In the restaurant world the tech game isn’t just about replacing a POS or onboarding one more delivery-system. It’s about building a smart, modular stack of SaaS tools that connect, adapt and scale. If you’re running multi-location operations or working through a reseller/tech provider model, you’ll want to be looking not only at the mainstream solutions, but at the less obvious ones, the ones quietly solving specific pain-points and enabling integration, automation and data-ownership. Here are five SaaS products (or verticals) that are worth testing in 2026 because they’re fresh, focused and built for growth.
Guest & CRM data platforms that let you own the diner relationship
Bloom Intelligence
- What it does: A guest-data/CRM layer built for restaurants. It connects to your POS, collects guest visits, repeat behaviour, dwell-time, spend, segmentation, etc.
- Why it matters in 2026: Many restaurants still surrender guest behaviour data to third-party platforms (delivery apps, reservation systems). If you adopt a tool like this, you begin to own the guest journey, personalise messaging and understand loyalty in a deeper way.
- Why test now: As competition grows, distinctions such as “we know you” and “we recognise your repeat visits” matter more. Testing this in 2026 gives you lead time before full scale adoption becomes common.
Inventory- & supply-chain automation SaaS for margin control
Fresho
- What it does: Although originally more wholesale-oriented, Fresho is an AI-powered SaaS platform handling order entry, fulfilment, inventory and pricing margins for restaurants and fresh-food operations.
- Why it matters: With cost pressure still intense (labour, food, utilities), restaurants that automate inventory and supplier ordering will have an edge.
- Why test now: Often these tools are used by larger operations; getting in early allows you to tailor workflows, integrations and test ROI ahead of your competitors.
Modular “micro-services” SaaS that plug into your wider stack
RestroBI Suite
- What it does: A business intelligence / analytics-focused SaaS built for restaurants, layering dashboards, real-time tracking, menu-performance, labour & cost insights.
- Why it matters: The trend now is not one monolithic “all-in-one” software, but a stack of best-of-breed tools integrated together. Restaurants are “building like a startup”.
- Why test in 2026: By adopting a strong analytics layer now, you’ll be able to integrate your POS + delivery + guest data into one view, which becomes a differentiator when scaling multi-location.
Digital ordering & QR ecosystem enhancements (not the mainstream)
Honei
- What it does: A Spanish startup (seed round closed in 2024) focused on restaurant digitalisation via QR ordering, payments, smart loyalty and backend automation. (Cinco Días)
- Why it matters: Many restaurants have basic QR ordering, but few use QR + backend automation + loyalty in an integrated way. This is an area where incremental gains in service speed, conversion and guest experience add up.
- Why test now: Because the tech is emerging and the vendor maturity is rising – getting in early gives you the chance to shape integration, test ROI and be ready when it becomes mainstream.
Multi-location / virtual kitchen orchestration SaaS
MenuSifu
- What it does: A digital platform targeting restaurant operations lifecycle (POS, online ordering, marketing, specially catering to multiple locations) with a North American footprint and recent expansion.
- Why it matters: For operators running multiple units (or planning to), or for resellers/tech-providers who serve multi-site clients, orchestration across units is key (menu sync, unified data, cost control).
- Why test now: The shift to virtual brands, multi-concept kitchens, and hybrid dine-in/delivery means you’ll benefit by testing a tool that supports flexible location-model early.
- The industry has matured enough that legacy systems are showing their limits – slow integration, rigid workflows, locked-in vendors.
- Restaurants are increasingly building modular stacks rather than monolithic solutions.
- Data ownership, automation and integration are no longer “nice to have” – they are competitive levers.
- With inflation, labour costs and supply-chain volatility still high, tools that improve margin, speed or customer loyalty will pay off.
- Testing these tools in 2026 gives you first-mover advantage for 2027 and beyond.
- Prioritise integration: Make sure the new tool connects (or can connect) to your POS, delivery platforms, guest systems.
- Start small: Pilot in one unit or one concept before rolling out enterprise-wide.
- Measure the right KPIs: e.g., guest repeat rate, average spend, staff labour hours saved, inventory waste reduction.
- Avoid “all-or-nothing” bind-in: Because you’re building a stack, you want the flexibility to swap tools if they don’t deliver.
- Vendor roadmap matters: Emerging tools evolve quickly, you want a partner rather than just a vendor.
2026 is shaping up to be a defining year for restaurant SaaS. Operators who experiment now with modular, integration-friendly software will have a competitive edge when others are still playing catch-up.
In a year where margins, staff retention, and brand visibility all depend on smarter systems, testing new SaaS tools isn’t a risk, it’s an investment.
The key is knowing which ones are worth your time. Start here, build your stack, and don’t be afraid to test the tools nobody else is talking about. Yet.
For more insights from the restaurant industry and foodtech, check out our other articles.
