Technology is saturating every aspect of our lives; it’s a trend that began to ramp up at the start of the century but shows no signs of slowing down. If we’re not scrolling on social media, we’re using our phones to listen to music, or we’re asking ChatGPT for restaurant recommendations. We’re also handling the bulk of our bill payments and banking online, whether via our phone, PC, or laptop.
Digital innovations are the backbone of our society. Just think about how difficult it would be to spend a day outside without your mobile phone. Or if you had to go back to the more basic ways of paying bills, such as standing in line at the bank. What about waiting for 2 weeks to get your holiday photos developed?
While it’s not all fun and games, and there are some more problematic elements of technology, it’s easy to forget just how influential and convenient they’ve become. With that said, many industries have hit the ground running and are continuing to look to the future to leverage the latest digital trends. Here are some of the main areas where experts believe sustainable digital trends could be the driving force behind reshaping the future of food and beverage venues.
Carbon consumption reduction and awareness
The emergence of cutting-edge analytical tools and AI has enabled food and beverage venues to precisely measure their footprint. Carbon-aware computing is an approach that multiple companies have adopted in other industries to minimise their environmental footprint, adjusting workloads based on the availability of cleaner energy sources.
This approach involves reducing the energy consumption of their data centres, which are used for consumer data storage or the development of AI models, as well as a much deeper understanding of their energy use.
For instance, in the food and beverage industry, a restaurant could utilise carbon-aware computing to label its food and menu items, detailing the carbon footprint associated with sourcing the ingredients and preparing each dish. More conventional ideas include delivery drivers ensuring they undertake shorter, less frequent routes, where possible, and maximising their load every time they drive the goods to the restaurant.
The rise of veganism has fuelled the subsequent rise of mobile apps relating to plant-based diets and sustainable diets. While carbon-heavy foods (like beef) have a colossal footprint, for those who are becoming more attuned to a sustainable lifestyle, cutting out excessive amounts of red meat is the best way to do it. It’s also considered a positive for gut health, too.
From a business perspective, reducing carbon footprints and aligning with customer expectations can help create positive brand awareness. However, there’s a delicate balance, and companies must also ensure they offer products that cater to a broad range of customers.
Smart Waste Management Systems
It feels like there’s a new revelation about AI every time we turn on the news. As OpenAI, Meta, and DeepSeek drive billions of dollars into AI innovations with little regard for the broader consequences, it’s resulting in more digital trends fueled by AI rearing their head in the food and beverage industry.
Smart waste management systems are among the most prominent examples of sustainable digital trends currently reshaping the industry. It’s able to calculate portion size, reduce costs and food wastage, and determine the optimum levels of ingredient use to ensure that food and beverage venues maximise value from every dollar.
Digital Menus & AI Chefs
Digital menus, which enable customers to order their food and drinks via apps and QR codes, reduce paper waste. Thousands of food and beverage companies have adopted this trend, with dozens of them throughout New Zealand implementing this approach as well.
In the kitchen, AI is being leveraged to help chefs source ingredients, determine the most efficient methods of preparing certain dishes, and optimise their kitchen’s performance. By ensuring the whole process is more efficient, it’s these types of digital trends that will be here to stay in the food and beverage industry, both in NZ and further afield.
In review
Kiwi life is laid-back and minimalist, especially in comparison to other larger countries where profit and business growth are the primary barometers of success. It’s one of the many things that tourists who travel to NZ for the first time don’t quite grasp.
It’s this approach to a minimalist lifestyle that allows food and beverage venues in NZ the breathing space to adopt ideas that span from more eco-friendly milks, such as oat and almond milk, vegan cuisine, and alcoholic beverages that focus on their carbon footprint.
Yes, not everyone will get on board with these ideas, but it’s the openness and willingness to adapt that means digital trends are the main driving force reshaping the future of food and beverage venues.
