Restaurants have been among the hardest-hit businesses when the COVID-19 restrictions emerged. Most were forced to severely restrict or end in-house dining, and when these restrictions were eased, many found themselves coaxing scared customers back into their dining rooms. Contactless dining strategies have been a trending result of restaurants working towards attracting diners back, and QR codes have enabled a safe return to dining for many.
One of the most important improvements that has been introduced is the contactless dining menu QR code place card. The use of QR code place cards at restaurant tables has aided in the creation of safer dining environments. Using QR codes is simple with the right POS technology in place. These tools will enable you to keep customers and staff safe and can serve as new ways to attract business from avenues you may have never considered.
QR Codes Are Fueled By POS Technology and an Online Presence
Before you add QR codes into the mix in your dining rooms, it is important to note that you must first have a few important pieces of technology in place. Cloud-based POS technology is the most fundamental element of using QR codes in your restaurant. Without the cloud, the use of mobile technology, such as apps or your website, will make it impossible to properly engage in contactless interactions with diners.
Cloud-based POS solution providers that offer integrated website template options are ideal for a QR code strategy. The technology foundation that these lay down offers you the ability to configure a QR code to launch your online ordering website on their mobile devices. Once the order has been placed, the same website can be used to immediately pay for the order or to opt for later payment using a contactless payment terminal that can be brought to the table.
Data compatibility is another valuable asset brought to the table by using an all-inclusive POS and online ordering system. Ordering and payment information does not need to be translated from one system to another, reducing the amount of time it takes to receive and process an order or payment request. Also, sales analysis and inventory tracking will be highly accurate and can take place in near-real-time, offering you the option to make on the spot changes to the menu.
Payment and Order Processing Becomes Highly Accurate
As outlined above, the use of an all-inclusive POS and online ordering system forms the perfect foundation to support the use of QR codes. How your POS system processes the data obtained from orders and payments are a key component in the use of QR codes. Add into the mix a modern kitchen display system (KDS), and you suddenly have a large mixture of moving pieces that must be expertly choreographed to keep customers happy and staff production up.
Your POS system must effectively move data that comes into your system from multiple channels and must flow outward to multiple areas. An advanced POS platform will support a contactless dining menu QR code strategy by easily routing orders from multiple tables and into a KDS without any customers losing their place, all while maintaining a high level of accuracy. Servers will be notified once an order is complete, so the customer can be served as quickly as possible.
Once the customer is served, and the meal is complete, contactless payments can just as easily be managed by powerful POS software. By scanning in the QR code at the table, a customer can access their bill and either submit payment using a digital wallet or request a server to bring a card reader to their table. In either case, payments accurately enter into your POS system and are quickly and securely processed.
Seamless QR Code Integration for Seamless Dining Experiences
QR codes add one additional element into a contactless dining experience, and it is one that cannot be measured by data. Safety takes a front seat when you place QR codes on your tables, and this is something that will not escape the notice of diners. Customers will appreciate seeing that their safety needs—and the safety of your staff—is a top priority.
This is why it is imperative that you are using a POS solution that adds mobile elements into your business. The same technology that supports the QR codes sitting on your tables in place of menus can also be leveraged to expand into other contactless strategies. Click and collect, as well as delivery service coordination, will help you to attract even the most fearful customer, and will give you the ability to craft innovative solutions to modern world problems.
Contactless Dining Menu QR Code Strategies are Easy to Implement
It is a smart move for restaurant owners to develop a contactless strategy that covers their bases both inside and outside of their establishments. Adding the technology that supports contactless ordering and payments, including the trending usage of QR codes, requires the experienced touch of a POS expert. This ensures that you get the most out of the top POS technology that is available today at a cost you can afford.
