Top Challenges Facing QSR Operations in 2026…
and How Automation Can Solve Them
Technology, Industry Trends, Serving Solutions
2025.12.03
As the quick-service industry enters 2026, familiar challenges—from labor instability to rising customer expectations—are intensifying. From Server’s perspective, operators don’t just need faster tools; they need automated systems that remove back-of-house variability and create predictable, repeatable execution. QSR brands that embrace automation for agility, brand consistency, and throughput will be best positioned to thrive in an unpredictable market.
Automation is more than simply increasing speed. It’s about being resilient, agile, and creating consistent brand experiences despite unpredictable times. Server has seen firsthand that simplifying prep and portioning workflows—rather than adding more steps or more training—is where operators gain the most measurable improvement. Integrating automated devices such as AI-forward systems and smart equipment doesn’t have to be complicated, costly, or come with a massive learning curve for managers and staff.
Explore these four challenges facing quick-service operations in 2026 and how automation tools can help manage variables that arise and fluctuate throughout the year.
1. Automation solutions for restaurant labor shortages
Insights: 62% of operators say they still don’t have enough staff to meet demand,1 and at the same time, the turnover rate in the restaurant industry is nearly 80%.2
Challenge: Ongoing labor shortages in restaurants and high turnover rates will continue to be a top concern for operators who struggle to recruit and retain staff. Even as minimum wages rise, the gap in the number of staff available to fill these roles remains low. This is especially true for back-of-house jobs.
Situation: Manual prep tasks—preparing beverages from scratch, portioning sauces, or assembling condiments—consume valuable time and greatly burden staff, especially when QSRs are already short-staffed.
Solution: Automated dispensing, portioning, and prep systems can reduce dependency on skilled labor while helping your back-of-house team execute more smoothly. As example, automated portioning tools routinely save 5 to 10 seconds per item and reduce sauce waste by 15 to 25% by eliminating over-pouring and variation across employees. Even small gains like these compound significantly during peak service windows and help alleviate the burden on staff so your team can serve more orders with less stress.
2. Using automation to improve customization and portion control
Insights: 62% of operators already accommodate custom orders, and 30% design menus to encourage them, 3 which supports the 28% of diners who welcome AI to assist in better menu customization.4
Challenge: Foodservice chains now understand the importance of customizing menus to meet diner demand. Yet, the definition of what customization means to today’s discerning diner is getting more complex. As consumer diets diversify (GLP-1, keto, Mediterranean, etc.), QSRs must adapt menus for deeper personalization and portion flexibility to align with patrons’ changing lifestyle preferences.5
Situation: Health-conscious consumers seek smaller portions and balanced choices. When options are oversized or inflexible, operators risk losing these influential customers.
Solution: In-store kiosks and mobile apps that let patrons personalize proteins, sauces, and portion sizes empower diners to control calories, macros, and flavor. But from an operator standpoint, customization only works when portion execution is consistent. The more options a menu has, the more important it becomes to remove variability and make execution push-button simple. Automated syrup systems and portion control technology ensure precise, repeatable measurements that eliminate guesswork, support calorie transparency, and reduce BOH inconsistency.
3. Speed of service automation: winning with accuracy and efficiency
Insights: 93% of consumers visit a QSR at least once a month, and the same percentage of diners cite long wait times as their top frustration, with over half saying they would welcome more tech if it meant faster service.6 In tandem, order accuracy plays a critical role in speed and customer satisfaction, according to QSR.7
Challenge: Patrons expect fast food from fast-food restaurants. Consumer values have progressed, and quick-service chains need to modify their systems and processes to align. Positive guest experiences are greater when accuracy is improved, along with speed of service. Getting it fast and getting it right can make or break a patron’s decision on where to dine.
Situation: During rush periods, drive-thru lines grow long, and communication issues cause errors and frustration, creating negative experiences.
Solution: When drive-thru speed expectations tighten every year, the only sustainable path is removing manual bottlenecks. Automated sauce and beverage systems can reduce manual errors and individual drink or topping prep by 8 to 15 seconds, supporting faster throughput without adding complexity for staff. AI-powered voice ordering systems are showing promise, bringing greater efficiency by “reducing 21 seconds off service times” and “improving speaker clarity.8”
4. Consistency across multi-unit operations
Insight: QSRs generate roughly 71 % of sales from repeat customers,9 and consistency ranks among the top three factors driving repeat visits in QSRs.10
Challenge: Scaling consistency across multiple locations continues to test established chains and fast-growing newcomers. Even small variations in prep or serving can undermine brand trust and cause a QSR brand loyalist to visit a competitor.
Situation: Patrons seek predictability when it comes to their favorite fast-food places—expecting the same flavor, texture, and portion at every location, whether locally or while traveling.
Solution: Automated systems, like SmartWares® Technology, help identify gaps, optimize workflows, and ensure consistent standards across all sites. Smart equipment can be programmed to produce the same outputs and recipes every time, no matter the location. Standardized technology removes variability and human judgment when preparing menu items. This results in uniform flavor, identical portioning, and consistent experiences.
Server’s experience working with multi-unit chains shows that standardizing portioning and prep through automation is the most reliable way to deliver identical flavor and texture across locations—without relying on additional training or constant oversight.
Final Takeaway
2026 will be the year when adaptability defines success for QSR operators. QSRs that integrate automation strategically — from portion control and prep systems to connected smart dispensers — can do more with less. Operators that invest now will deliver faster, more consistent service and future-proof operations against labor shortages and market shifts.
SmartWares® Technology
Improving QSR operations with smart equipment and AI-powered tools is possible with a partner who understands your business now and moving forward. At Server, we work with you to assess and address your individual needs. Our SmartWares® Technology is a transformative food and beverage platform that delivers on our Core Four® values of efficiency, accuracy, simplicity, and consistency. It empowers our IxD™ Series line of automated equipment engineered to improve service, reduce labor, and boost patron satisfaction, which can be tailored to work across all your locations.
Sources:
1 National Restaurant Association’s 2025 State of the Industry report
2 Nation’s Restaurant News and Restaurant Business research
3 Datassential 2025 Operator Check-In: Personalization & Customization YE Mar ’25
4 The Human Side of AI and the Future of Dining, HungerRush
5 Rise of GLP-1 weight loss drugs and consumer health, PWC.com, 2025
6 What Diners Really Want, and How Brands Can Deliver It, 2025 Consumer Survey, HungerRush
7, 8 The 2025 QSR® Drive-Thru Report, QSR Magazine, 10.1.25
9 Unlocking Customer Growth: How AI Turns Customer Satisfaction Into Repeat Guests 2025 Industry Research Report, Momos, 2025
10 Technomic