25% of new builds include smaller footprint / pickup-first models

Comparison of US, Asia and Europe

Restaurant Comparison US, Asia and Europe

Restaurant Comparison US, Asia and Europe

Restaurant Payments & OS Trends — US vs Asia vs Europe (2026)

comparison restaurants global

comparison restaurants global

Related Links

Emerging Payment Trends (Restaurants)

1) Invisible / background payments

  • Order → identify → pay happens automatically (app, token, or vehicle ID)

  • Drive-thru and order-ahead lead this

  • “Checkout” becomes a system event, not a user step

👉 Expect: no-payment-screen experiences

2) Wallet-first + tokenized identity

  • Apple/Google wallets + stored credentials dominate

  • Tokenization replaces card entry entirely

  • Loyalty + payment + identity merge

👉 Payment becomes part of customer identity graph

3) AI-driven upsell tied to payment

  • Real-time recommendations at checkout

  • Dynamic pricing / bundles based on:

    • time of day

    • inventory

    • customer profile

👉 Payment screen = revenue engine

4) Voice + conversational payments

  • Voice AI in drive-thru + kiosks

  • Payment confirmation handled via:

    • mobile handoff

    • license plate / app linkage

👉 Removes screen friction entirely in some flows

5) SoftPOS + hardware collapse

  • Tap-to-pay on Android devices

  • Fewer dedicated payment terminals

  • Tablets / kiosks = full POS + payment

👉 Hardware stack simplifies dramatically

6) Closed-loop + stored value ecosystems

  • Starbucks model spreading

  • Preload → spend → reward loop

👉 Improves:

  • margins

  • data ownership

  • repeat frequency

7) Fraud + compliance automation

  • PCI DSS 4.0 driving:

    • end-to-end encryption

    • tokenization

  • Background fraud detection via AI

👉 Security becomes embedded, not visible

Emerging OS Trends (Restaurants)

 1) Android becomes the default edge OS

  • Native support for:

    • NFC payments

    • biometrics

    • mobile UX patterns

  • Huge ecosystem (PAX, Sunmi, Elo Android, etc.)

👉 All new QSR innovation is Android-first

2) Windows shifts to “back-of-house + legacy”

  • Still used for:

    • enterprise POS (e.g., NCR Voyix, Oracle)

    • kitchen systems

  • Less relevant at customer touchpoints

👉 Moving away from the edge

 3) Linux powers the invisible layer

  • Payment terminals

  • controllers

  • embedded systems

👉 Critical for:

  • stability

  • security

  • cost

But not the UX layer

 4) OS abstraction (cloud-first architecture)

  • Apps decoupled from OS

  • APIs + microservices drive everything

  • Same experience across:

    • kiosk

    • mobile

    • drive-thru

👉 OS matters less at the app layer—but still matters for hardware

5) Hybrid stacks (Android + Linux + cloud)

  • Android for UI + payments

  • Linux underneath or for controllers

  • Cloud for orchestration

👉 This is the dominant architecture emerging

What is the emerging Restaurant Tech Stack?

restaurant tech stack

restaurant tech stack

End of content

Posts 2026: 253
NRA Chicago
Author: Craig Allen Keefner

With over 40 years in the industry, Craig is considered to be one of the top experts in the field. Kiosk projects include Verizon Bill Pay kiosk and thousands of others. Craig was co-founder of kioskmarketplace and formed the KMA. Note the point of view here is not necessarily the stance of the Kiosk Association or kma.global -- Currently he manages The Industry Group

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