What smart QSR brands are doing differently to increase profitability

In a time when operational margins are tight and talent is harder to retain, less is quickly becoming more.

A recent report from Hospitality Tech identified six key trends driving profitability for fast casual and QSR brands in 2025. One of the key points on the list is tech stack simplification, and we couldn’t agree more. Brands are waking up to the fact that disconnected tools and siloed systems aren’t just inefficient; they’re holding the entire business back. As the report notes, 64% of restaurant operators are simplifying their tech stack, opting for more unified platforms that can power the entire operation, not just pieces of it. This is supported in the Restaurant Technology Landscape Report 2024 by the National Restaurant Association, where 76% of operators say using technology gives them a competitive edge, but many believe their restaurants could do more to keep up on the tech front. QSR brands know that their technology stack is one of the keys to getting ahead in 2025 and beyond.

Unified data drives better decisions

Modern restaurant leaders can’t afford to make decisions in the dark. They need a full-picture view of what’s happening across all locations. From food safety and compliance, to daily task completion, and staff training progress, they cannot afford to drop the ball anywhere. Fragmented platforms don’t deliver that clarity.

When your operational systems are unified, so is your data. This gives HQ the kind of actionable insights that fuel strategic decisions, not guesswork. It’s not just about saving time, it’s about making every decision count. Fujitsu aptly put it in their QSR and the Seven Deadly Sins… of Technology article, “Data is likely worth more to a QSR than selling its product.” Bold. True.

By consolidating daily operations, food safety, audits, training, and team communication into one place, Operandio enables businesses to cut down costs and surface insights that help them scale confidently.

Read more on Operandio’s reporting functions for QSR.

The role of a powerful Learning Management System

One of the most overlooked (yet essential) parts of the modern QSR tech stack is a strong Learning Management System (LMS). Training needs to evolve quickly as frontline teams grow more diverse and mobile-savvy. The data shows that FOH and BOH new-hire staff training experienced drops from 2024 to 2025.  

With that in mind, gone are the days of bulky binders and printed manuals. Today’s workforce prefers mobile-first, on-demand learning that’s intuitive, engaging, and easy to access, whether they’re in the back of house or on the floor.

Operandio’s built-in LMS helps restaurants:

• Onboard new staff quickly and consistently
• Deliver bite-sized, mobile-friendly training that sticks
• Automate assigning training to your team, saving time and improving compliance
• Provide refresher courses for existing staff, helping to reinforce knowledge and ensure consistency across the brand
• Track course completion and certification across every team
• Reduce training time and costs across multiple locations

When training lives inside the same platform as compliance checklists, daily task management, food prep labeling, and temperature logs, it becomes a powerful part of your unified operational ecosystem and not just an isolated add-on.

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Your tech stack should work for you, not against you

“In the rush to go digital, many brands built their tech stacks like a Jenga tower — unstable, ready to topple, and blocking innovation.” That quote from the Hospitality Tech report says it all.

Now more than ever, restaurant brands need systems that don’t just digitize but instead integrate, streamline, and empower.

Operandio exists to do precisely that. It is not just another piece of software. It is the all-in-one operations management platform that gives operators full visibility, consistency across sites, and the ability to run a better business.