Running a restaurant in 2026 is more complex than ever. Costs are rising, staff is harder to find, customers expect fast and digital experiences, and competition is increasing both online and offline. For many restaurant owners, the biggest challenge is not just surviving, but staying efficient and profitable in a constantly changing environment.
This article breaks down the main pain points restaurant owners face in 2026, based on real industry data and verified sources, and explains how digitalization helps solve these problems in a practical and sustainable way.
1. Staff shortages and high employee turnover
One of the biggest pain points for restaurants in 2026 remains labor.
Many restaurant owners struggle to hire and retain staff. Employees expect better schedules, flexibility, and less stress. At the same time, minimum wages and labor costs continue to rise.
Why this hurts your business
- Inconsistent service quality
- Longer wait times for customers
- Higher training and onboarding costs
- Burnout for existing staff
According to the National Restaurant Association, staffing remains one of the top concerns for restaurant operators worldwide.
How digitalization helps
Digital tools help reduce pressure on staff by:
- Automating ordering through QR codes or online menus
- Sending orders directly to the kitchen, reducing mistakes
- Using smart scheduling based on demand and reservations
When staff spend less time on repetitive tasks, they can focus more on service and guest experience.
2. Rising operating costs and shrinking margins
Food prices, utilities, rent, and third party commissions all continue to increase in 2026. Many restaurants operate on thin margins, so even small cost increases can have a big impact.
Common cost-related pain points
- Food waste due to poor forecasting
- High delivery platform commissions
- Manual processes that waste time and money
Industry reports show that food cost volatility and operational inefficiencies are among the biggest threats to profitability.
How digitalization helps
Digital systems allow restaurant owners to:
- Track inventory in real time
- Adjust menus based on demand and cost data
- Reduce waste with better forecasting
- Encourage direct online orders instead of third party platforms
Better visibility into costs makes it easier to protect margins.
3. Customers expect fast and digital experiences
In 2026, guests expect restaurants to be easy to interact with digitally. This includes browsing menus, placing orders, paying, and leaving reviews.
If your restaurant still relies heavily on paper menus and manual processes, customers notice.
What customers expect today
- QR code or digital menus
- Online ordering and reservations
- Contactless payments
- Fast service with fewer errors
Studies show that digital convenience directly impacts customer satisfaction and repeat visits.
How digitalization helps
Digital ordering and payment systems:
- Speed up service
- Reduce ordering errors
- Improve table turnover
- Create a smoother guest experience
These improvements directly impact revenue per table and customer loyalty.
4. Managing multiple ordering channels is chaotic
Restaurants today handle dine in orders, takeaway, delivery, website orders, and sometimes multiple delivery platforms at once.
Without proper systems, this quickly becomes overwhelming.
Pain points restaurant owners face
- Orders coming from different devices
- Staff manually re entering orders
- Inconsistent menus across platforms
- Difficult end of day reporting
This fragmentation increases errors and slows down operations.
How digitalization helps
Modern restaurant platforms centralize all orders in one place. Orders flow directly to the kitchen and reporting is unified.
This reduces stress, mistakes, and wasted time during busy hours.
5. Inventory waste and supply chain uncertainty
Food waste is still a major problem in 2026, especially with fluctuating supply chains and unpredictable demand.
Why this is a serious issue
- Over ordering leads to spoilage
- Under ordering leads to unavailable menu items
- Manual inventory tracking is inaccurate
According to hospitality industry data, inventory mismanagement is one of the top causes of lost profit.
How digitalization helps
Digital inventory systems:
- Track stock automatically
- Alert you before items run out
- Sync inventory with sales data
- Help plan smarter purchasing
This leads to lower waste and more consistent menu availability.
6. Lack of clear data for decision making
Many restaurant owners collect data but cannot easily use it.
Sales reports, reservations, reviews, and inventory data often live in separate systems or spreadsheets.
Common problems
- No real time overview of performance
- Decisions based on intuition instead of data
- Slow reaction to problems
Without clear insights, it is hard to optimize operations.
How digitalization helps
Analytics dashboards bring everything together:
- Sales trends
- Best and worst performing menu items
- Busy hours and slow periods
- Customer feedback
This allows restaurant owners to make faster and better decisions.
7. Customer loyalty is harder to maintain
Competition is intense in 2026. Customers have more choices and ordering platforms often sit between you and your guests.
Loyalty related challenges
- Customers ordering through third party apps
- No direct relationship with guests
- Limited personalization
Research shows that repeat customers are far more profitable than new ones.
How digitalization helps
Digital loyalty tools and customer profiles help restaurants:
- Build direct relationships
- Send personalized offers
- Collect feedback automatically
- Encourage repeat visits
This strengthens long term revenue.
8. Security and compliance concerns
As restaurants use more digital tools, data security becomes more important.
Common concerns
- Payment data protection
- Compliance with regulations
- System reliability
Hospitality businesses are increasingly targeted by cyber attacks.
How digitalization helps
Using modern, secure platforms with built in compliance standards reduces risk and protects both your business and your customers.
Why digital maturity matters in 2026
The most successful restaurants in 2026 are not using random tools. They are building connected digital systems that work together.
Digital maturity means:
- Orders, menus, payments, and analytics are connected
- Staff workflows are simplified
- Owners have real time visibility
- Customer experience is consistent
Restaurant SaaS platforms that focus on efficiency, integration, and ease of use are becoming essential tools for owners who want to stay competitive.
FAQ
Labor shortages and rising operating costs remain the biggest challenges, followed closely by customer expectations for digital experiences.
Yes. Digital tools help small restaurants operate more efficiently, reduce waste, and compete with larger brands.
Yes. By reducing errors, waste, and manual work while increasing customer satisfaction and table turnover.
Ordering efficiency, inventory visibility, and customer experience usually deliver the fastest return on investment.
3 Sources
- 1.
National Restaurant Association Survey on Costs and Priorities – Restaurant operator survey on sales focus, cost control, and guest experience priorities.
https://www.bluebookservices.com/restaurant-survey-outlines-sales-and-cost-trends-shaping-2026/ - 2.
Restaurant Industry Outlook 2026 – Restaurant industry expectations, including sales, costs, and economic pressures.
https://www.nrn.com/restaurant-finance/what-the-restaurant-industry-can-expect-in-2026 - 3.
National Restaurant Association 2026 Trends – National Restaurant Association’s 2026 forecast and industry insights about restaurant trends.
https://www.restaurant.org/research-and-media/media/press-releases/national-restaurant-association-unveils-2026-culinary-forecast-smash-burgers-global-comfort/