HOW TO USE POS QR CODE SCANNER

QR codes for menus, sharing information and tableside ordering

Masked waitress holds QR code for customer to scan with their mobile phone.

As restaurants move towards a contactless experience for their customers, the growing question is how; from the second customers walk in; there are several stages that they have to consider to make this a reality:

Menu selection

Placing an order

Making payment

Seating

Many restaurants have increasingly turned to QR codes to deliver many of these services. Although they have been around for decades, they offer quick and easy access to online services (menus, payment, etc.) using just a smartphone. Since most customers have these readily on hand, they make for an elegant solution to a modern problem.

So how do you implement such a solution? This page discusses how to use a POS QR code scanner for restaurants, focusing on how they apply to:

- Menu Access
- Sharing information
- Tableside Ordering

Accessing menus has never been easier

Menu access is the unspoken bane of the restaurant industry; while it is easy for the customer to use, they are a pain to produce. This is because they often required amendments due to:

- Changes in the menu
- Ingredient shortages
- Promotions and specials
- Degradation over time

Because of the inherent expense in producing physical menus, restaurants have turned to digital menus as a replacement. Unfortunately, these options were not widely available due to lack of access, but QR codes remarkably simplify the process.

The process starts when restaurants print the QR code itself. This is most easily done through your POS software, although not all systems have this capability. The printed codes are then placed on your tables, where customers can access them. From there, all customers need to do is:

Access the camera on your smartphone

Select the QR code feature

Take a picture of the code on the table

The code is recognized, and they are instantly taken to the menu

Using a QR code as your menu access tool offer a couple of unique features, such as:

Modern Aesthetic

Accessing a restaurant menu via smartphone may seem like an odd method to some, but these are precisely the type of groundbreaking changes that set your restaurant apart from others in the industry. By using QR-code menu access as a focal point of your daily operations. You present your restaurant in a modern image that will resonate with customers across every demographic.

Reduction on cost

Producing paper menus, as we’ve discussed previously, cost a fair bit of money. By making the switch over to a digital menu using QR codes, restaurants cut down on another cost of daily operations. This allows them to pad their bottom line. Additionally, they can now offer additional promotions or incentives for customers and employees alike.

Lower impact on the environment

Modern customers identify climate change as one of the single biggest concerns in the modern world. Constant use of paper and plastic to produce physical menus takes a major toll on the environment and lends to the problem of deforestation across the globe. Taking advantage of QR code menus allows businesses to play a role in solving it. This is sure to resonate with your customer base.

It’s important to remember that not every customer has a smartphone: your restaurant attracts all types, including customers who:

- Simply choose not to use one.
- May not have their phone with them.
- Have a phone with a dead battery.

For these reasons, restaurants will still need to have physical menus available in some form. However, for the vast majority of your diners, QR code menu access brings your restaurant into the future. This streamlines their experience and reduces your costs across the board.

The real usage starts next because QR codes also share information with your customers about their selections.

Sharing important information keeps your customers informed

By accessing your menu via QR code, your online menu can tell your customers a lot about their options. In addition to a photo of each dish, they tell them about

Item descriptions and photos

When customers access your menu, it appears as a field of options that they can then select. When they do, they are treated to a photo of the dish and a complete description. Restaurants can use this opportunity to detail:

- The ingredients of the dish
- The preparation of the dish
- Any notifications or warnings about possible allergies.

This provides diners with valuable information that they can use to make their decisions. Best of all, digital menu access allows owners and managers to make changes to the menu as needed (inventory shortage, running specials, etc.). Updating menus on the fly prevents uncomfortable interactions with customers. It also allows customers to make informed decisions on their orders.

Preset order modifications

When customers make their selection, they are given a series of prompts to modify the order. This includes adding or removing specific ingredients, which address both potential allergies and general customer taste. Although it is impossible to account for every customer request (see the section below), restaurant owners can preset some of the most important ones. For example, having a preset option to remove dairy products might be helpful for lactose-intolerant diners. Similar presets to address other food allergies might be exceptionally useful. This gives customers a quick means to address dietary concerns without too much fuss.

Specialty instructions

Your online menu needs to have options for customer requests with a more specific touch. These online menus consist of just a text field where customers can enter specific instructions sent to the kitchen. These options serve as a catch-all tool for filling the gap between your preset modifications and ensuring that orders are prepared correctly, no matter the request.

QR code is the fastest method to communicate menu changes or important details to your customers. With just a quick scan of the barcode at the table, they gain access to everything on your menu. This saves valuable man-hours usually delegated to waitstaff, who then have to explain it directly.

Ordering made simple with QR-code access

QR code menu access benefits don’t just stop at item selection; with just a quick snap, customers can select their items and actually order through the online menu. This includes several forms of payment, including:

- Card (credit/debit)
- Digital wallets (Apple Pay, Venmo, Paypal, etc.)

Once processed, kitchen staff can accept the order automatically sent to their kitchen display systems. This, too, can be handled through integrations with their POS. From this point, the order is prepared and delivered to the customer with little interruption to their experience.

Having the ability to pay via the online menu offers a couple of benefits to your restaurant, such as:

Combatting reduced staffing

The pandemic has hit every industry hard, and restaurants are no exception. In the wake of the “great resignation,” many diners face the challenges of daily operations with a reduced staff. Unfortunately, forcing existing staff to take on additional responsibilities is a sure-fire way to lose even more of your workforce, so restaurants need to consider other options.

Digital menus and payment allow your restaurant to operate with that reduced staffing. They allow your customers to essentially be their own waiter, perusing the menu, requesting suggestions, and taking payment all at once. From there, restaurants can use kitchen staff to run food from the kitchen to the table as it is prepared.

Improving customer satisfaction

Giving customers the ability to select and modify their dish as they see fit empowers them. No more asking the waiter if it’s ok to keep the chives on the side; now you can enter your special instructions and place your order. Afterward, the food comes to you; no fuss, no muss.

For most customers, this is a major improvement on the traditional model; it eliminates potentially unpleasant experiences with waitstaff and adds to the contactless experience. Contactless options are significant for customers, especially in modern years, as the pandemic has encouraged as much distance as possible.

What these options ultimately provide customers with is a seamless dining experience. Customers can seat themselves, place an order and leave all with an interface that puts them in the driver’s seat. In addition, they get an updated menu complete with descriptions and customizable modifications, ensuring that they get what they want.

How to use POS QR code scanner? As a trusted partner

QR codes have been around for decades, but their applicability and easy implementation has made them a go-to resource. By using QR codes to access menus, share information, and make payments, restaurants can:

- Provide customers with a contactless experience
- Reduce costs with reduced staffing
- Reduce costs with menu production
- Attract customers by building a “going green” business brand

From the second your customers walk in, QR codes streamline every part of the process. However, using QR codes can be challenging to set up and implement without the proper tools.

For that reason, many restaurants consider outsourcing the heavy lifting of this process to an experienced party. POS providers like talech specialize in how to use POS QR code scanners to streamline daily operations. With our solutions, your restaurant can apply QR codes to reduce costs and improve the customers’ experience. For more information, check out our free demo, where you can see firsthand what we can do for you.

Want to learn more about QR codes for menus, sharing information and tableside ordering?

Get your free demo