What is Tableside Ordering

Tableside Ordering uses the Scan Order Pay method that allows your restaurant to leverage your Direct Ordering online menu for dine-in guests by giving them the ability to order via a unique QR Code displayed at the table they have chosen to sit at. This puts ordering control in your guests' hands and can be a strategic business decision for your restaurant. 

Some benefits of Tableside Ordering are:

• Improved Order Accuracy: When guests manually type in their own orders, they personally ensure that no items or important details (items, allergen notes, special requests, etc.) are missed, eliminating the element of human error by your order-taking staff. 

• Real-time Menu Updates: If your restaurant runs out of an item and you "86" it online, your QR Code menu also updates in real time, which prevents guests from ordering out-of-stock items.

• Labor Benefit: Ordering via QR code reduces the need for dedicated dining room waitstaff, which is a cost-effective solution to combat rising labor costs. There is no cost to generating Tableside Ordering QR codes in Direct Ordering; the only cost to you is printing the QRs on your choice of tabletop signage, custom plaques, or table tents.  

• Environmentally Conscious: Offering an interactive digital version of your menu can eliminate the need for your restaurant to reprint paper menus every time you add an item or change a price.

• Quality Assurance: When waitstaff is not distracted by guests who may be unfamiliar with your menu (occupying them for extended periods of time), they are free to spend more time focusing on the quality and accuracy of every order.

• Improved Guest Experience: Guests can place orders in their own time; if they are waiting for a friend to arrive, the waitstaff doesn't need to continuously check if all guests are present. Guests spend more time ordering when not rushed by waitstaff to choose their items quickly. This leads to a more relaxed and accurate ordering experience for the guest, resulting in higher ticket values for your restaurant!

How to Set up Tableside Ordering

Related Article:  Create & download Custom QR Codes for Each Table in Your Restaurant

Workflow Example

1. The restaurant sets up, downloads, and prints Table-specific QR codes. 

2. The customer arrives at the restaurant and sits at the table where they want to dine. 

3. The customer scans the table-specific QR code, adds items to their cart, and checks out. They have the option to log in to access their saved payment methods and loyalty points or check out 'as a guest' using only their name. 

4. Once the order is completed via the Scan Order Pay QR code, it will be marked in a Closed and Paid state within Direct Ordering, sent via the Checkmate integration directly to your POS system, and either printed at your designated printer or routed to your designated KDS. In either case, the customer's ticket will indicate the customer's Name and Table Number. 

5. Your kitchen completes the order, and a staff member hand-delivers the order to the Table Number indicated on the customer's ticket.