Back-of-House Reliability Emerges as a Critical Driver of Front-of-House Performance and Profitability
Philadelphia, PA (Restaurant News Release) MachineQ, a Comcast Company, today announced the findings from its 2026 Restaurant Readiness: Ops Meets Tech Report, conducted by independent research firm Censuswide. The survey of more than 400 U.S.-based quick service and fast casual restaurant leaders reveals that nearly half (49%) of respondents experienced downtime due to equipment failure or unplanned maintenance. The report notes that 24 percent of respondents estimate revenue loss between $1,001 – $5,000 per hour of disruption.
With rising food and labor costs continuing to strain profits, restaurant leaders are prioritizing technology investments, including the Internet of Things (IoT), which are paying dividends to improve front of house experiences. The report also shows that automating back-of-house functions, such as equipment monitoring, food safety tracking, and inventory management, are helping operators reduce waste and downtime, thereby helping to deliver a better guest experience. More than half of the respondents (58%) said they see the opportunity to benefit from technology and automation, with that number climbing to nearly 70% among those operating 50 or more restaurant locations.
“Restaurants today are operating in one of the toughest cost environments we’ve seen with the average annual spend for labor and perishable food per restaurant location alone exceeding one million,” said Tom Woodbury, Restaurant Technology Lead at MachineQ. “Back-of-house automation is proving to be a critical lever – not just to help operators prevent costly downtime, but to help improve food safety, reduce waste, and give staff more time to focus on customers.”
Technology Is Fueling Operational Efficiency and Guest Experience
The research highlights how technology adoption is transforming day-to-day restaurant operations:
- Operators identified food safety, supply chain reliability, and waste reduction as the top back-of-house improvements that most directly enhance front-of-house performance.
- 63% of respondents believe real-time visibility into energy and equipment usage would help reduce costs and support sustainability initiatives.
- Nearly nine in ten (86%) are already investing or plan to invest in IoT-based systems within the next two years to improve monitoring, automate compliance, and streamline multi-location management.
- 46% plan to increase technology budgets in the year ahead – outpacing planned spending increases for staffing, equipment, and menu expansion.
As restaurants adapt to inflation, staffing shortages, and tighter margins, the report underscores a growing focus on futureproofing operations. From predictive maintenance and temperature monitoring to waste reduction and sustainability tracking, operators see technology as key to maintaining safety, efficiency, and profitability in a competitive industry.
For a deeper look at the findings, read the 2026 Restaurant Readiness: Ops Meets Tech Report here.
About MachineQ
MachineQ, a Comcast Company, makes it simple for enterprises to build, connect and deploy IoT solutions at scale. Our fully integrated IoT network connectivity platform delivers enhanced security and reduced total cost of ownership, while giving customers a single provider for technology, development, service, and support. Our end-to-end IoT solutions and partnerships with leading solution providers address a wide range of business challenges in key markets such as life sciences, foodservice, retail, facilities, and hospitality. For more information, visit MachineQ.com.
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Contact:
Drew Miale
Three Rings Inc.
dmiale@threeringsinc.com
207-423-5033