This guide breaks down the 8 most important KPI's every restaurant should track, plus tips on how to calculate, analyze, and improve them. From upsell success to menu performance, it's your roadmap to better decisions and higher profits.
Your Roadmap to Better Decisions and Higher Profits
Running a restaurant today means more than just serving great food—it's about smart technology, efficient operations, and using data to your advantage. Whether you're using QR ordering, kiosks, or a pick-up/delivery webshop, your digital ordering tools are packed with insights. The trick? Knowing which numbers to watch and what to do with them.
Below are the top 8 KPIs (key performance indicators) you should track to get the most out of your digital ordering system. Each KPI comes with a simple explanation, why it's important, how to calculate it, and tips to boost your performance.
Pro tip: Always look at your data by time of day, day of the week, and season. It helps spot patterns and lets you time promotions, build your menu, plan staff, and prepare your kitchen more effectively.
Below are the top 8 KPIs (key performance indicators) you should track to get the most out of your digital ordering system. Each KPI comes with a simple explanation, why it's important, how to calculate it, and tips to boost your performance.
Pro tip: Always look at your data by time of day, day of the week, and season. It helps spot patterns and lets you time promotions, build your menu, plan staff, and prepare your kitchen more effectively.
KPI 1: Digital Order vs Regular Orders
What it is: How many orders come through digital channels (QR ordering, kiosk, web) vs traditional methods (waitstaff or phone).
Why it matters: Shows how well your customers are adopting your tech and where to focus your service efforts.
How to calculate it: (Number of digital orders / Total orders) × 100%
Tips to improve:
Why it matters: Shows how well your customers are adopting your tech and where to focus your service efforts.
How to calculate it: (Number of digital orders / Total orders) × 100%
Tips to improve:
- Make QR codes more visible on your tables or takeaway packaging
- Offer small rewards for customers who order digitally
- Instruct your staff to point out the digital ordering possibilities
KPI 2: Average Order Value (Digital vs Regular)
What it is: Compares how much customers spend per order through digital vs regular channels.
Why it matters: Digital orders often lead to higher spends, thanks to tempting images, more ordering time, and upsell prompts.
How to calculate it: AOV = Total revenue / Number of orders (calculate separately for digital and regular orders)
Tips to improve:
Why it matters: Digital orders often lead to higher spends, thanks to tempting images, more ordering time, and upsell prompts.
How to calculate it: AOV = Total revenue / Number of orders (calculate separately for digital and regular orders)
Tips to improve:
- Add visual upsell suggestions
- Highlight premium items or meal deals
KPI 3: Orders Per Table or Per Zone
What it is: How many orders are placed per table or area in your restaurant.
Why it matters: Identifies underperforming zones and helps optimize seating layout or staff coverage.
How to calculate it: Orders per table = Orders from a table or zone / Time period
Tips to improve:
Why it matters: Identifies underperforming zones and helps optimize seating layout or staff coverage.
How to calculate it: Orders per table = Orders from a table or zone / Time period
Tips to improve:
- Promote digital ordering more in quiet zones
- Train staff to gently encourage digital use where needed
KPI 4: Most Ordered Products
What it is: Top-selling menu items based on volume.
Why it matters: Tells you what guests love and gives clues about what should be promoted, bundled, or rethought.
How to calculate it: Track and rank items by total units sold in a set period.
Tips to improve:
Why it matters: Tells you what guests love and gives clues about what should be promoted, bundled, or rethought.
How to calculate it: Track and rank items by total units sold in a set period.
Tips to improve:
- Feature bestsellers at the top of your digital menu
- Use them in combo deals or meal suggestions
KPI 5: Products Sold via Product-Connected Upsell
What it is: Items added after a direct suggestion along with the selected product (e.g. "Add fries with your burger?").
Why it matters: Shows how well your smart upsell prompts are working.
How to calculate it: (Product upsell items / Total orders) × 100%
Tips to improve:
Why it matters: Shows how well your smart upsell prompts are working.
How to calculate it: (Product upsell items / Total orders) × 100%
Tips to improve:
- Suggest logical, tasty add-ons
- Use clear, inviting images and short, tempting descriptions
- See our blog about upsell for detailed tips about the psychology of upselling
KPI 6: Products Sold via Basket Upsell
What it is: Extras added at the end of the order (e.g. "Would you like a drink with that?", "Others also bought...", "Add dessert!").
Why it matters: Great for increasing spend just before checkout.
How to calculate it: (Basket upsell items / Total orders) × 100%
Tips to improve:
Why it matters: Great for increasing spend just before checkout.
How to calculate it: (Basket upsell items / Total orders) × 100%
Tips to improve:
- Offer high-margin or limited-time products
- Keep the language casual and fun
KPI 7: Menu Item Performance (Sales × Profit)
What it is: Shows how much profit based on margin an item brings in based on how often it's sold.
Why it matters: Reveals which menu items are actually making you money.
How to calculate it: Performance score = Profit per item × Sales volume
Tips to improve:
Why it matters: Reveals which menu items are actually making you money.
How to calculate it: Performance score = Profit per item × Sales volume
Tips to improve:
- Push high performers to the top of the menu
- Rethink or reprice low-profit, low-volume items
KPI 8: Menu Item Efficiency (Profit vs Prep Time)
What it is: Looks at how profitable a dish is compared to how long it takes to prepare / how much pressure it gives on the kitchen.
Why it matters: Essential for optimizing kitchen workflow, especially during busy hours.
How to calculate it: Efficiency score = Menu item performance / Prep time (in minutes)
Tips to improve:
Why it matters: Essential for optimizing kitchen workflow, especially during busy hours.
How to calculate it: Efficiency score = Menu item performance / Prep time (in minutes)
Tips to improve:
- Feature fast, profitable items in high-traffic times
- Reduce menu complexity with low-efficiency item audits
Final Thoughts
Digital ordering isn't just a trend—it's a smart way to run a more profitable, more efficient restaurant. By tracking these 8 essential KPIs (and slicing them by time, weekday, and season), you'll gain a deeper understanding of how your guests behave and where your business can improve.
The best part? If you're using Jamezz, all of this data is right at your fingertips. In our Business Intelligence Section you can analyze, visualize, and act on your data with confidence.
Your restaurant is already collecting the data. Now it's time to let it work for you.
Sources:
• Statista (2023), Online Food Delivery Trends
• Square (2023), Restaurant Industry Insights Report
• Harvard Business Review (2020), The Value of Customer Experience in the Restaurant Industry
The best part? If you're using Jamezz, all of this data is right at your fingertips. In our Business Intelligence Section you can analyze, visualize, and act on your data with confidence.
Your restaurant is already collecting the data. Now it's time to let it work for you.
Sources:
• Statista (2023), Online Food Delivery Trends
• Square (2023), Restaurant Industry Insights Report
• Harvard Business Review (2020), The Value of Customer Experience in the Restaurant Industry
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