5 Must-Have Restaurant Features to Impress Gen Z Customers in Malaysia
With the rise of food tech and social media, restaurants in Malaysia are at the edge of digital transformation. In this article we'll explore the digital features a restaurants should have to impress the younger generation audiences!
21 Mar 2025
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Today’s younger generations grow up in an age of convenience and speed. With that, it should come as no surprise that Millennials and Gen Zs expect seamless experiences in their dining choices now too.
In Malaysia, food tech trends are evolving rapidly to meet the younger generation’s habits and preferences. In fact, Visa’s Consumer Payment Attitudes (CPA) study in 2023 found that nearly 80% of Malaysian Millennials and Gen Zs prefer cashless transactions.
With the rise of online food ordering and smart restaurants, that number’s sure to have only increased by then, which means businesses that embrace restaurant technology like automated self-service options and smart POS systems are more likely to attract and retain younger customers.
Certainly, there are advantages to having smart restaurant features, so let’s delve into why Millennials and Gen Z are drawn to them and how businesses can adapt accordingly.
1. Digital convenience and seamless ordering
Mobile-first dining experiences are on the rise, and many younger customers now expect restaurants to offer technology like digital channels and self-service options that simplify ordering and payments, be it at the mamak or a well-known restaurant chain. Common features that these customers look for include:
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QR code ordering – No need to wait for a server; customers scan, order, and pay directly from their phones.
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Self-service kiosks – Millennials and Gen Z appreciate fast, contactless transactions.
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Mobile payment options – Digital wallets and QR code payments streamline the checkout process.
On the last point, e-wallet adoption has also surged in Malaysia, with platforms like Touch 'n Go, GrabPay, and Boost making up a big part of cashless transactions. In fact, 2024 statistics by payment processing service Ayden show that Malaysians are one of the biggest adopters of mobile wallets, with 63% of people using e wallets for transactions. With that, restaurants that incorporate these new technologies and smart POS systems can get a competitive edge as it helps provide a more frictionless customer journey, reducing wait times and increasing operational efficiency.
Read more: What is Self-Service Kiosk? How It Benefits Restaurants & Takeaways? (eats365pos.com)
2. Personalization and loyalty rewards
Ask any Malaysian diner and they’re unlikely to say no to a personalized dining experience, especially for the younger ones. Smart restaurant technology allows businesses to stay on top of that by gathering insights into customer preferences and creating tailored offers, such as:
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Smart / AI-driven menu recommendations based on past orders.
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Automated birthday rewards and exclusive discounts.
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Integrated loyalty programs through mobile apps.
In Malaysia, major brands like McDonald's, Nando’s, Tealive, Marrybrown, and many others have rolled out their own digital loyalty programs or apps that each offer points-based rewards, special deals, and other goodies to encourage customers to return. As such, restaurants that leverage smart POS systems can not only find making a loyalty program easier to integrate but also benefit from the analytics they offer to provide a customized experience more easily to keep Millennial and Gen Z customers coming back.
Read more: 5 Tips for a Successful Restaurant Loyalty Program in MY (eats365pos.com)
3. Social media appeal and tech-driven ambiance
Besides tech innovation, social media appeal matters too. A 2022 survey by MGH showed that over 53% of millennial TikTok users (136 million at the time) visited or ordered from a restaurant or eatery after seeing them on the platform. This means that restaurants looking to engage younger audiences will want to stand out on social media. For instance, restaurants with Instagrammable setups like aesthetic cafés will often see higher foot traffic as they offer:
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Interactive digital menus and touchscreen ordering that enhance engagement.
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LED-lit smart dining spaces and immersive tech experiences.
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Seamless social media integration for tagging locations and sharing experiences.
Essentially, restaurants that keep up with the times by having an engaging social media presence and investing in smart restaurant technology and visually appealing setups can increase their online presence and very much boost their appeal to the younger audience.
Read more: The 2025 Guide to Restaurant Online Marketing (eats365pos.com)
4. Sustainability and eco-friendly tech
Sustainability is a priority for younger generations these days. It’s simple: Younger folks have more trust and a better image of a business that cares about how it’s impacting people and the environment. For this reason, many millennials and Gen Zs prefer dining at restaurants that adopt:
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Paperless transactions and e-receipts.
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Food waste management technology that optimizes inventory and reduces overstocking.
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Energy-efficient kitchen appliances powered by smart automation.
In light of this growing global trend, Malaysia, too, has seen more eco-conscious eateries popping up in recent years, which focus on sourcing their ingredients locally, managing waste properly, and eliminating single-use plastics. Fortunately, achieving sustainability doesn’t have to mean throwing out all your paper receipts or order chits— getting a smart POS system is one good way for businesses in Malaysia to start reducing waste and improving operational efficiency at the same time.
5. Faster service with automation and AI
Speed is a crucial factor for Millennials and Gen Z, who don’t want to wait too long in today’s fast-paced life. To keep up with the pace, smart restaurants use automation to enhance efficiency through:
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Kitchen display systems (KDS) that streamline order tracking and reduce miscommunication between front and back-of-house teams for faster food preparation.
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Automated table reservations and waitlist management.
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Smart POS systems that process orders and payments instantly.
Locally, smart POS systems are utilized by many restaurants like myBurgerLab, Inside Scoop, as well as franchises like KFC, Texas Chicken, Domino’s Pizza, and so on to improve their operational efficiency. More notably, other forms of automation can be found in Sushi Zanmai and NALE The Nasi Lemak Co as well, both of which adopt robot waiters to boost serving speed. If the popularity of the restaurants mentioned above is anything to go by, restaurant technology can greatly help businesses improve service speed, minimize errors, and enhance the overall dining experience.
Read more: Must-Have POS Features for Malaysian Restaurants in 2025 (eats365pos.com)
The Future of Smart Restaurants
As Millennials and Gen Z continue to shape dining trends, restaurants in Malaysia that embrace smart POS systems and restaurant technology will have a competitive edge. From seamless digital ordering to AI-driven personalization, these innovations make dining more efficient, engaging, and sustainable. Plus, with Malaysia’s F&B industry rapidly evolving, the future is digital. While it’s no guarantee to success, restaurants that adopt cashless transactions, automated service, and other tech-driven solutions will get higher chances to thrive in today’s modern market. It’s not too late to keep up with the trends if you haven’t.
Making your first step toward a smarter restaurant can start as simple as having a good POS system! Here at Eats365, our comprehensive all-in-one POS brings inventory tracking, flexible payment options, advanced analytics, scalability, and more to boost your efficiency and growth.
Transform your business for the future in more ways than one by consulting our F&B experts today!
