Key Insights: What We Heard at the Restaurant Technology Show 2025

Event: Foodservice Australia – Restaurant Technology Show 2025
Dates: May 18-20, 2025
Location: Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre (MCEC), Melbourne, Australia
Industry Focus: QSR, Restaurant Technology, Food Safety, Hospitality Operations
Takeaway: Operators want less admin, more execution, and tools that their teams actually use.

Operators Are Done Buying Software That Doesn’t Get Used

At the Restaurant Technology Show 2025, the conversations around technology had a clear focus: action over administration. From local fast-casual chains to national franchise groups, the feedback was consistent: too many systems are built for head office reporting, not for the people actually doing the work.

Operandio stood out to attendees because it’s built for frontline execution first, with visibility and reporting layered in. In contrast, many other solutions at the show focused on point-of-sale (POS) and back-office functions, leaving a gap where real-time execution occurs.

What Stood Out in Our Conversations with Operators

1. Mobile-First Workflows Win Over Admin-Led Systems

Operators loved Operandio’s ability to digitize and simplify frontline execution: daily tasks, audits, checklists, food safety, and SOPs on a mobile-first platform. Decision-makers noted the importance of enabling staff to seamlessly transition between training, checklists, and compliance without needing to switch between different platforms. Saves a ton of time.

2. Microlearning and Training Gaps Are Costing Brands

Operators shared their frustrations with traditional Learning Management Systems (LMS) that require desktop logins and lengthy modules. Operandio’s microlearning-driven LMS, designed for QSR and hospitality environments, resonated deeply. It fills a critical gap with brands trying to reduce onboarding time and improve training outcomes across multiple locations.

3. Hardware-Agnostic, But Hardware-Aware

While Operandio is a hardware-agnostic platform, we had a lot of interest in how our software integrates with label printers, especially for automated temperature monitoring sensors, as well as food prep labelling and traceability. Several attendees appreciated the flexibility of pairing Operandio with their preferred hardware while still gaining the power of real-time compliance, automated logging, and operational visibility.

This pairing of software strength with optional hardware integrations makes Operandio a practical and scalable choice rather than yet another rigid system.

4. Consultants as a Growing Buyer Persona

We also had meaningful conversations with consultants working with restaurants and foodservice providers, many of whom are advising their clients on how to digitize operations or prepare for certification audits. Operandio’s multi-function platform became a compelling recommendation tool in their toolkit, giving them confidence to refer a system that can scale with their clients’ needs without breaking the bank.

Prize Giveaway: Zebra Printer Draw

As part of our presence at the show, we ran a Zebra ZD411 Printer giveaway, which served as a perfect conversation starter around food safety labelling and digital traceability. Dozens of qualified operators and consultants entered, with the winner to be announced on our LinkedIn page.

Cross-Industry Interest Points to Operandio’s Versatility

While our core industry focus is QSR and hospitality, we have seen a rising interest from sectors such as aged care, healthcare, childcare, and service-based franchises. This reflects Operandio’s ability to flex beyond foodservice, offering a single platform that can adapt to safety, training, task management, and compliance needs across industries. All of this happens without dependency on proprietary hardware or outdated processes.

One Platform. Built for Execution, Not Just Oversight.

If one message rang loudest at the Restaurant Technology Show 2025, it was this: operators want tools that improve daily execution and scale with confidence. They absolutely do NOT want more software to manage.

Operandio is answering that call:

• Digitizing food safety, tasks, SOPs, and training in one place
• Supporting hardware (like label printers) without locking you in with monthly subscriptions for said hardware
• Delivering real-time visibility to reduce risk and raise performance
  

Learn why more multi-location brands are choosing Operandio.

Book a live demo to see it in action.