Technological developments have significantly changed dining and restaurant operations worldwide, improving convenience and efficiency.

South Korea, one of the most-wired countries in the world, is no exception. Good restaurants can now be tracked down and reservations made with just a few simple clicks. 

According to data released by the state-run Korea Agro-Fisheries and Food Trade Corp. and the Agriculture Ministry, food tech, which refers to information technology designed to offer better access to food-related industries, currently covers various markets and is worth around 200 trillion won ($176.2 billion).

For instance, South Korea’s leading mobile platform developer SK Planet runs a location-based preorder service with some 300 brands and 7,000 stores via its restaurant recommendations app Syrup Table. Through the service, customers can make an order at stores located within a 500-meter parameter and collect their food upon receiving a notification that it is ready.

“It is win-win system for both parties,” the spokesperson for SK Planet said.

Customers can reduce waiting time and receive discounts through the app, he explained, adding that small restaurants and cafes can also gain exposure to more customers.

To cut down on operating costs, an increasing number of restaurants are also introducing automatic ordering services instead of hiring cashiers and printing menus, a service operator said.

The self-checkout system made by Korean food service company Ourhome allows customers to look at menus on screens, place orders and complete payment in just a few simple steps, the firm said, highlighting the convenience to customers. This is used at multicultural gourmet restaurant chain Foodempire and global fast-food franchise Tacobell stores in Korea, it added.

People are also beginning to rely more on apps for restaurant reviews rather than blogs.

Some bloggers have lost their credibility when they were revealed to have posted positive reviews in exchange for financial benefits. On the other end, apps that rely on big data are gradually gaining users’ trust.

“Our restaurant recommendation app operates on big data complied through accumulated reviews on social networking services, blogs and the app, so users have a better chance of ruling out dishonest postings,” said the spokesperson for Syrup Table.

By Kim Bo-gyung (lisakim425@heraldcorp.com)