Restaurant automation: definition, tools and benefits
September 23, 2025
We hear a lot (and more and more) about automation in the foodservice industry, but behind the word there are often more questions than answers. Is this a marketing trend or a real solution for saving time and managing your business better?
One thing's for sure: automation isn't confined to fast-food outlets. It affects all formats, from traditional restaurants to brasseries, food courts, bars and even bakeries. And behind this sometimes rather abstract term, there are some very real issues at stake: lightening the teams' workload, reducing errors, better organizing the service and strengthening customer loyalty.
So, what can be automated in a restaurant? What solutions exist, and how do you choose the right one for your establishment? And above all, why invest now rather than wait?
What is restaurant order automation?
Order automation in the restaurant business means entrusting part of the order-taking process to digital tools, rather than managing everything manually. The idea is not to replace the teams, but to make the service more fluid and the work in the room simpler.
And it's not limited to fast food. Visit bakeriesthe traditional restaurantsthe food courtsthe bars or the leisure facilities are also interested. Whatever the format or volume of activity, the logic remains the same: streamline the customer journey and reduce repetitive tasks.
It's not a passing fad, but an evolution that's taking hold everywhere, from independent coffee shops to large franchises.
Want to find out more? See our resource ➜ Catering 2030: 5 trends to anticipate now
What can be automated in a restaurant?
Automating controls does not mean robotizing everything. In a restaurant, several steps in the customer journey can be simplified:
➜ Taking orders : customers place their own orders, rather than waiting for a waiter to rush by.
➜ Transmission in the kitchen : no need for paper vouchers, the order is sent directly to the screen or kitchen printer.
➜ Payment : payment at the time of order or quick payment from the table.
➜ Managing supplements and additional sales : automatic, relevant suggestions when ordering.
➜ Customer care : order data integrated directly into the customer database to build loyalty.
➜ Customer communication : notifications or automatic messages to inform you that the order is ready, remind you of an offer or request feedback after a visit.
Depending on the size of your establishment, your organization and your clientele, you won't automate everything in the same way. But the idea is always to save time and improve service, for both teams and customers.
What are the benefits for front-of-house service?
Automating orders doesn't just mean going faster. It also means rethinking the way your teams work, how you organize your flows and how you use the data generated by each order.
What are the benefits for your front-of-house and kitchen teams?
01. Refocusing the server's role
By entrusting simple orders to a terminal or a QR codeYour teams focus on what makes the difference: welcoming, advising and selling better.
Want to find out more? See our resource ➜ Digitization in the restaurant industry: what does the future hold for waiters?
02. Easing the pressure in the kitchen
Orders arrive in real time, already prioritized. No more paper slips to accumulate, which reduces stress and improves speed.
03. Giving managers a clear vision
A connected cash register isn't just for cashing out. It gives you a dashboard of sales, average processing time and average basket, an invaluable tool for adjusting your workforce or processes.
Want to find out more? See our resource ➜ Increasing the average restaurant basket: what really works
04. Maintain regular communication
Instead of spending time reminding your customers, the system itself sends the SMS, emails or loyalty offers. Your teams don't have to worry about it, but you keep an active relationship with your customers.
What are the benefits for your restaurant customers?
01. Controlling their time
Ordering from a kiosk or via QR code means you don't have to wait for a waiter to come by. Visit Click & Collectis to pick up a dish in just a few minutes, without wasting time in line.
02. More choice at the right time
Automated tools make it possible to push options or extras at key moments. It's not intrusive when it's a natural part of the experience.
03. Track their order
The customer receives a notification when their order is ready or when it's on its way to the kitchen. He knows where his dish is at, which reduces the perceived wait and boosts confidence in the service.
04. Feeling recognized
Receive a personalized message after a few visits, accumulate points or being called back after an absence, it shows that the restaurant follows its customers beyond the meal.
Want to find out more? See our resource ➜ Building loyalty in the restaurant business: what really works in 2025
So the point is not just to go faster, but to rebalance the roles: technology takes care of the repetitive steps, so your teams can concentrate on what makes your business tick.
Which automation solution for your restaurant?
Each establishment has its own needs: type of service, room size, customer expectations...
The important thing is not to automate to follow the trend, but to choose the right tools to streamline service and strengthen customer relations.
At Obypay, we offer solutions order, payment and loyalty that make you save time while keeping the human touch at the heart of the experience.
Want to know more? Contact our team to discuss your needs and see how we can help you automate without losing what makes your restaurant so strong.
Or be inspired by some of our customers' success stories
➜ France Drive: when digital technology boosts local catering
➜ 10.55: digital at the heart of the multi-leisure experience
