# Self-Serve Dining Restaurants increase efficiency by providing customers with automated options. By [Courtney Scharf](https://www.trendhunter.com/Courtney), Chief Client Officer | Published Jul 4, 2016 | Category: [Tech](https://www.trendhunter.com/pro/category/technology-trends-and-gadgets) Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/selfserve-dining ## Key Figures - Trend score: 4.3/10 - Evidence articles: 6 ## What is the Self-Serve Dining trend? **Self-Serve Dining:** For most consumers, the rise of technology has translated into a more convenient and streamlined everyday life, and in turn established higher expectations in terms of efficiency. In the world of QSR and dining, brands are helping to offer a quicker option to patrons through kiosks and apps that allow customers to order and pay for their meals without the help of staff. Though this can come at the expense of a more personal touch on behalf of the brands who adopt this strategy, this shift empowers tech-savvy consumers. ## At a Glance - Evidence: 6 featured examples - Articles from: Jul 14, 2015 to Feb 5, 2016 - Published: Jul 4, 2016 - Patterns: [Reduction](https://www.trendhunter.com/pattern/reduction) - Megatrends: [Curation](https://www.trendhunter.com/megatrend/curation), [Simplicity](https://www.trendhunter.com/megatrend/simplicity), [Personalization](https://www.trendhunter.com/megatrend/personalization) ## Audience - Gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, South America, Europe, Asia ## Examples of the Self-Serve Dining trend 6 featured examples from Jul 14, 2015 to Feb 5, 2016. - [Staff-Free Restaurants](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ordering-system): The Eatsa Restaurant Ordering System Automates Food Purchases (Category: Business) Implication: The restaurant industry can benefit from implementing staff-free models as a means to increase efficiency and reduce costs. - [Convenient Deli Kiosks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/future-deliveries): These Kiosks Allow Customers to Order Food for Future Deliveries (Category: Lifestyle) Implication: New and innovative technologies in the restaurant industry could revolutionize the way customers order food and drinks and experience service and convenience. - [Electronic Restaurant Menus](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/emenu): The Ziosk E-Menu Lets You Make Orders Without Having to Wait (Category: Lifestyle) Implication: Restaurants can adopt tablet-based e-menus to revolutionize their ordering process and improve customer satisfaction. - [Quick Cashless Restaurants](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/restaurant-chain): Restaurant Chain Wagamama Incorporates a Quicker Way to Eat and Pay (Category: Tech) Implication: Disruptive innovation opportunity: Revolutionize the restaurant industry by adopting cashless payment systems, server-less operations, and split bill technology. - [Convenient Kiosk Ordering Systems](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/kiosk-ordering): This Restaurant Uses Digital Kiosks to Take Orders (Category: Business) Implication: There is an opportunity for fast casual restaurants to incorporate digital kiosks into their ordering systems to improve customer experience and increase efficiency. - [High-Tech Family Eateries](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/restaurant-technology): Restaurant Technology at Richtree Natural Market Enriches Experiences (Category: Marketing) Implication: Restaurants can benefit by implementing innovative technology to enhance the overall dining experience of customers. **Workshop question:** If you were to integrate technology to make your customers' experiences more streamlined, how would you do it? ## Themes within the Self-Serve Dining trend ### Self-Serve Technology The rise of self-serve technology in the restaurant industry has enabled consumers to streamline their dining experience and expect higher levels of efficiency. ### Cashless Payment Cashless payment technology has the potential to increase efficiency in restaurants and reduce time spent waiting for checks. ### Interactive Dining Experience Restaurants are incorporating interactive technology to create a more immersive and engaging dining experience for customers. ## What the Self-Serve Dining trend means for industry ### For Food Industry The use of self-serve technology, cashless payment and interactive dining experiences all have the potential to disrupt the food industry and change the way restaurants operate. ### For Hospitality Industry The hospitality industry could benefit from the implementation of self-serve technology to increase efficiency and reduce wait times for customers. ### For Technology Industry The restaurant industry's increasing dependence on technology presents opportunities for innovation and development within the technology industry. ## Trend signals for Self-Serve Dining Trend score 4.3 out of 10, from popularity 64%, activity 56%, freshness 8%. - Popularity: 64% - Activity: 56% - Freshness: 8% ## Recent trend clusters - [Modular Capture](https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/creator-recording-gear) (Tech) - [Catalog Refresh](https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/legacy-game-enhancement) (Tech) - [Preset Desktops](https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/entry-level-desktop) (Tech) - [Fan Editions](https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/themed-gaming-laptop) (Tech) ## Trending in Tech - [Retro Wired Headphones](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/retro-wired-headphones) - [30-Minute Drone Deliveries](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/30-minute-drone-deliveries) - [Budget Tough-Screen Phones](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/budget-tough-screen-phones) - [Nonverbal Companion Robots](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/nonverbal-companion-robots) All articles: [Tech](https://www.trendhunter.com/tech)