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By Jeff Noska, VP of High Bandwidth and Managed Services at KORE

As daily transactions shift to the digital age—from banking to buying clothes—it is natural for the restaurant industry to also be impacted by Internet of Things (IoT) technology. Though it tends to hide in plain sight, IoT-powered solutions are already all around us and are revolutionizing technologies that transform how business is done. IoT powers the temperature sensors that keep food safe, enables loyalty apps, tells operators how many people left because lines were too long, detects spills, counts passing traffic and much more. It uses sensors, scanners, and video to elevate customer experiences, optimize processes and more. Forward-thinking restaurant owners implementing these solutions will have a significant advantage over their competitors and those who do not embrace these new technologies will be left behind.

There are a variety of ways that IoT empowers restaurants. AI-powered video applications can automatically clock employees in for their shifts and include advanced scheduling algorithms to maximize staff efficiency, reducing costs. Inventory management is another great example where the power of IoT can have a tremendous impact on the restaurant industry. By leveraging IoT-enabled solutions and data analytics, restaurant operators gain unprecedented visibility into their supply chains. This facilitates proactive decision-making and ensures optimal stock levels for food and equipment. With smart shelving technology, customers will never have to be told their favorite restaurant is “out” of anything because if a particular item or ingredient is running low, the item is automatically replenished.

One of the most impactful examples of IoT are those that engage and enhance the customer experience. The ability to deliver personalized experiences is paramount for any establishment’s success. Here, IoT-integrated solutions emerge as a catalyst for innovation, enabling restaurant owners to forge deeper connections with patrons through enhanced service delivery. By tracking order history, restaurant owners can use IoT-powered solutions informed by customer behavior analytics to deliver personalized messages, promotional offers tailored to each customer’s preferences, and to learn what customers want and deliver it before they even ask.

However, when implementing IoT solutions within restaurants, look for devices that are always connected even when the internet may be unreliable. Reliable, primary connectivity is necessary for IoT-enabled restaurant solutions to facilitate electronic payment transactions safely and reliably and to reap the benefits of automated checkouts, inventory management, marketing personalization, and energy conservation. These devices should be self-contained, which keeps them off restaurant networks, reducing cybersecurity risks.

The advent of new solutions with a deep IoT integration heralds a new dawn for the restaurant industry, marked by countless opportunities for innovation and growth. As technology continues to evolve, those who embrace these new solutions as a strategic imperative will emerge as trailblazers in the increasingly competitive and dynamic world of dining.