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.
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.
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.
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.