The quick-service restaurant (QSR) industry continues to evolve rapidly in 2025, with key trends reflecting a dual focus on technological advancement and human capital. Let's explore the major developments shaping the industry this year.
Leveraging AI Technology to Ease Back-of-House Operations
The QSR industry has been the testing ground for dozens of new technologies and platforms over the past few years, all promising to streamline operations and boost productivity for their in-person staff. But the next phase in 2025 will be about integration: opting for tools that work natively with company software, are easy for staff to learn, and actually save workers’ time.
“Restaurant staff are drowning in operational friction: juggling multiple ordering platforms, managing separate systems for dine-in and catering, and coordinating delivery services. The solution lies in building a unified platform that’s actually easy to manage and scale.” - Jared Castronova, Head of Marketing Communications at Checkmate.
AI technologies are likely here to stay, particularly in QSR. Restaurant leaders who can leverage the right tools at the right time, while training staff to use them properly, will find the best bang for their buck on these benefits.
Ensuring Guests Enjoy the Entire Experience
As consumer attitudes and tastes continue to adjust, QSR leaders are homing in on the entire eating experience to differentiate themselves from their competitors. Restaurants will always work to provide good food at good value. But experiential factors like great customer service, impeccably clean locations, and promptly accurate order fulfillment now hold serious weight. Consumers have a lot of choices when it comes to where to go for dinner. The key to developing customer loyalty and brand resilience is increasingly about more than just the food.
Delivering on these consumer expectations begins with restaurant employees. Are they properly trained, engaged, and ready for the tasks at hand? Do they know how to access and troubleshoot your AI tools? Investing in people – especially store managers, as we’ll see later on – is only becoming more important in the age of automation and consumer expectation, not less.
Prioritizing Employee Wellbeing and Culture
The industry is experiencing a fundamental shift in how it approaches workplace culture. The next generation of workers has made it clear that support for mental health programs is a priority, with 80% of Gen Z and Millennial workers weighing it “heavily” in relation to other support offerings.
Employee wellness programs are undoubtedly useful when employees use them. But adoption is often less than employers expect, leaving teams with an expensive benefits package that’s not fully utilized. Opting for programs that can provide value to employees without adding costs and overhead will be a major theme for QSR leaders in 2025.
One such benefit is earned wage access. Offered at no-cost to employers, EWA programs provide workers on-demand access to their pay, so they can buy necessities or pay bills without waiting for payday. Companies are finding that investments in employee financial wellbeing directly correlate with improved customer satisfaction and operational efficiency.
Battling for Management Talent
As we saw in the trends above, emerging technology and an emphasis on employee engagement are adding layers of complexity to day-to-day operations for QSRs. Employees need more training and investment to remain at their best. AI tools and software that are integrated into ordering and processing systems require oversight. Not to mention the day-to-day operations of running a clean, functional restaurant where ROI is always top-of-mind. It’s no surprise that finding and keeping skilled management is a top priority for leaders heading into 2025.
“The market for skilled managers is likely to become increasingly competitive. Experienced leaders will choose stability over movement. That means restaurants, especially emerging brands, will need to double down on their management training programs to develop talent internally rather than relying on external hiring.” - Rachel Nemeth, CEO and co-founder of Opus Training
QSR operators will need to continue to develop innovative approaches to attract and retain top management talent, including enhanced benefits packages, clear career progression paths, and performance-based incentives.
Final Thoughts
The QSR industry in 2025 stands at an interesting crossroads. Competition is fierce, costs are rising, and consumers remain discerning about where to spend their dollars. Restaurants will need to capitalize on cost-effective, impactful solutions to ensure their operations and talent stay on the cutting edge.
The future of QSR looks bright for those willing to adapt and innovate, keeping both their customers and employees at the heart of their strategy. As these trends continue to evolve, we can expect to see even more exciting developments in how quick-service restaurants operate and serve their communities.
Ready to discover how earned wage access can unlock your restaurant’s full potential? Read more here to learn how QSR brands are using EWA to find retention and performance gains at no-cost to their business.
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