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/deliwebshop, 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 well.
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 well.
KPI 1: Digital Order vs Regular Orders
What it's: 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.
Why it matters: Shows how well your customers are adopting your tech and where to focus your service efforts.
KPI 2: Average Order Value (Digital vs Regular)
What it's: 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.
Why it matters: Digital orders often lead to higher spends, thanks to tempting images, more ordering time, and upsell prompts.
KPI 3: Orders Per Table or Per Zone
What it's: How many orders are placed per table or area in your restaurant.
Why it matters: Identifies underperforming zones and helps improve seating layout or staff coverage.
Why it matters: Identifies underperforming zones and helps improve seating layout or staff coverage.
KPI 4: Most Ordered Products
What it's: 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.
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.
KPI 5: Products Sold via Product-Connected Upsell
What it's: 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.
Why it matters: Shows how well your smart upsell prompts are working.
KPI 6: Products Sold via Basket Upsell
What it's: 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.
Why it matters: Great for increasing spend just before checkout.
KPI 7: Menu Item Performance (Sales × Profit)
What it's: 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 making you money.
Why it matters: Reveals which menu items are making you money.
KPI 8: Menu Item Efficiency (Profit vs Prep Time)
What it's: 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, during busy hours.
Why it matters: Essential for optimizing kitchen workflow, during busy hours.
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.
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.
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