It is understandable that the concepts of "foodservice" and "technology" are not necessarily deemed as a likely fit, but the fact is, foodservice are more dependent on technology than most restaurateurs realize, and foodservice as a whole lags far behind when it comes to incorporating technological advances into their marketing and operations.

When thinking technology in foodservice, there are the obvious items like state-of-the art stoves, ovens and microwaves, which will allow you to cook your food faster and more efficiently than older models, but then there are the not-so-obvious types of technology; such as computers and the software that is run on them as well as interactive digital signage or even an up to the minute website.

Obviously, the slim to modest gains that most restaurants see leave them little to no room for sophisticated gadgetry, but as the next generation of consumers (those who have been immersed in computers and computer technology since birth) come of age, they will be expecting something more sophisticated than the same old thing that has been around for generations.

And yet, more importantly than the expectations of an upcoming generation would have to be the benefits that even the smallest restaurants would gain from 1) developing a web presence and 2) from installing (and taking advantage of) the latest in computer software aimed at inventory tracking and restaurant management.