Amid employment tensions, cost pressures, and increasing competition, the fast food industry is entering a period of transformation. In 2025, over 200,000 positions remain unfilled in the hospitality and catering sector, raw material prices continue to rise, and average profitability remains under pressure.
What if a pragmatic digital transformation, focused on the customer experience, could help you regain efficiency and profitability while boosting your appeal?
Teams facing challenges and margins under pressure
Fast food chains face several major challenges: recruitment can be difficult, turnover rates are high, and schedules are adjusted to better manage staffing; persistent inflation on raw materials and energy, with the average daily special costing around €16; as well as increased financial pressure, reflected in a 45% rise in bankruptcies in 2023 and shrinking profit margins.
In this environment, every minute saved and every euro protected matters. Yet without digital tools, managing multi-site operations is chaotic: manual stock counts, scattered ordering processes, prep errors, and no consolidated performance view.
Exki & Happy Snacks: proof through action
Exki, the premium Belgian fast food chain, turned to Idealis to better manage its 100+ locations. The goal: reduce waste, streamline inventory, and consolidate point-of-sale data. Using Odoo and a custom Click & Collect app integrated into its website, Exki automated stock tracking, sped up order prep, and opened a new, profitable sales channel. The result? Greater productivity and a smoother customer experience.
Happy Snacks, a fast food leader in Luxembourg, manages 9 restaurants — including Pizza Hut and Exki — with a tailored Odoo system. All points of sale, delivery, click & collect, and stock management are now centralized. The change enabled better planning, fewer register errors, and a consolidated view of site performance. Online sales surged thanks to a revamped website and delivery integration with services like Wedely.
These two examples prove that digitalization isn’t just a promise — it leads to fewer manual tasks, simplified workflows, and maximized revenue.
Omnichannel as a growth lever
New customer habits require a seamless presence across all channels: In-store, with interactive kiosks and contactless payments that increase average order value. Takeaway, with click & collect and integration with delivery platforms. Online, via e-commerce websites or mobile apps.
This “phygital” strategy boosts loyalty and generates extra revenue — without increasing operational burden.
Which KPIs matter to manage profitability?
In fast food, a few key indicators can sharpen your performance: Stock turnover per location — to anticipate restocking needs and reduce waste. Average basket size and sales by channel — to identify growth opportunities. Average prep time — to optimize kitchen productivity. Kiosk and click & collect usage rates — to measure digital adoption
With Smart Analytics, these KPIs update automatically and are displayed in clear dashboards, accessible anytime.
Why choose Idealis for your digital transformation?
We’ve supported fast food and retail businesses for years in their digital evolution. Our expertise covers: Multi-site Odoo POS deployment. Integrated inventory and purchasing management to reduce losses. Omnichannel workflows for click & collect, delivery, and e-commerce. Data-driven management via ready-to-use dashboards
Our approach is pragmatic and team-friendly: simple tools, fast implementation, and measurable results from day one.
Ready to take action?
Schedule a free 30-minute consultation with an Idealis expert. You’ll get a clear analysis of potential gains, a roadmap of digital priorities, and a concrete plan to transform your operations.
Fast food: turning challenges into digital opportunities