As a restaurateur, you know that payment is not just a formality. It's the last step in the customer experience, and often the one that sticks in the mind. A smooth, fast and modern checkout contributes as much to customer satisfaction as a well-prepared meal. Conversely, a slow, complicated or poorly organized checkout can tarnish the whole experience, frustrating your customers and undermining customer loyalty.
So, how do you optimize payment in the restaurant business so that it enhances the performance of your establishment rather than hindering your service? We give you all the keys here.
The moment of payment is not insignificant: it marks the end of the customer journey, and often the last impression your establishment will leave. An impeccable service can quickly be marred by a long wait at the cash register, a broken terminal or a badly shared bill. A smooth, fast and frictionless checkout, on the other hand, contributes to a positive, even memorable experience.
It's also a lever fororganizational efficiency: a well-thought-out checkout process enables your teams to be more responsive, to better manage flows in the restaurant, and to limit errors at the till. What does this mean in concrete terms? Better table rotation, less stress at peak times and greater productivity throughout the service.
There are many different ways to pay your customers, each with its own specific features. Here's a summary of the main payment methods in the restaurant business, with their advantages and disadvantages, to give you a better idea of the options available.
Offering several payment methods adapted to your clientele will help you streamline your collections, avoid frustrations and improve the overall customer experience.
👉 Going further : 10 essential questions to ask before choosing a payment provider
The electronic payment terminal (EPT) must accept all types of payment: card, contactless, titres-resto, mobile. It must be fast, reliable and well integrated with your cash register.
A good Eftpos terminal not only guarantees transaction security, but also better management of payment flows, which is essential during peak periods. It also makes it easier to track sales in real time, giving you a clear view of your turnover.
With SoftPOS technology, you can pay directly from a kiosk or cash register without an Eftpos terminal. A modern, secure payment solution that reduces hardware costs.
This system is gaining in popularity thanks to its flexibility, particularly for mobile facilities or small structures. It also simplifies technical installation, without the need to invest in several pieces of physical equipment.
Payment by QR code is perfectly adapted to fast-food restaurants, terrace payments and table orders.
Contactless mobile payment is becoming increasingly popular: in 2024, 63 % of French people said they were familiar with and used it, a significant 8-point increase on 2023. A trend that confirms the importance of offering this type of solution in your establishment.
Not all restaurants have the same constraints, nor the same customers. Here's how to define your payment solutions according to your concept:
An analysis of your hourly flows and your customers' profiles (students, employees, tourists) will help you define which means of payment you should offer.
Did you know? Ordering and paying at the table is now a well-established practice, with one in two French people familiar with it and using it.
Cards, cash, QR codes, vouchers, mobile payments, etc. It's important to offer a variety of payment methods to meet the needs of all your customers.
Smooth cash receipt requires a cash register connected to the payment system. Thanks to this tool, you can reduce errors and save time.
Order kiosks and cash desks without Eftpos terminals, payment at the table: offer alternatives to central cash desks to relieve congestion at your points of sale and reduce waiting times.
A customer who can order and pay alone is a satisfied customer. It also frees up your teams to concentrate on service, advice and customer relations.
Choose a restaurant payment solution that' s certified, up to date and compliant with standards (particularly in terms of dematerialized meal vouchers and bank data security).
Each waiter or team member needs to be trained and comfortable with all tools: POS terminals, applications, QR codes, etc. This is essential to guarantee smooth checkout under all circumstances.
By connecting your payment solution to your management tools, you get a clear view of your sales, track your transactions in real time and automate your reporting.
👉 F urther information: Tap to Pay: the payment revolution?
With less waiting, fewer re-entries and fewer errors, your service becomes smoother. Your teams are more efficient and can concentrate on high value-added tasks.
In busy periods, every second counts: optimized cashiering helps to better manage flows and avoid bottlenecks. It's also a way of reducing pressure on staff, by automating certain time-consuming tasks.
It's often the last moment you'll experience in your restaurant, so make it simple, fast and pleasant. By avoiding queues or bugs at checkout, you leave a positive impression and nurture customer relations right to the end.
The moment of payment is also an opportunity to bond with your guests:
A good checkout experience encourages customer return and loyalty to your establishment.
Automated, centralized collections enable you to monitor your sales in real time, reduce accounting errors and better anticipate your cash flow requirements.
As a result, you gain greater visibility of your business, enabling you to make better decisions. Less manual data entry means less stress at monthly closing.
On-site, takeaway, delivery, kiosk, QR code, Click & Collect, etc. A well thought-out payment solution enables you to adapt to all customer journeys and current consumer trends.
It's also an asset for optimizing your sales : by eliminating payment constraints, you give customers the choice to pay wherever they are, whenever they want.
What if you were to switch to an all-in-one payment solution designed for the foodservice industry? Innovorder supports you with simple, fast and connected tools.
Payment in the restaurant business is not just a technical step: it's an experience in its own right, and a real performance driver. By diversifying your payment methods, digitizing your payment solution and training your teams, you can improve both your internal organization and customer satisfaction. Ready to take the plunge?
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Need help choosing the best payment solution for your business? The Innovorder experts are available to guide you, with tools perfectly adapted to your needs.
