Key Trends
How Independent Restaurant Operators Are Winning in 2025
Top tech trends from the 2025 Restaurant Technology Outlook Report—and how to take action
If you’re an independent restaurant operator, the question isn’t if you should upgrade your technology—it’s how fast.
The 2025 Restaurant Technology Outlook Report makes one thing clear: the restaurants growing fastest are using streamlined, all-in-one done-for-you platforms to cut complexity, drive revenue, and reclaim their time.
They’re focusing on three core priorities:
- Automate busywork: menu updates, third-party syncing, Google listings
- Own your digital storefront instead of handing profits to marketplace apps
- Run smarter marketing with tools that work behind the scenes
Let’s break down the biggest trends shaping restaurant tech in 2025—and how you can act on them with the Chowly Platform.
Return on Time Is the New ROI
Restaurant operators are under more pressure than ever.
Between staffing issues, rising costs, and day-to-day demands, there’s little time left to stitch together software or troubleshoot disjointed systems. That’s why 88% of restaurant operators plan to invest in new restaurant technology this year—and more are moving with certainty. In 2025, 34% say they definitely will, up from 30% last year.
But today’s investments aren’t just about software—they’re about streamlining operations to free up time and energy for what matters most: your food, your team, and your guests. That’s Return on Time.
The Chowly Platform is built for exactly that:
- One place to manage online ordering, delivery, menu updates, and marketing
- First-party ordering and Google integrations managed for you
- Seamless support and setup—no tech background required
- One login to manage first- and third-party ordering
- Seamless POS, menu, and pricing syncs
Short on time? Short on staff?
Profitability Starts With Simplicity
Independent restaurant operators are under pressure to do more with less.
So it’s no surprise that 52% say an end-to-end platform is the best setup for their tech stack —not piecing together scattered tools.
Operators are laser-focused on profitability. According to the 2025 Restaurant Technology Outlook Report, their top goals include:
- 46% want to increase traffic
- 39% want to reduce operating costs
- Seamless support and setup—no tech background required
- 38% want stronger marketing and customer engagement
- 32% want to reduce labor costs
That’s a lot of moving parts—from marketing and menu updates to delivery integration and customer feedback.
The Chowly Platform brings it all under one roof:
- Online ordering built for your brand
- Dynamic Pricing to optimize margins
- Google Ads, listings, and post-order surveys—automated for you
- First- and third-party order management
- Seamless POS and back-office integration
Tired of juggling disconnected tools?
Why Independent Restaurants Can’t Afford to Wait
Chains are moving fast:
- 79% of chain operators plan to invest in tech this year
- Only 53% of independent operators say the same
That gap is where growth—and customer loyalty—is being lost. Done-for-you platforms like the Chowly Platform help independents catch up quickly without the cost or complexity of enterprise systems.
And with 1 in 3 operators citing lack of staff as their top barrier to tech adoption, Chowly’s onboarding, menu builds, and ongoing optimization are more essential than ever.
Short on staff? Short on time?
First-Party Ordering Is Taking the Lead
For the first time, first-party ordering has overtaken third-party in order volume.
According to PAR’s 2025 QSR Operational Index:
- First-party mobile transactions jumped +39.4% YoY
- First-party sales rose +21% YoY
- Third-party delivery declined by -5.7%
This signals a huge opportunity to:
- Regain control over margins, menu pricing, and customer data
- Build stronger guest relationships and more frequent, profitable touchpoints
- Stop losing revenue to marketplace fees
The Chowly Platform makes that shift simple:
- Branded ordering site built for you
- Menus synced across every channel
- Google Ads that drive direct traffic
Want to own your digital storefront?
Dynamic Pricing Is a Real-World Use Case for AI
Restaurant operators are curious about AI—but they want real, practical use cases. Pricing is at the
top of the list.
- 32% already use dynamic pricing
- 47% monitor item-level data to boost margins
- 65% of AI adopters say pricing automation is their top interest
Chowly’s Dynamic Pricing tool helps you:
- Adjust pricing based on time of day, demand, location or channel
- Sync changes instantly across platforms
- Use real data—no spreadsheets required
It runs quietly in the background, acting as a co-pilot for profitability. And because it’s part of the Chowly Platform, setup and support are already built in.
Want AI that actually makes you money?
Platforms Are the New Standard
Independent restaurants are done stitching together 5–10 different tools.
The 83% now say end-to-end platforms are the best tech setup—and for good reason:
- Less manual work
- Fewer vendor headaches
- Better decision-making with unified data
The Chowly Platform brings everything together:
- Online ordering
- POS and delivery integrations
- Google marketing tools
- Dynamic Pricing
- Customer Surveys
All under one login—with a team that sets it all up for you.
Final Word: It’s Time to Own Your Digital Strategy
The restaurant operators winning in 2025 aren’t working harder. They’re working smarter.
They’re consolidating. They’re automating. And they’re using platforms that give them:
- A custom-branded website (not Square) built to convert and drive direct orders
- More margin from direct ordering
- More time back each week
The Chowly Platform is built for independent restaurant operators like you. Done-for-you. Fully supported. Ready to grow.
