Nobody has a crystal ball on the future, unless you’re Doc from Back To The Future. But the folks at Paytronix, the digital guest engagement platform, think they have a pretty good read on what’s to come in off-premises, according to its 2025 Trend Predictions Report.
Hillary Hadley, a senior strategist on the strategy and analytics team, sees order throttling advancing in a big way. “While it is not a new feature for modern restaurant technology platforms, I anticipate it will become more widely adopted. Order throttling, along with customizable operational tools, maximizes efficiency and allows restaurants to better manage logistics at the store level. As restaurants strive to reduce errors and provide accurate delivery times, these integrations will become increasingly common,” she said.
For operators concerned with delivery safety and efficiency, Tim Ridgely, vice president of online ordering, says a solution can be found up in the skies.
“Drones could effectively limit the opportunities for tampering or potential delays due to traffic or taking a wrong turn. I expect to see big tech companies invest in drones that revolutionize the delivery space,” he said.
Expect convenience stores to step up their delivery game.
“Although delivery hasn’t yet impacted convenience stores as significantly as it has restaurants, in 2025 brands will aim to improve real-time delivery tracking and speed up delivery times. To support the end-to-end online ordering process, convenience brands will focus on meeting consumer preferences for pickup options, particularly around flexible curbside pickup,” said Donnie Fairbanks, convenience store strategist.
Everybody likes a fun game and that trend will not slow down in terms of loyalty programs. “In 2024, restaurant brands experimented with engaging younger audiences, often starting with gaming. Whether through robust first-party apps like Chick-fil-A or Burger King, or platforms like Roblox used by Wow Bao, gamification is rapidly becoming a key method for understanding young people. Gamification will be a fascinating trend to watch in 2025,” said Bonnie Woods, convenience store strategist.
What’s old will be new again in 2025.
“Looking ahead to 2025, I anticipate that restaurants will continue to invest in nostalgia. It’s well established that Millennials and older Gen Z consumers respond positively to nostalgia-focused branding. Brands like Taco Bell, Red Lobster, and Starbucks have publicly made efforts to ‘return to their roots’ and reintroduce fan favorites,” said Kristin Lynch, senior director of strategy & analytics.
How about value pricing? That was 2024’s big story. Will it be news again this year? Perhaps not as much. But it’s not going away.
“Summer 2024 demonstrated that deals reign supreme, and I fully expect brands to lean further into promotions again in 2025. The success of the McDonald’s $5 Meal Deal and Dunkin’s $6 Meal Deal highlighted the effectiveness of affordable, efficient deals that cater to consumers’ needs and budgets, especially as costs rise in other areas of their lives,” said Lynch.
