Modern diners expect speed, convenience, and control—and restaurants are adapting quickly. Order and pay at the table technology is emerging as a game-changer, allowing guests to browse the menu, place their order, and complete payment—all from their smartphone or a tablet, without waiting for staff. This shift is helping restaurants reduce wait times, increase table turnover, and create a more seamless dining experience. As customer preferences evolve, it’s clear why more restaurants are making the switch.
Are you looking for ways to elevate customer experiences while improving your restaurant’s ability to quickly and efficiently serve guests? Then, you might want to consider offering order and pay at the table technology.
What Is Order and Pay at the Table Technology and How Does It Work?
Order and pay at the table technology gives restaurant customers the ability to review menus, place orders, and process payments through devices at their table. Rather than rely on a server, customers are empowered to move through their dining experience on their own terms.
Order and pay at the table grew in popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic when restaurants attempted to limit in-person interactions and the use of print menus. Now that customers are familiar with the process, there is an opportunity for more types of restaurants to embrace this technology and reap its benefits in both the short and long term.
Top Benefits of Implementing Order and Pay at the Table in Your Restaurant
Order and pay at the table technology benefits customers and restaurant staff and management.
No Wait Times to Place an Order: Customers can sit down and immediately get started on their orders. Even if they have an assigned server, customers can submit orders for additional drinks or food items at any time.
Faster Food Delivery: Speed ordering leads to speedy food service. Customers can place their orders faster, cutting down on overall dining time. Plus, food runners and servers can spend more time delivering food instead of taking and processing orders.
Increased Table Turns: Less wait time to order and faster food delivery moves customers in and out of a restaurant quicker. When customers order, eat, and pay faster, tables can turn quicker, offering your restaurant more opportunities to serve new guests.
More Accurate Orders: When customers place orders on their own, they control every ingredient, making their orders more accurate. Tableside tablets allow customers to easily customize their meals and send their orders directly to the kitchen where orders appear on a kitchen display system.
Upsell Promotions: As customers go through their orders, a tableside tablet can prompt them to add on sides, desserts, and drinks. Upsell promotions can encourage customers to order more and increase each ticket size.
Featured Promos: Digital ordering screens give restaurants an opportunity to put promotions and ads directly in front of customers. Use screen content to promote upcoming events, new menu items, coupons, and more.
Customer Database Growth: When customers place their orders, restaurants can invite them to enter their email address or phone number. This process builds a customer database that can be used for loyalty programs and remarketing campaigns.
Less Reliance on Staff: Order and pay at the table technology lessens the demand on staff. A restaurant can operate just as smoothly with fewer servers, cutting overhead costs and reducing staffing needs and issues.
Instant Menu Updates: Digital menus allow restaurants the ability to add and remove items instantly. Restaurants can remove items that run out or promote items that are overstocked, aiding in better restaurant inventory management.
Higher Tips: When customers pay through digital devices, they can be prompted with tip suggestions which can lead to higher tips for staff.
Order and Pay at the Table Devices: What You Need to Know
There are a few ways to offer order and pay at the table devices in your restaurant.
Integrating Order and Pay at the Table with Your POS System
The key to offering order and pay at the table is a point-of-sale (POS) system. A restaurant POS connects your pay at the table device to your kitchen. When a customer places an order, the order is immediately sent to your kitchen staff. If you want to offer ordering from the table, you will need a POS system synced with either online ordering or a POS tablet.
Related: Top Restaurant POS Systems: The Comparative Buyer’s Guide
Using QR Codes and Online Ordering for Seamless Order and Pay at the Table Experiences
Customers can order and pay at the table through the same process they would take to place an online order. Restaurants can place a QR code on a table. Customers scan it to go to an online ordering portal. Online ordering can happen through a website or branded app, as long as the ordering system is synced with the POS system in the kitchen.
POS Tablets Designed for Order and Pay at the Table Functionality
Instead of asking customers to use their own devices to place orders, restaurants can provide on-table tablet ordering devices. On-table touchscreen tablets act as self-ordering kiosks that customers use to order for themselves. At Lavu, we offer iPad POS tablets to give customers a tool they already know and love.
Related: Be More Efficient with Self-Ordering Restaurant Technology
Types of Restaurants that Can Offer Pay at the Table
As more and more customers become familiar with order and pay at the table technology, it opens the doors for all types of restaurants to embrace these tools.
Quick Service: Fast food and quick service restaurants can invite customers to take a seat while they order and wait for their food. Use a tableside quick service POS so customers can place an order and pick it up at the counter when it’s ready.
Fast Casual: Fast casual restaurants can offer speedier service without downgrading food quality using tableside ordering. Guests can quickly enter their order without waiting in line and easily split up checks and place separate orders when in a group.
Full Service: Even full service, sit-down restaurants can benefit from order and pay at the table. Combine it with tableside service so guests don’t have to wait for a server when they are ready to order another drink or add on dessert.
How to Offer Order and Pay at the Table
Order and pay at the table technology is becoming the norm for restaurants ranging from fast food to full service. Don’t miss out on the many benefits of using this tableside technology. Schedule a demo to see how Lavu’s POS system can help you offer order and pay at the table options.
Or, download our free ebook to learn more about the benefits of using tableside ordering and payment processing. Download our free guide Speeding Up Restaurant Service with a Tableside POS for free today.
FAQs:
1. What is order and pay at the table technology in restaurants?
Order and pay at the table technology allows diners to browse the menu, place orders, and make payments directly from their table using a mobile device or tablet. This contactless restaurant ordering system enhances convenience, reduces wait times, and improves operational efficiency. Solutions like Lavu’s mobile ordering system streamline the entire dining process, helping restaurants increase table turnover and customer satisfaction.
2. What are the benefits of contactless payment in restaurants?
Contactless payment in restaurants offers speed, hygiene, and convenience. Customers can tap their card or phone without handing it to staff or waiting for a terminal. With Lavu’s restaurant payment technology, diners can pay right after ordering, enhancing safety and satisfaction while increasing table turnover and reducing the need for physical contact.
3. How does pay at table restaurant technology reduce staff workload?
Pay at table restaurant technology minimizes staff involvement in repetitive tasks like taking orders or processing payments. With Lavu, servers can focus more on customer service while the system handles orders and payments digitally. This reduces labor costs and increases overall efficiency.
4. How do I set up a pay at table solution with Lavu?
Setting up a pay at table solution with Lavu is simple. Once you sign up, Lavu provides a digital menu, QR codes, and device compatibility support. Their team assists with installation, training, and integration with your existing POS. It’s a plug-and-play solution tailored to modern dining expectations.
5. What types of restaurants benefit most from mobile ordering systems?
Quick-service, casual dining, cafes, and even food trucks can benefit from mobile ordering systems. Lavu’s flexible technology supports a wide range of business types, enabling better service speed, reduced wait times, and increased revenue with mobile ordering for restaurants.