Why Technology Consultation Makes Sense For Your Restaurant

This blog is brought to you by Gordon Food Service.

The right technology can transform your restaurant. The wrong technology can cost you a fortune, disrupt your operation, and crush morale.
Obviously, it’s important to choose wisely. But in a crowded marketplace, it’s not always obvious which shiny new piece of tech is the best fit for your business.  A little guidance can go a very long way.

In-House Insight

As restaurant technology consultants for Back of House, Spencer Michiel and Rachel Morgan have provided their fair share of guidance to national chains, independent operators, and everyone in between.

So we asked our resident experts to weigh in on the value of a good tech consultation, especially in an increasingly crowded restaurant technology marketplace.

But first, a little more on that crowded marketplace...

Key Restaurant Technology Statistics

POS provider Square recently published its 2025 Future of Restaurants Report. The survey of Canadian restaurant owners and diners offers a few revealing statistics:

●      85% of restaurant leaders say they plan to invest in new technology to improve their business in the coming year

●      75% of restaurant leaders believe that AI and automation will help improve efficiency and outcomes in areas like marketing, inventory management, and payments

●      74% of consumers say they support the use of automation to fill in staffing gaps

These figures suggest that if you own a restaurant, you’re already thinking about how technology can help. And if you aren’t thinking about it, your customers almost certainly are.

If you’re not exactly sure what the next step is, that means your next step should probably be a personalized consultation with a restaurant technology expert.

What’s the point of a restaurant technology consultation?

The point of a restaurant technology consultation is to help you:

●      Assess the tools you are currently using in your restaurant

●      Determine whether these tools are serving your business goals

●      Highlight ways that your current technology could be serving these goals better

●      Identify new technology that might improve your operation

●      Help you navigate a crowded marketplace that includes:

○      POS systems
○      Food inventory management systems
○      Recruiting and hiring solutions
○      Website builders
○      Social media managers
○      And much more

As Rachel points out, “It’s not about telling you you’re doing it wrong. It’s about making sure you’re getting the most out of what you already have.”

When is the right time to schedule a consultation?

Any time is the right time to schedule a consultation. Restaurant technology is evolving rapidly. Consultation is a chance to hear about the newest developments and latest innovations from seasoned industry experts.

“Never be closed off to learning about new technologies,” Spencer advises. “There might be 99 products out there that don’t really help you, but there could be one that’s a game-changer for your business.”

Rachel points out that consultation may be more urgently needed for some restaurants.

“If you’re still relying heavily on spreadsheets, copying data between systems, or your team is constantly asking, ‘Where do I find this?’ — those are red flags,” says Rachel. “Also, if you’ve added tools over time, but haven’t re-evaluated how they connect or overlap, it’s probably time.”

What actually happens during a restaurant tech consultation?

The Discovery Call

It starts with a conversation about your business goals.

“That’s where we pinpoint exactly what technology changes or enhancements could be made at the restaurant,” says Spencer. “Sometimes the operator already has a clear idea of what needs to change and just needs help getting started.”

Exploratory Sessions

Restaurant operators who need deeper guidance can elect for additional consultation.

“These sessions are more exploratory,” says Spencer. “We take a look at the existing restaurant tech stack and assess where updates or integrations might make a difference.”

Key Questions

Your consultant will likely ask you some of the following questions:

●      Does your restaurant use a POS system?
●      Are you using this POS system to its fullest potential?
●      What kind of inventory tracking system do you use?
●      What tools are you using to gather and analyze data about your business operation?
●      Are you satisfied with your online presence and digital marketing outlook?
●      What are your biggest operational challenges?
●      What are your plans for the future of your business?

These questions are designed to spark discussion and shed light on your biggest areas of need. 

What are the most common areas of need?

Inventory Management

“So many operators still track inventory manually or don’t track it at all,” says Rachel. “The right platform saves hours a week, reduces waste, and helps you understand your margins.”

Cost Tracking

“One of the most common and most overlooked operational challenges we see involves prime costs,” says Spencer, “especially the cost of goods sold [COGS] and labor. These are the biggest controllable expenses in a restaurant, and the right tools can make a huge difference in managing them.”

Scheduling

“Some operators still build their staff schedules in Excel or on paper,” says Rachel. “But modern tools can forecast labor, control overtime, and make shift swaps seamless. It saves time, improves morale, and usually pays for itself quickly.”

POS Systems

“Some operators are still holding onto legacy systems because they’re familiar,” says Spencer, “but the flexibility, real-time data, and integrations that cloud-based platforms offer can be game-changing.”

What comes after the consultation?

After initial consultation, the focus turns from identifying problems to researching solutions.

“We compare platforms, identify gaps or overlaps, and provide tailored recommendations,” says Rachel. These recommendations are then prioritized based on a few important factors.

“I start with impact,” Rachel explains. “What’s going to make the biggest difference with the least amount of friction? Then I look at cost, ease of use, and whether the team will actually adopt it. The perfect software doesn’t help if no one logs in.”

Spencer agrees, but also warns that “some technology is so foundational that it has to come first. The POS system is the most critical piece, and everything else branches off that. So we always start there before moving into other areas like inventory, marketing, or reporting.”

What do the results look like?

That depends on what you do.

●      Automating inventory management can lead to major savings, though it may take months to see results
●      Updating your digital menu can boost online orders in as little as a week
●      Simplifying your tech stack can cut your expenses overnight

“We’ve seen operators who were overpaying for systems they didn’t need or weren’t using fully,” says Spencer. “In those cases, switching or streamlining saved them thousands of dollars. Those savings can go right back into staff, food quality, or growth.”

The main point, says Rachel, is that “We help operators think beyond short-term fixes. Whether it’s choosing tools that integrate well or vendors that invest in innovation, the goal is to avoid lock-in and maintain flexibility as the business grows.”

How To Get Started

Still not sure whether now is the right time for a technology consultation?

“The restaurant tech world moves very fast,” says Spencer. “Always reassess your restaurant tech stack.”

Just don’t do it alone. Schedule your personalized consultation today.