How qr code ordering and kiosks enable seamless contactless dining
Contactless dining tools such as QR code order & pay systems and self-service kiosks help restaurants process orders faster, reduce staffing pressure, and increase spending per guest. They streamline service by enabling guests to browse menus, place and pay for orders without touch, while providing reliable insights and improving operational effectiveness.
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What Is Contactless Dining?
Contactless dining means guests can view the menu, place orders, and pay without interacting directly with staff or handling shared surfaces. QR codes direct patrons to mobile menus or payment pages, while self-service kiosks offer fast, screen-based ordering. This model prioritises hygiene, convenience, and speed, all essential for modern hospitality.
Restaurants and hospitality businesses around the world are increasingly turning to contactless ordering solutions for their customers’ dine-in experience.
There has been a growing trend towards contact-free solutions in quick-service restaurants (QSRs), even before the coronavirus crisis, as evidenced by the global roll-out of self-service kiosks in McDonald’s outlets over recent years.
The COVID-19 crisis has accelerated the shift to contactless ordering beyond global chains and franchises to small and mid-size restaurants, bars and cafés.
Why QR Code Ordering Matters
Scanning a QR code enables diners to access live menus, add items, customise orders, and pay safely. Over 70% of restaurants now use QR codes, and more than 85% of those use them to display digital menus. This shift reflects a growing demand for touch-free, efficient service. QR code solutions reduce printing costs and help restaurants adapt more dynamically to specials or stock changes.
Advantages of Self-Service Kiosks
Kiosks streamline order processing, reduce queueing, and make upselling easier with prompts and visual menu displays. They also reduce communication errors and allow staff to focus on delivering hospitality rather than manually taking orders. In the UK, 77% of consumers now prefer businesses offering self-service options, and kiosks are proven to support higher order value and quicker service.
Contactless tech increases efficiency and sales
More restaurants are now investing in self-ordering technology as data shows they increase efficiency and basket size while reducing queue times, easing the burden on staff time and resources.
What’s more, many customers prefer the convenience of self-service options. Touchscreen technology appeals to the growing market of younger, tech savvy customers who are very familiar with mobile-friendly ordering apps. Self-service kiosks actually encourage customers to buy more food - kiosk orders average 20-30% more than traditional transactions at the counter.
The potential for businesses to increase sales and boost efficiency are major benefits of contactless solutions.
Accelerated pace of change
In the new reality of COVID-19, contactless QR Code Order & Pay and self-service kiosks help restaurants to deliver the highest standard of service and safety.
By limiting staff-customer interaction, QR Code Order & Pay assists with social distancing compliance and hygiene standards. It can complement and augment existing processes, ensuring a smoother reopening and an improved customer experience.
As governments continue to ease lockdown measures and dine-in facilities reopen globally, there is an increasing demand for contactless solutions. Businesses have a responsibility to get health and safety measures right to prevent the virus spreading. There’s a lot at stake and a real fear of regression to more strict lockdown measures should there be a resurgence in the spread of the virus.
Contactless ordering solutions
The Flipdish contactless ordering solutions include QR Code Order & Pay and self-service kiosks and can be used in a variety of settings, from restaurants and bars to hotels, parking bays and airports.
Flipdish web ordering and mobile apps can be set up simply and quickly to allow customers to order from their exact location without any direct staff contact.
Self-service kiosks provide quick, convenient and contact-free ordering for both dine-in and takeaway options.
These comprehensive Flipdish-powered solutions can really help to boost efficiency and revenues as you drive your business forward, both during and beyond the crisis.
Why Now Is the Time to Offer QR Code Ordering and Kiosks
QR code ordering and self-service kiosks are transforming dining by making services faster, more accurate, and more profitable. If you're ready to implement contactless ordering seamlessly in your restaurant, consider exploring Flipdish’s QR code order and pay and self-service kiosk solutions today.
