Are you about to open your restaurant or are you still one of the die-hard restaurant owners who have not adopted the QR code?
You will probably take some time to think about it after reading this article!
Find out why installing QR codes helps modernize your image, improve your restaurant's productivity and boost your customer experience.
The QR code in a few words
You've probably already come across a QR code, you know, that square itself made up of black and white squares. It is, no more and no less, a two-dimensional barcode that contains encoded data. Once flashed, the code generates a redirection link to an image, a PDF file or a website. To access it, only a smartphone or tablet camera is required.
This has been widely democratized in the hospitality sector following the COVID-19 health crisis. The idea of a menu that would be passed from hand to hand by several customers having become unthinkable during the pandemic, restaurants had to turn to other solutions. They now offer touchless menus, via QR code, to limit the risk of contamination.
Did you know that?
The QR code is useful to consult the menu, but it can also be used to order and pay. And it's a good thing: 56% of customers want to order or pay at the table in the future according to an OpinionWay survey.
7 reasons to use the QR code in your restaurant
If the restaurant owners around you are so numerous to adopt the QR code, it is because there is a good reason. In fact, there are several good reasons!
1. Easy to set up and use
- For you as a restaurant owner:
The QR code can be printed on any support. Indeed, no need to invest in a terminal, a tablet or an NFC chip, it works on a paper surface, plastic and even on wooden or aluminum plates. It can be replicated endlessly and in any size.
- For your customers:
You don't need to be a computer genius or born with the Internet to understand how it works either. Just flash it with your smartphone (iOS and Android) and you are automatically directed to the menu, and that, in a few seconds. It's that simple!
In fact, it is so practical and useful that 70% of customers now use QR codes in restaurants, according to a study conducted by the Roland Berger firm!
2. Servers focused on service
The QR code is a valuable aid that servers can rely on. Depending on the extent of the QR code's functionality (menu, order, payment, tip), they can focus more on service, their core business.
And if ever digital can also confuse some non-technophile users (they are increasingly rare!), the QR code saves time to your server who can dedicate it to accompany, advise and serve these customers.
In addition, the QR code considerably reduces the risk of errors when taking an order, as there are more confusions when taking an order on the fly. The QR Code thus contributes to improving the quality of service and the customer experience in general.
👉 Going further: food service order forms: paper or digital?
3. A time saving of 12 minutes
The QR code is a time-saver, and it starts as soon as customers settle in.
Thanks to this solution, they don't have to wait for the waiters to arrive to have access to the menu. The menu is directly accessible thanks to the code located on their table. They can therefore consult it in complete autonomy and make their choice in record time.
This tool limits the number of team members going back and forth between the dining room and the kitchen .
And those minutes saved on service are extremely profitable.
That's why 👇
By speeding up the process of taking and sending the order to the kitchen, they free up their table more quickly, allowing you to welcome new customers. On average, restaurant owners save 12 minutes per table!
The result? You get a higher turnover rate and serve more dishes per shift. Ultimately, they are no longer dependent on server availability.
4. An average shopping basket up by 4 to 10%.
When ordering through a QR code, it's common for customers to treat themselves to an appetizer, extra, dessert or coffee. Some also choose to leave a tip before leaving.
Also according to the Roland Berger study, restaurant owners who use QR codes have actually seen an increase in the average basket of between 4 and 10% in their establishment.
Last but not least, you will also save on maintenance costs but also on printing costs of paper menus, thus helping to reduce your impact on the planet.
The QR code is therefore a powerful lever to increase the profitability of your restaurant and optimize its management.
A quick reminder: digital solutions are one of the investments you should not neglect when equipping your restaurant.
👉 To go further: supplies for your restaurant: the complete list
5. A more pleasant customer experience
Put yourself in your customers' shoes for a moment. For them, the QR code simply means a more pleasant and intuitive experience.
Why?
First of all, the availability of a QR code reflects a professional and modern image of your establishment. Secondly, customers also appreciate the fact thatthey are autonomous from the beginning to the end of their meal. No more inconveniences linked to waiting for a waiter busy with a table. The service is faster and more efficient.
Our advice:include photos of your dishes on your digital menu! This detail is crucial to help your customers to project themselves and make them want to eat! Don't hesitate to add some additional information: vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, origin of the products, presence of allergens, etc. And if your clientele is multicultural, offer your menu in several languages. This is a great asset for your customer experience if your restaurant is located in a tourist area.
6. Easier map modification
Now let's imagine a little situation.
Your restaurant serves mostly seasonal products and the asparagus season is coming to an end. You will therefore have to revise your menu and replace your asparagus risotto with another dish. The QR code allows you tomake a change on your menu in real time. Having to tell a customer that the dish they have chosen is no longer available is not the most pleasant experience for you or for them. In this case, customers have direct access to the updated menu.
This applies, of course, to the addition of a new recipe to the menu, an out-of-stock condition, promotions, a change in price or even a link to Google to leave a positive online review of your establishment. So practical!
7. A hygienic solution
We have already briefly mentioned it in the introduction, but the QR code is a major ally in the fight against epidemics. The QR code means no contact , which considerably limits the risk of transmission. Equipped only with their phone, customers no longer need to consult paper menus common to the entire restaurant.
If its adoption proved indispensable during COVID-19, this tool will undoubtedly continue to be particularly useful during the next waves of influenza, gastroenteritis and colds, and all those diseases that we could do without.
Adopting the QR code in your restaurant: instructions for use
How to create a QR code?
You are now convinced of the usefulness of the QR code, it is now time to take action. To do this, start by creating a page dedicated to your menu on your website.
Then use an online generator to create the QR code. We think for example of :
It's as simple as that!
Where to place QR codes in your restaurant?
The QR code is usually placed on the tables. This way, customers can use it as soon as they arrive. It is also a good idea to place it on the restaurant's window so that passers-by can consult your menu from outside. This replaces the traditional easel placed in front of the entrance doors. In addition, you can customize your QR code with your restaurant's colors for a total experience!
What types of QR codes?
It is possible to generate a single QR code to display the complete menu, but you can also create several, one per card.
- lunch menu,
- evening card,
- wine list,
- Drink menu,
- dessert menu, etc.
All in all, there are many reasons to implement a QR Code system for your restaurant: ease of setup and use, time savings on order taking and payment, card management and a better experience for your customers. The hardest part? Realizing that you should have taken the plunge much sooner!
Video presentation of the QR code tabletop ordering solution
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Do you want to digitalize your restaurant's customer journey to increase productivity?
Contact an Innovorder consultant and ask for a free expertise!
