AI Is Giving Small Restaurants New Ways To Compete, Connect and Grow

Artificial intelligence is making its way into the day-to-day operations of small businesses, particularly independent restaurants. According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, nearly 60% of small businesses incorporated generative AI in 2025, a marked increase from 40% a year prior. This shift comes at a time when restaurant margins are tight, and the growth extends beyond dine-in services.

The National Restaurant Association reports that 47% of adults order takeout at least weekly, while 37% order delivery every week. As digital ordering grows more prevalent, the question of who controls the customer relationship after an order is placed becomes increasingly important.

For independent restaurant owners, the challenge is not whether to adopt AI but how to effectively integrate it into their busy operations. Many operators feel they are falling behind in technology adoption, and areas like marketing, ordering, payments, and back-office functions stand to benefit from digital tools. Paul Birrell, founder of Decade Strategy, offers a solution for this challenge.

With over three decades of experience in the restaurant, catering, and food-delivery industries, Birrell identifies AI as an opportunity for small businesses to adapt quickly and build capabilities once exclusive to larger organizations. He founded Decade Strategy, a company that reviews workflows, recommends practical tools, and builds customized applications to support functions such as ordering, scheduling, communications, applicant tracking, dispatch, and financial reporting.

Birrell's focus is on making AI approachable for busy restaurant owners, aiming to restore the direct relationship between restaurants and their customers that has been weakened by modern ordering systems. He believes AI can enable personalized marketing, customer outreach, and repeat engagement, even for independent restaurants without dedicated marketing teams or substantial technology budgets.

Importantly, Birrell emphasizes that AI should not feel overwhelming to restaurant owners, who are primarily focused on food, staff, and customers. He sees technology as a natural extension of these priorities. While AI can't replace human judgment, timing, or adaptability, Birrell argues that it can help owners meet growing off-premises demand while preserving the personal relationships that define the success of local restaurants.