For countless years, restaurants have had the same formula: servers take your order, send it to the kitchen, bring the food to the table, and deliver a paper bill to you when you’re done eating. Even though this method is tried-and-true, there is a way to simplify this process even further: pay-at-the-table technology.
What Is Pay-At-The-Table?
Pay-at-the-table tech is a POS solution that allows customers to pay for their meals using tableside terminals, tablets, or their own smartphones, and can make your business more efficient.
How Do Pay-At-The-Table Technologies Work?
Tableside ordering technology or the tablet ordering system allows you to take orders, process the payment, and offer other options to manage your guests, all while you are at the table, using just a tablet.
The technology involved in a restaurant ordering system includes tablets that are connected to the POS, and display screens for the kitchen. Software solution companies can provide POS solutions that will typically include both the software and the hardware.
The staff inputs the order directly into the tablet which goes to the kitchen as soon as the information is entered. The kitchen staff then starts preparing the order.
Pros of Pay-At-The-Table Devices
- Reduces order time: Tablet ordering saves servers time to go back and forth to add any information to the order. This means the server can take the order faster and the restaurant can deliver it faster.
- Increases table turnover and revenue: When the order is taken faster, it can be processed faster, therefore increasing the table turnover time. Allowing your customers to pay at the table is also one of the effective ways to maximize the table turnover rate. Not to mention, a higher turnover rate means you serve more customers, which means more revenue.
- Improves accuracy: Restaurants using handheld tables see a higher order accuracy rate because the information is being entered directly into the POS. In case of any changes made to the order, the server can change it right away.
- Saves paper: With tablet ordering, you will also save on receipts. Customers don’t usually ask for receipts (unless it’s for business purposes), and because the experience is fast and convenient, customers are more likely to be satisfied.
- Fewer wait times: Customers can avoid waiting for the server using tabletop tablets. They can also add items to the order without having to wait for the server to come again. Advanced tablets have options such as “call the server,” which lets the customer speak to the server instead.
Cons of Pay-At-The-Table Devices – list as
- Lacks human interaction: One of the biggest disadvantage of pay-at-the-table device is that it lacks costumer-server interaction. Although some restaurants ensure that servers are readily available to help customers might want to talk to a person instead.
- Technical errors: It is likely that you might run into technical issues with tablets and therefore the staff should be prepared to handle customer transactions using alternate methods.
Impact of Pay-At-The-Table Solutions on Customer Experience
The tablet solution can be beneficial in improving customer experience by giving them more control over the payment process. It also gives them the flexibility to pay anytime when they are ready without having to wait for the server. But it should be noted that there are customers who might prefer human interaction for many reasons such as comfort or running into payment errors.
Features of Pay-At-The-Table Solutions
The tablet payment processing has many benefits for both the customers and the business.
Real-Time Analytics
Reviews
Contactless Payment
Guest Order
Pay-At-The-Table vs. Handheld POS
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With traditional bills, waiters have to travel back and forth between the table and station to process payments. Pay-at-the-table processes the payment in one go, preventing customers from having to wait for their bill. The POS system can easily split bills, compared to making separate checks or using multiple cards. Pay-at-the-table tech can also increase the rate of table turns for servers as customers leave the establishment faster. Servers can then serve more customers during their shift, generating more revenue.
With payments happening instantly, customers will be more satisfied with their dining experience and be more likely to return. Servers will also have more time to interact with customers or handle any issues as they pay. This increased customer satisfaction can result in higher tips for servers. All around, pay-at-the-table tech elevates the customer and server experience.
Tableside payment is also a security asset. Pay-at-the-table technology ensures that the credit card is always in the customer’s hand, giving them peace of mind. Along with that, most pay-at-table-technology accept contactless and chip payments, ensuring EMV compliancy, high security, and more payment options for customers. Chargebacks and fraud are also less likely to occur in restaurants with tableside payments’ EMV technology.
Some POS systems with pay-at-the-table tech also have self-ordering capabilities, and this tableside tech will have an undoubtedly positive impact on the restaurant industry. Restaurants should consider adopting it, sooner rather than later.