5 reasons to offer contactless payment at table in your restaurant

With an increasing number of Singapores opting to go for contactless as their primary payment method, even coffeeshops and hawker centres have adopted QR payment in the form of SGQR. Hence, it is important for your restaurant to offer contactless payment at tables to your customers. Here are the 5 reasons why.

Common restaurant dining flow

To get a better idea of the difference between the traditional restaurant dining flow and contactless payment at tables, let’s first take a look at how the traditional restaurant payment flow works.

Step 1: Ordering

Customers orders at the table through QR Ordering or through a service staff.

Step 2: Order processing

Orders are sent to POS system digitally (QR Ordering) or service staff manually enters order into the POS system

Step 3: Order preparation and serving

Order is prepared by kitchen and served

Step 4: Payment

Staff brings bill to customer to collect either cash or a card for payment. Customer then waits for waiter to bring back their change/card.

Alternatively,

Customers head over to the cashier and wait in line to settle their bill before leaving.

As shown in the above restaurant dining flow, customers experience quite a fair bit of waiting time making a slow and inefficient payment process. This may negatively affect customer experience at your restaurant.

How to implement contactless payment at tables

There are two options when it comes to contactless payment at the table:

1. QR Ordering
2. Wireless Payment terminals

QR Ordering

When customers are ready to confirm their order via QR ordering, they will be directed to make online payment on their mobile phone. Once payment has been made, orders will be sent to your restaurant POS system and the kitchen.

Wireless Payment Terminals

When your customers have finished their food, simply bring over the bill for their verification and enable them to tap their cards on the wireless payment terminal to make payment.

Benefits of adopting contactless payments at tables for your restaurant

1. Faster billing service
2. More hygienic
3. Reduce fraud
4. Less stressful for staff
5. Better customer engagement

Faster billing service

By offering contactless payment at tables, your restaurant’s billing process will be simplified. When customers pay through contactless payment methods, they do not have to queue at the counter for bill settlement. Your staff will not have to make a trip to the table, return to the POS to settle payment then return to the table to return change or card to your customers.

Thus, making your billing process more efficient.

More hygienic

As we know coins and notes have passed through the hands of many and are not washed or sanitized. This means it has a high potential exposure to viruses and bacteria.

By using contactless payment, there is no need for coins and notes to settle bills. Your customers simply pay online through their own mobile phones or by tapping their cards on the payment terminal, promoting a more hygienic payment practice.

Reduce fraud

Cash settlements are a loophole for fraud to happen. Online payment and contactless payment terminals are made through secure third party solutions and payment terminals. This reduces the chances of intentional and unintentional fraud.

Better to have your customers handle their own cards!

Less stressful for staff

F&B workers have a lot on their plate during peak hours (literally and metaphorically). Cash payments at times can add to their stress when wrong change is given or when customers insist that they were given the wrong change.

Through contactless payments, the bank and third party solutions handle transactions which are more secure and accurate.

Better customer engagement

When your service staff brings the wireless payment terminal over to your customers for the bill, they can strike a conversation with your customers, asking about their dining experience and food. 

This improves customers which leads to a pleasant experience at your restaurant that boosts customer loyalty.

Getting a restaurant POS system that integrates with online payment and payment terminals

In order to effectively offer contactless payment or online payment at your restaurant, your QR ordering system and payment terminals have to be integrated with your restaurant POS system. 

Click here to get a demo on MEGAPOS Restaurant POS system that integrates with QR ordering, self ordering kiosk and various payment terminals today!