Go Mobile or Get Moving: Restaurant Operators Are Nervous About Ongoing Mobile Innovations

“New research from Oracle finds that many restaurant operators are confident in their current use of mobile technology, but only 48% of restaurant operators feel prepared for future mobile innovations,” according to an article on Mobile Marketer. Per the article, “59% of restaurant operators fear disruption by mobile-savvy rivals” and “ 62% of respondents expressed doubts over their ability to keep up with the speed of mobile technology innovations.”

These numbers are interesting considering that an even greater majority of operators reported seeing the benefit of customer-facing mobile technology. The article said that 84% of participants felt that “guest-facing mobile apps can reduce labor costs,” 86% believed they “improve speed of service,” and 93% reported that mobile apps “promote loyalty and drive repeat business.”

Oracle’s research reflects an ongoing mobile wave rising in the restaurant industry. Brands are increasingly investing in mobile apps, and according to the article, “[t]here are plenty of good reasons for this. For starters, restaurant digital orders have increased at an average annual rate of 23% since 2013 and are expected to triple in volume by the end of next year, according to The NPD Group. Six out of 10 digital orders are made through mobile apps.”

Looks like restaurant operators will have to prioritize operating with mobile interfaces or else pack up shop.