Streamlining Payments: Flexible Payment Methods That Modern Restaurants Should Consider!

Customer Demand for Efficiency and Convenience

Nowadays, customers expect transactions to be easy, secure, and fast. With more than half of the global population owning a smartphone, digital payments have become part of device usage. More consumers opt to pay conveniently using online or contactless payment methods as they’re fast compared to cash payments. Therefore, restaurants must embrace these modern modes of payment to match the changing customer demands for more convenient payment solutions.

Technology Adoption

Technology has become the backbone of every sector, including payment processing. In fact, the advancement in fintech infrastructure and increased internet penetration have been crucial enablers of modern payments. Additionally, the collaboration between conventional financial institutions and fintech startups drives innovation. This results in the development of better, more accessible, and faster payment solutions.

Payment Flexibility

Payment flexibility has become a key pillar of great customer experience. Whether it’s a quick lunch pickup, a sit-down dinner, or a home delivery, customers expect payment options that match their lifestyle and convenience. From mobile wallets and contactless cards to QR code scans and online payments, diners want control over how they settle the bill. Therefore, restaurants must offer this flexibility to stand out for all the right reasons.

Also, every restaurant operates differently, and so do their customers. A high-end dining spot may lean toward seamless tableside payments, while a busy café might benefit more from QR codes or tap-to-pay terminals. The goal is to align payment methods with your customer flow and service style. When restaurants tailor payment solutions to their unique operations, it not only improves efficiency but also strengthens customer trust and loyalty.

Top 3 Modern Payment Methods That Every Restaurant Should Consider

Here are the most common modern payment methods that restaurants should consider, to ensure a seamless payment experience.

Online Payments

As the name suggests, online payment methods allow customers to pay for their orders online through the restaurant’s web ordering platform or e-shop. It is arguably one of the most convenient ways for customers to pay for their orders. Customers add the order items to the cart and complete the payment remotely using their credit card, Google Pay, Apple Pay, or other local payment options, like iDEAL.

With the payment completed online, customers can pick up the order, have their order served at their table, or delivered at their address. This eliminates the need to go to the restaurant’s cashier to complete the payment. As a result, it speeds up order processing and minimizes the pressure on the in-house staff.

Common Use Cases

Here are several scenarios where online payments are an ideal payment option in a restaurant setup:

Online table ordering. This is where customers order from their mobile phones while sitting at the restaurant’s table. It allows them to complete payments online without involving the waitstaff.

Pickup ordering. In this case, customers place orders remotely and make payments in advance. This enhances convenience as they will not need to queue at the cashier when they come to collect their order.

Delivery ordering. Customers place orders remotely and pay in advance and get their food delivered at their home or office

Table payments. Customers place orders from their smart phones or via the staff and pay later when they want to leave

Integrated Physical and Soft Terminals

Many restaurants still rely on non-integrated payment terminals, where staff manually enter the order amount into the terminal after capturing it in the POS or ordering system. While this method is widely used, it can lead to errors, such as incorrect amounts being entered, and lacks automatic confirmation of the payment status. By using integrated physical or soft terminals, the payment amount is passed directly to the terminal, ensuring accuracy, reducing manual work, and capturing the correct payment status in real time. This not only improves the speed and reliability of transactions but also simplifies payment reconciliation, helping staff and managers track and match payments more efficiently.

• 1. Physical Terminals
  

  Physical terminal payment has been a popular mode of payment for a while. It uses a payment terminal or card reader that is attached to an order-capturing device such as a kiosk or POS system. Once the customer places the order physically or online, they tap, swipe, or insert their credit or debit card into the payment terminal to pay. Restaurants should consider this payment method as it is not only familiar among the masses but also a trusted payment option. Also, most physical terminals integrate seamlessly with existing POS systems. This ensures quick and secure transactions for customers. The outcome? A more fulfilling checkout experience for your customers.

• 2. Soft Terminals

  

  On the other hand, soft terminals are mobile, not fixed like physical terminals. It involves using Near Field Communication (NFC) enabled kiosks, tablets, or mobile phones to accept payments without installing a physical terminal. This method allows for quick and secure transactions via smartphone or other mobile device, promoting a tap-to-pay experience. This payment method is ideal for modern restaurants looking to explore the latest payment features. Also, it’s a mobile-friendly and flexible payment option. However, before choosing between physical and soft terminal, check your payment provider. This is because some payment providers support physical terminals while others only support soft terminals.

  Common Use Cases

  Here are some scenarios that necessitate the implementation of physical or soft terminal payments in your restaurants.

  Self-ordering kiosks. If you have self-service kiosks or any other fixed order capture devices in your restaurant, you may consider connecting them to a physical terminal. On the other hand, if the self-ordering device is NFC-enabled, then you can consider implementing soft terminal payments. In either way, it ensures a fast and secure checkout experience for your customers.

  Staff-Assisted Terminal Payments. If your business supports staff-assisted payments, then physical or soft terminal payment method would suffice. For instance, waitstaff or cashiers can capture customer payments on the physical terminal. On the other hand, soft terminals can be ideal when your staff uses mobile NFC-enabled devices to collect customer payments.

Scan Online QR Code to Pay on Your Device

QR code technology has advanced significantly, making its way into the payment processing space. It provides one of the most secure and convenient payment experiences for your customers.

So, how does it work? Well, the customer uses an order capture device like a kiosk or tablet to place their order. Once they’re on the checkout page, a QR code is displayed, which they can scan using their own mobile device to complete the payment. Therefore, they don’t need to input their payment details on the device (e.g., kiosk), where their sensitive data may be at risk.

Instead, they use their personal devices to pay. They can even save credentials like credit card info, Google Pay, or Apple Pay on the device. As a result, it accelerates the payment process and enhances security since customers no longer have to manually input their payment details. Also, it provides a seamless multi-channel ordering journey, where the customer starts the ordering process in one device and continues to pay on another (personal) device.

Common Use Cases

Online payment on kiosks. Customers can scan QR codes and pay seamlessly using their personal devices. This ensures their data is not stored on shared order capture devices.

Payment request by waitstaff. The waitstaff or cashier provides a QR code that allows payment for a specific amount allowing the customer to scan and pay using their mobile device.