FS/TEC 2025: From Loyalty Innovation to Edge Intelligence — What's Next for Restaurant Tech

The restaurant industry's technology landscape is accelerating, and FS/TEC 2025 made that clear. What stood out wasn't just shiny tools or buzzwords — it was how operators are experimenting with multiple approaches to growth, loyalty and infrastructure. 

The message was consistent: there isn't a single playbook. Operators win when they combine proven methods with new innovations. There's no secret sauce.  

Growth in uncertain times: Multiple paths to efficiency 

Even amid economic unpredictability, operators are planning for growth — but not all in the same way. 

Some emphasized a back-to-basics approach: refreshing core hardware, tightening kitchen systems and tracking waste item by item. Others stressed flexibility and experimentation, using AI tools to fine-tune performance and modernizing digital ordering across markets. 

The lesson: growth doesn't depend on one strategy. Some double down on reliability, others lean into experimentation — most successful operators do both. 

How WWT helps: We partnered with a restaurant chain to help it leverage AI and data insights to improve digital ordering and guest engagement, strengthening efficiency in backend operations while unlocking new growth opportunities. 

Beyond the app: Loyalty innovation has more than one playbook 

One session highlighted a decision to go "app-free" for loyalty, using a mobile wallet. The result: millions of members engaged with gamification, surprise-and-delight offers, and agile campaigns. 

This doesn't mean apps are obsolete. In fact, apps remain a cornerstone for many restaurant brands, offering deep engagement, personalization and integration opportunities. 

The takeaway: apps aren't the only way forward. Mobile wallets, messaging platforms and emerging channels like RCS show that loyalty innovation can take many forms. Operators should view this as an expanding toolkit — one that will keep evolving. 

How WWT helps: With Panera, WWT has helped integrate loyalty across multiple channels — apps, digital wallets and beyond — ensuring guests can engage wherever they choose while operators gain a unified view of customer behavior. 

Infrastructure as strategy, not just plumbing 

Resilient infrastructure used to be considered "plumbing." At FS/TEC, it became clear that it is actually strategic infrastructure. 

Speakers underscored how rethinking point-of-sale approaches, eliminating costly in-store hardware, and leaning on more resilient networking models can improve reliability and reduce costs. Just as importantly, effective infrastructure is what enables real-time data capture and supports AI development at the edge. Without a stable, connected foundation, predictive analytics, personalization and automation simply don't work. 

The impact is direct: better infrastructure leads to cleaner data, smarter insights, and differentiated experiences for both employees and customers. 

How WWT helps: In our work with Jack in the Box, WWT designed infrastructure that not only improved reliability but also unlocked real-time data capture to fuel AI development — leading to smarter insights and better customer and employee experiences. 

AI at the edge: Practical, flexible applications 

Artificial intelligence dominated FS/TEC discussions, but the focus was on where and how it adds value — not on a one-size-fits-all model. 

Some operators are deploying vision AI to monitor throughput. Others are using predictive analytics for labor or inventory. Still others are finding value in tools that make it easier to move and retrain AI models across store-level devices. 

The common thread: AI is not a single solution, but a flexible set of tools. Operators are experimenting at the edge — in kitchens, drive-thrus and handhelds — to find where it moves the needle most. 

How WWT Helps: At Jersey Mike's, WWT partnered to launch an immersive mobile app and supporting infrastructure that laid the foundation for future AI-driven personalization — an example of how the right digital investments today make AI applications more impactful tomorrow. 

Where operators should focus next 

FS/TEC reinforced that success requires optionality. No two organizations will take the same exact path, but the areas of focus are converging: 

• Audit and simplify: Reliability is non-negotiable; complexity is the enemy. 
• Expand the loyalty playbook: Apps are powerful, but alternative channels are rising. Keep an eye on both. 
• Treat infrastructure as strategy: Connectivity, redundancy and resilience drive growth as much as menu innovation. 
• Pilot AI use cases at the edge: Start small — throughput, inventory, training — and scale what works. 
• Align people with tech: Every innovation succeeds or fails on employee adoption. Training and change management remain essential. 

Final thoughts

FS/TEC 2025 underscored that the future of restaurant tech isn't about choosing a single model. It's about staying open, testing new ideas and building a resilient foundation. 

For some, that means doubling down on apps. For others, experimenting with wallets or edge AI. For all, it means recognizing that innovation doesn't stand still — and neither can operators.