QR code ordering for restaurants: how it works and how to roll it out
QR code ordering lets a customer point their phone camera at a code, open your menu in the browser, and place an order. There's no app to download and no account to set up first. Done right, it takes pressure off your staff and makes ordering easier for customers.
How it works
- The customer scans a QR code on a table, counter, poster or package.
- Your menu opens in their phone's browser.
- They choose items, and confirm with a quick phone verification.
- The order lands in your order inbox or POS, where staff accept it.
- The customer can watch the order's status update live.
Where to put your QR codes
- On tables — for dine-in ordering without waiting to catch a waiter's eye.
- At the counter — so queues move faster at busy times.
- On packaging and bags — so customers reorder directly next time. This is also how you build your own direct customer base; see own ordering website vs. marketplaces.
- On posters, windows and social media — so people nearby or online can order from you.
Rollout tips
- Test the code on different phones before you print anything. Print it large enough with plenty of quiet space around it.
- Add a short instruction, such as 'Scan to order', so customers know what to do.
- Keep the menu photos and prices up to date, since QR menus are only as good as their content.
- Train staff on where online and QR orders show up, and who accepts them.
- Keep a way to order without a phone for customers who prefer to talk to a person.
What to look for in a QR ordering system
No app download required; quick sign-in (phone verification beats passwords); live order tracking; and orders that show up in the same place as your other sales, so you're not running two systems. Also check that you can give every table or location its own code.
Bisserv supports QR code ordering on both the Ecosystem and Online Store products, with customer accounts by phone verification and live order tracking. Book a demo and we'll set it up with your menu.