Prediction-making is fun, but the headwinds facing hospitality operators require a pragmatic approach. So this year, we’re skipping what’s next but not here yet and looking at a few ways you can apply the latest technology to influence hospitality trends.

1. Labor Shortages and Automation

The ongoing labour shortages in the Australian hospitality industry are not just a trend, but a pressing challenge that demands immediate attention. With over 35% of businesses struggling to find suitable staff in 2023, this issue has only worsened in 2024 and is expected to persist through 2025. As a result, the rise of automation and self-service tech has become a crucial strategy to bridge the labour gap in 2025.

The quickest solution is self-serve technologies. 

Liven OrderUp enables self-ordering and payments from anywhere. If you are stuck on yesterday's QR-activated table ordering tech, it’s time to tap new functionality that allows QR ordering from anywhere with native POS integration and the Liven Magic App. Going beyond the table enables anyone to order from anywhere and use their preferred delivery mode. This has the added benefit of reducing marketplace costs, enabling direct (low to zero cost) delivery integrations and the easy addition of new ordering modalities like catering.

Also, look for new self-ordering Kiosk formats - like those delivered by Abacus Kiosks - to improve customer experience by providing faster service, error-free orders, and personalised upsells that create a better dining experience.

Implementing self-service digital ordering can lead to a significant increase in average order values, potentially by over 20%. This addresses the labour crisis and boosts revenue, making it a compelling solution for hospitality operators to consider.

For some, this will mean reducing staffing and, for others, improving customer experience by reducing the load on front desk staff and servers to provide a more heads-up experience.

2. Cost and Revenue Pressure Demand Greater Operational Efficiency

While leading POS platforms like Liven Abacus already provide inventory capabilities, the best operators tap perfectly integrated supply chain, inventory management and back office capabilities - especially in multi-venue environments. 

Letting AI work on invoice processing, menu optimisation, and pricing is the natural evolution of today’s POS capabilities.

 Zeemart is a great place to start. Automated inventory management helps venues minimise food waste with real-time stock tracking and digitised invoices. By optimising purchasing and reducing spoilage, restaurants cut costs and align with eco-conscious consumer values.

Australian diners are increasingly conscious of environmental impact. In 2025, technology that supports sustainability will become a must-have, from waste reduction systems to energy-efficient tools. Research by Food Frontier highlights that 65% of Australians are willing to pay more for sustainable dining options.

3. Customers Feeling the Pinch, Demand More

Cost of living pressures (coffee prices alone are up significantly yearly) mean customers aren’t just far more conscious of their spending; they want more when they spend. This is shorthand for, show me the love!

Loyalty programs have long suffered from high costs, lack of performance, data leakage and brand confusion. Next-generation loyalty programs put you back in control of driving rewarding customer experiences.

Expect your loyalty platform to be branded your way, to be completely programmable by you, and for you to be in control of data.

Liven Loyalty enables just this. Rather than points and punch cards, you can tap an omnichannel platform that exclusively reflects your brand. Your customer data flows to Liven Engage, a robust CRM platform through which you can launch targeted offers with a click. And the total experience is frictionless for you and consumers.

Friction had prevented loyalty programs from succeeding. Now, with just launched cardlinked loyalty, all the customer has to do is use their registered credit card to collect rewards. If they forgot to do that - or to pay using your digital loyalty wallet - no problems, they can now scan the QR code on the receipt and collect their rewards.

This results in greater engagement and higher-order values. Powered by your programmable currency, you can tweak incentives to offer more or only redeem them on specific occasions or days.

Next-generation loyalty programs like Liven aren't just for loyalty; they are a foundation in customer data, and programmable currency is the launching pad for omnichannel experiences and products.

4. More Efficient & Effective Marketing With Magic

As marketing costs continue escalating with little accountability or straightforward returns, the best operators turn to the customer as their secret weapon for driving AOV and frequency.

Using rich CRM data captured through transactions and their programmable currency, they launch new gifting offerings and money can’t buy experiences. Together, these activities enable their customers and super fans to introduce friends and family to their venue.

With Liven Engage, venues can automate marketing campaigns, predict customer preferences, and send personalised messages at the perfect time.

At the same time, the days of high-cost, hard-to-update, and tricky-to-manage apps are over. Arriving in 2025 is a new generation of Magic Apps - Liven Nomnie is leading the way - that will be the cornerstone of magical marketing and customer experiences.  Magic Apps enable applications to be built, launched, and opened from an icon on your screen or a QR code. They are easily integrated with your POS, loyalty wallet, and digital ordering. And, they are simple, easy to update, and highly versatile - if you, for instance, need an app for a specific event or pop-up, with no problems. Create and launch it in under an hour.

5. Get back in control of data and make it actionable with AI

Third-party platforms often limit a restaurant’s ability to access and control customer data, making it harder for AI to work. 

In 2025, the focus will shift towards tools that ensure venues have full ownership of their customer data. This control over data is not just a matter of ownership, but a key factor in making informed decisions and delivering personalized services, thereby enhancing the overall customer experience.

Liven’s ecosystem puts operators in control of their data. Whether through Zeemart’s insights into cost-of-goods-sold (COGS) or OrderUp’s customer behaviour analytics, venues can gain actionable insights without relying on third-party platforms. 

AI can analyse customer data to offer personalised recommendations, menus, and promotions.

Exact ordering and customer data can play a vital role in informing AI, which can assist in solving staffing issues by optimising scheduling and enhancing recruitment processes. 

6.  Reduce Technology Costs

The average venue uses over 30 different technologies to deliver services to customers.  That’s 30 different contracts, contacts, support points and endless integrations. 

The shift to platforms is on. Platforms are single stacks of technology that enable you to pick and choose what you use but always work better together. They can allow a venue to operate up to 75% less than purchasing the technologies separately.

Liven One is a breakthrough for any hospo operator, enabling data and orders - and the front and back office - to work as one.

What’s Next?

These are just six trends impacting hospitality in 2025. We’ve got an eye on many other shifts and innovations set to transform hospo, including:

1. Robotic Automation: Robots are increasingly used for food preparation, delivery, and customer service, improving efficiency and reducing labour costs. Liven recently integrated its POS with robots preparing Bubbletea, enabling orders to flow directly to screens and productions.

2. Central, Ghost Kitchens, and Cloud Kitchens: Virtual restaurants operating out of shared kitchens are gaining popularity, expanding delivery options and reducing overhead. At the same time, central kitchens that prepare and complete meal creation continue to grow. Both require Enterprise Management Systems connected to POS and digital ordering—often with advanced KDS workflow management. Operations platforms (like Abacus and Zeemart) have become critical in coordinating production and distribution, even on orders placed weeks in advance.

3. Direct Hyperlocal Delivery: Focus on direct integrations with rapid, localised delivery services to cater to the growing demand for convenience and speed—without the costs of current marketplace offerings.

4. Voice Ordering & AI-Powered Chatbots: Integrating voice assistants and AI chatbots for seamless order placement and customer support.

5. Subscription Models: Offering subscription services for exclusive deals, meal plans, or delivery services.

Sounds good? Contact us today to discover how Liven can help your venue thrive in 2025 and beyond!