Restaurants

Restaurant kiosks surge 43% from 2021 to 2023 to 350K, will double by 2028

Restaurant chains are seeing a clear business case for kiosk technology and also report an increase in average transaction values as a direct result of installing self-ordering kiosks.

Image: HMSHost

January 10, 2024

The total number of restaurant kiosks jumped 43% in the two years through June 2023, nearing 350,000 installations worldwide, according to a study from firm RBR Data Services, a division of Datos Insights, a research and consulting firm.

RBR Data Services forecasts that there will be nearly 700,000 kiosks installed worldwide by 2028.

"With hospitality overheads continuing to skyrocket globally and minimum wage increases planned in many developed countries, restaurant chains of all sizes will introduce kiosks or expand existing rollouts as a way of rationalizing their operations and boosting transaction values," Chris Allen, who led RBR Data Services' Global Self-Ordering Kiosks 2024 research, said in a press release.

The study, Global Self-Ordering Kiosks 2024, shows that while McDonald's remains the world's largest deployer of the technology with more than 130,000 units installed, Burger King and KFC have each expanded their international kiosk deployment considerably, in countries ranging from Romania to the Philippines.

Asia-Pacific and EMEA see sharp rises

The report found restaurant kiosk installations in Asia-Pacific increased dramatically, largely owing to Chinese chain Dicos more than doubling the size of its estate, while various South Korean brands such as Lotteria, Mom's Touch and A Twosome Place have also deployed kiosks widely across their store networks.

In Europe, the Middle East and Africa, local chains as well as global QSR brands are pursuing a digital store model that includes kiosks. Among these are France's BCHEF and Poland's Pasibus which have rolled out the technology to all their restaurants.

North American chains are expanding outside their home markets into EMEA, opening stores with kiosks as standard, including Taco Bell in the U.K., Dunkin' Donuts in Germany, and Pizza Hut in Saudi Arabia.

The largest regional kiosk market is the Americas, with the U.S. alone being home to more than 110,000 installations. Alongside international QSR giants, domestic chains in the region such as the Shake Shack, Brazil's Habibs and Argentina's Mostaza are also rolling out the technology.

Restaurants opting for smaller kiosks

Although the largest-sized standing and double-sided models continue to be favored by major global chains like McDonald's, small and medium-sized kiosks including tablet-based solutions are seeing strong growth worldwide. Kiosks with a screen size between 19 and 30 inches now account for half the global market.

Space and budget constraints are giving countertop kiosks and tablets traction among local restaurant chains including Black Sheep Coffee in the U.K., Pokawa in France and Arctic Circle Restaurants in the U.S.

Self-ordering is crucial to the future

With rising food prices and labor costs as well as supply chain fragility, restaurant chains are seeing a clear business case for kiosk technology as an effective means of cost cutting. Fast-food operators also report an increase in average transaction values as a direct result of installing self-ordering kiosks.