California’s new $20-an-hour wage threshold generated a lot of talk at the recent National Restaurant Association Show – largely because it is expected to become an expense that restaurants in many other states will have to manage before too long. This change brings new urgency to labor management, along with the need for restaurants to determine what tools, culture changes or other approaches can ensure they are using staff as efficiently as possible. Operators are asking more from their technology as a result, like how it can help save on labor costs in addition to raising check totals. But there are significant cultural benefits too: Technology can (and should) offer simplicity. That is something more Gen Z employees demand from their employers, along with workplaces that offer employees a sense of purpose and a healthy culture. Using technology to minimize the most repetitive, tedious tasks frees up time for operators to develop workplaces that can invest some additional hours in staff, provide roles with greater purpose, and ideally, retain the right employees for longer stretches. Looking at your tech stack – or at the potential tools you’re considering – how can you ensure you’re taking full advantage of all of the benefits they offer when it comes to retaining staff and enhancing your culture?

Are you considering adopting new tech to better manage labor costs? Looking to California might provide some examples of how it can be done. The state’s recent decision to raise the minimum wage for quick-service restaurant workers to $20 has reopened discussions about how technology might be used to automate or streamline restaurant tasks, according to a recent report from Restaurant Technology News. It said the California Restaurant Association has confirmed that some restaurant operators are either deciding against expansion or are closing stores as a result of the decision. Even if you’re not dealing with a mandated wage increase in your state, you’ve likely been considering how to weave new technology into your business to operate more efficiently. Research from the National Restaurant Association found that nearly half of the restaurants they surveyed plan to use technology and automation to manage labor shortages. One-quarter of respondents said they plan to use self-ordering and payment kiosks specifically. Beyond labor, the National Restaurant Association’s survey found that operators’ top priorities for technology spending this year include digital and location-based marketing; loyalty and reward systems; back-office technologies that help operators manage food safety compliance, tax compliance and finance; inventory control and management; and point-of-sale systems.