Sponsored content provided by Tyro Payments
Artificial intelligence is no longer a futuristic concept for hospitality businesses. From forecasting demand and optimising rosters to recommending menu changes and personalising marketing, AI is becoming another practical tool that helps venues work smarter. But like any technology, AI only delivers value when it is connected to the right systems and backed by quality data.
For cafés, restaurants, pubs and clubs, the conversation is shifting away from whether AI is real innovation or hype. Instead, operators are asking a more important question: where can it make a measurable difference?
The answer lies in solving everyday challenges.
AI is helping venues better predict busy trading periods, optimise staffing levels, reduce food waste through smarter inventory planning and improve guest communications. Reservation platforms can forecast demand based on weather, events and historical trends. Kitchen systems can identify slow-moving menu items while recommending more profitable alternatives. Marketing platforms can personalise offers based on previous customer behaviour rather than broad campaigns.
These innovations all have one thing in common: they rely on good data.
Payments are one of the richest sources of customer and operational data inside any venue, yet they are often treated as the final step of a transaction instead of part of a connected technology ecosystem. When payments operate in isolation, businesses miss opportunities to unlock insights that can improve service, efficiency and profitability.
Connected payments help bridge that gap.
Rather than standalone EFTPOS terminals creating disconnected transactions, integrated omni-channel payment solutions connect payment information with point-of-sale systems, loyalty platforms and business reporting. This reduces manual administration, improves reconciliation and gives operators a clearer picture of how their business is performing.
That foundation becomes even more valuable when AI enters the equation.
AI forecasting tools become more accurate when they can analyse reliable transaction data. Menu engineering improves when actual purchasing patterns are available. Workforce scheduling becomes more precise when payment trends reveal order type, genuine peaks and quieter trading periods. The result is better decisions backed by real customer behaviour rather than assumptions.
Customer experience also benefits.
Today’s diners expect experiences that feel personalised without being complicated. They want ordering, paying and rewards to feel frictionless. The businesses delivering those experiences are increasingly using technology that works quietly in the background.
Tyro’s Card Matching capability is a good example. Rather than requiring customers to scan loyalty cards or open an app every visit, eligible purchases can be securely linked to the same payment card across multiple payment methods without storing sensitive card information. This gives venues a more complete understanding of customer behaviour while removing friction from the loyalty experience.
Industry experience shows that many loyalty members never identify themselves when they make a purchase, meaning businesses lose valuable insight into repeat visitation and buying behaviour. By connecting payments with loyalty platforms, venues can build a more complete customer picture and deliver more relevant offers while improving engagement.
These insights extend beyond marketing.
Understanding purchasing trends can help operators optimise staffing, refine menus, forecast inventory requirements and identify opportunities to increase average transaction values. AI can then use these insights to recommend actions that improve profitability while maintaining great customer experiences.
Great venues succeed because of people, personality and service. Technology should remove repetitive administrative work so teams can spend more time doing what matters most: creating memorable guest experiences.
This is where connected technology delivers the greatest return. AI, payment technology, POS systems, loyalty platforms and operational software each provide value individually. Together, they create an ecosystem that helps venues operate more efficiently, respond faster to changing customer expectations and make more confident business decisions.
The future of hospitality will be shared by businesses that combine intelligent technology with exceptional service, using connected systems to support both their teams and their customers.
For operators considering where to begin, the best first step is often not investing in every new AI solution available. Instead, focus on building a connected technology foundation that allows innovation to deliver measurable outcomes. Integrated payments are an important part of that foundation because they generate trusted data, reduce operational friction and enable the broader technologies that are transforming hospitality.
As AI continues to evolve, the venues best positioned for success will be those that connect their systems, simplify their operations and use data to make smarter decisions every day.
Visit the Tyro Tech Hub at Stand T5, right next to the Tyro Talking Tech Stage, at Fine Food Australia. Across all four days, the team will be hosting expert panels exploring AI, payments as a growth engine, loyalty, and the future with Gen Z customer behaviors, trends and social media. Drop by to see how Tyro and their technology partners are helping hospitality businesses work smarter and grow with confidence.
Fine Food Australia 2026 takes place on 31 August – 3 September at the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre. Four days, thousands of products, and one unmissable event for Australia’s foodservice and hospitality industry. Discover the latest in food, drink, equipment and technology, connect with suppliers, source new products and attend live demonstrations, all under one roof. Entry is free for trade professionals. Register now →