7 Data-backed Ways to Use QR Codes in Restaurants other than Linking to Menus
- sayantagoswami94
- Sep 2, 2022
- 4 min read
Updated: Oct 6, 2022
The importance of QR codes in light of real-world events:
Can these little squares do more than link to menus? The answer is yes.
However, you can still have questions. What more can QR codes offer? How to use QR codes to grow your business? This article will offer all the answers.
In the next five minutes, learn 7 ways to use QR codes in restaurants other than linking to menus. The article will discuss:
How you can use QR codes to offer dynamic menus?
How you can use QR codes for online ordering?
How you can use QR codes to get payment?
How you can use QR codes to ask for reviews?
How you can use QR codes to manage online waitlists?
And more
7 ways to use QR codes in restaurants
1. Offering dynamic menus
Imagine this scenario. A customer ordered a red lobster. The waiter arrived at the kitchen only to find out the dish had been sold out. They return to the table and inform the same to the waiting (and hungry) customer who loses their cool.
QR codes can help you avoid the scenario. With free QR codes for restaurant menus, you can remove any dish after they sell out. You can cross off the ones you can’t serve because of the unavailability of the ingredients as well.
Furthermore, with QR codes added to the digital menu screens, you can:
Show customers where to find your restaurant on food delivery apps.
Drive them to the restaurant’s social media pages.
Redesign your menu without any additional cost on designing and printing like on physical menus.
2. Online ordering
The National Restaurant Association confirmed that 25% of restaurant operators added the online ordering option during the pandemic. However, 55% of Gen Z adults still prefer to have the option of a contactless menu even after the pandemic subsided.
Furthermore, restaurants didn’t need to spend on printing physical menus after they switched to QR codes. The process helped restaurants save up to $3,000 each year.
Thus, if you haven’t yet, switch to QR codes for ordering. The move will be especially beneficial to you if you’re a fast-casual or quick-service restaurant.
3. Payments via QR codes
Payment method options are an essential aspect of any business. Here’s why QR codes are beneficial for payments:
21% of restaurant guests confirmed they chose restaurants that offer a contactless payment option over the ones that didn’t.
QR code menus offering the option of functionality and payment can lower labor costs by up to 50%.
The National Restaurant Association confirmed that 40% of operators have added QR codes as a contactless payment option to increase safety after the pandemic.
Thus, you too should opt for QR code payments for restaurants. Customers feel safer with QR code payments as:
They don’t have to touch shared surfaces including change, pens, and payment terminals.
Their sensitive information stays secure. QR codes link the customer payment app to your account. The customer payment app encrypts their data. Thus, customers don’t need to share personal information such as account numbers.
QR codes are often their preferred payment method. Thus, customers can stop visiting your restaurant if you don’t offer them the payment option.
4. Asking for reviews
Here’s why that’s important:
87% of customers read online reviews to decide which restaurant to visit.
Customers are willing to spend 31% more on a business with superb reviews over one that doesn’t.
Review signals form 15% of ranking factors. Thus, the bigger the number of good reviews, the higher your restaurant will show up on local search results.
One of the biggest benefits of QR codes in restaurants is they allow customers to leave a review in under 60 seconds.
All they need to do is scan the QR code and enter their rating and review. You’ll receive a copy of the review via email. Afterward, you can showcase the reviews on your website, on sites such as Yelp, Google, and Amazon, or on your business card.
5. Managing online waitlist
Imagine this scenario. It’s 80 degrees outside. There’s a twenty-people-long line in front of your restaurant. People are yelling at your staff for having to wait so long. It’s complete chaos.
QR codes can help solve the issue. Post a QR code waitlist on the windows and in the entryway. That’s it. Customers can now scan the code and join the online waitlist.
Once on the list, customers can check their place in the line. Furthermore, they’ll receive text message notifications when their table is ready. The process helps you run a smoother front-of-the-house.
Can you think of a better situation than that?
6. Offering personalized experiences
Why should you care to offer personalized experiences? Here are three reasons:
However, you need customer data to offer personalized experiences. That’s where QR codes can help you.
You can use the QR code to ask customers to fill up a form or sign up for a digital platform. The process will allow you to learn more about your customers and offer personalized experiences.
7. Offer deals and discounts
Restaurants in the U.S. generate 60.5% of weekly sales from Happy Hours.
Customers who receive discount coupons visit restaurants seven times a month. The number is 5 times a month for customers who don’t receive a discount coupon.
88% of U.S. customers use discount coupons.
Thus, allow your customers to scan your restaurant QR code and access the latest deals and discounts. They’ll return the favor.
QR code in restaurants — is it the future?
68% of U.S. adults would prefer using QR codes to pay in restaurants if they have the choice. Thus, QR code in restaurants is here to stay. Why not make the most out of it?
We hope the article offered you enough reasons to realize the importance of QR codes and use them to take your restaurant to the next level.
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