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5 labor-saving tech trends that dominated the National Restaurant Association Show

Robots, kiosks and pickup lockers galore! And all were designed to help offset the labor pinch the restaurant industry is still facing

Joanna Fantozzi, Senior Editor

May 27, 2022

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Unsurprisingly, new restaurant technology at the 2022 National Restaurant Association Show in Chicago this weekend emphasized labor solutions using automation and AI. Frictionless convenience technology, from making restaurant workers’ jobs easier (like kiosks) to replacing server positions when humans were not available (like robots) was an ongoing trend at the NRA show.  

Rather than introducing entirely new forms of technology to wow conference attendees, this year’s restaurant tech vendors were mostly presenting vastly improved versions of tech we’ve seen in the past: introducing smoother and more personalized versions of end-to-end technology solutions.

While robots have had a place at the show for a while now, the robots we saw this year had a more widely expanded repertoire and can deliver items door-to-door, pour drinks and bring food to tables. Kiosks of course, are nothing new, but the 2.0 versions of restaurant kiosks we’re seeing are flashier and more customizable to a restaurant’s aesthetic and operator needs.

Take a closer look at some of the tech trends on display at this year’s National Restaurant Association Show.

About the Author

Joanna Fantozzi

Senior Editor

Joanna Fantozzi is a Senior Editor for Nation’s Restaurant News and Restaurant Hospitality. She has more than seven years of experience writing about the restaurant and hospitality industry. Her editorial coverage ranges from profiles of independent restaurants around the country to breaking news and insights into some of the biggest brands in food and beverage, including Starbucks, Domino’s, and Papa John’s.  

Joanna holds a bachelor’s degree in English literature and creative writing from The College of New Jersey and a master’s degree in arts and culture journalism from the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY. Prior to joining Informa’s Restaurants and Food Group in 2018, she was a freelance food, culture, and lifestyle writer, and has previously held editorial positions at Insider (formerly known as Business Insider) and The Daily Meal. Joanna’s work can also be found in The New York Times, Forbes, Vice, The New York Daily News, and Parents Magazine. 

Her areas of expertise include restaurant industry news, restaurant operator solutions and innovations, and political/cultural issues.

Joanna Fantozzi has been a moderator and event facilitator at both Informa’s MUFSO and Restaurants Rise industry events. 

Joanna Fantozzi’s experience:

Senior Editor, Informa Restaurant & Food Group (August 2021-present)

Associate Editor, Informa Restaurant & Food Group (July 2019-August 2021)

Assistant Editor, Informa Restaurant & Food Group (Oct. 2018-July 2019)

Freelance Food & Lifestyle Reporter (Feb. 2018-Oct. 2018)

Food & Lifestyle Reporter, Insider (June 2017-Feb. 2018)

News Editor, The Daily Meal (Jan. 2014- June 2017)

Staff Reporter, Straus News (Jan. 2013-Dec. 2013)

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