6 Reasons Why You Should Use QR Codes In Restaurant To Link To Digital Menus

Modern technology has made running a business more manageable for owners. You can take advantage of software tools that can automate tedious tasks so that you can focus on more revenue generating strategies for your company.

One of the current trends among restaurants is using a QR code for their digital menus. A quick response (QR) code is characterized by a 2D bar code, unlike the traditional ones that only involve lines. It consists of black squares and dots, which represent specific pieces of data that are translated by a computer or device. You can easily create a QR code for your business through a QR Code Generator.

Here are the reasons why you ought to maximize the use of QR codes in your restaurant, especially for your menu:

1. Convenience

The primary benefit of QR codes is that they’re convenient for you and your customers. On the diner’s end, they won’t have to keep on waiting for the server to arrive at their table with the physical menu. Plus, you can give them enough time to decide on what meals to try without pressuring them with the presence of your staff.

This feature is particularly useful for lunch and dinner times at your restaurant, when your employees are busy taking and delivering orders. You can even improve the convenience factor by allowing customers to click on the menu for their orders.


Photo: Adobe Stock

2. Savings

Another advantage of QR codes is the time and money savings they offer. For the former, again, your customers can immediately check the menu for today’s special. They can confirm and receive their orders right away, which is useful for people who just stepped out for lunch and should return within an hour or so.

On your end, you can save money with QR codes. You can add new items to the menu electronically, without worrying about updating its physical counterpart. This way, you won’t have to keep on printing a new set of menus, especially if you’re still in the early stages of your business.

Even if you have to print the QR codes and post them all over your establishment, these use minimal space, so you’ll still save on this overhead cost.

3. Efficiency

Since QR codes serve to automate the task of going to each table to offer the menu, your waiters will have more energy to focus on providing your customers with the best service. They won’t have to keep on scrambling through different tables with the orders, while struggling to remember which ones haven’t been given a menu yet. With this, you reduce the risk of aggravated diners and staff.

To ensure that your customers maximize the use of QR codes, you must provide them with instructions on how they can scan them. The guide must include the app that can read and open these codes, like Messenger, WhatsApp, and even Instagram. You also ought to note other steps that they should do, such as opening the notification or waiting for their device to automatically direct them to the browser.


Photo: AdobeStock

One more way to guarantee the efficacy of your QR codes is to find a reliable generator. Aside from the basic feature, these are some tips to remember when choosing this type of software:
  • No Downloads - Your code shouldn’t download anything on your customer’s phone, even if it’s your menu. As much as possible, keep everything web-based to avoid privacy and consent issues.
  • Multiple File Uploads - The QR code generator must allow you to publish several files, whether PDFs or images, which are all accessible through a single code. With this, you gain the flexibility of uploading all your products using the same code.
  • Dynamic - A dynamic QR code means that you can update the content of a single code without needing to regenerate another one. This feature saves you from having to print a new image every time you change your menu.
  • Multiple Languages - Ideally, the software must support multiple languages. This means that a code that’s scanned using a phone with Spanish as the default language would show a menu in this dialect.
  • Scale Support - If you have a franchise or are planning to start one, you should look for software that can help you manage several codes in just one platform and roll out modifications at scale.

4. Hygiene

The coronavirus pandemic has changed how people eat. Restaurants have to be mindful of social distancing and in implementing safe public health practices. QR codes are hygienic because menus no longer need to be passed from your waiters to the customers, and, then, back to your staff again.

It lessens the risk of contamination in your establishment since customers can just open the menu on their smartphones and order from there. QR codes remove items from being passed from one pair of hands to another. You can even supplement this strategy with contactless payment methods, like online banking and the use of electronic wallets.

5. Brand Awareness

A basic feature of QR code generators is customization. You can personalize your code to display your brand logo. It’s one way to increase awareness for your business and imprint the symbol in customers’ minds. This way, when diners see your logo while scrolling through their social media news feeds, they can immediately associate it with good food and even better customer service from your staff.

6. Marketing

Aside from brand awareness, QR codes can also be used to market more products to your customers. For instance, a diner orders today’s special, which only consists of an appetizer and main course. Since the process is digital, you can easily upsell your other food items, such as your desserts, by adding a banner on the landing page of the code. With this, you help boost your sales and profits.

Conclusion

QR codes are valuable tools for restaurants. They provide your customers with a convenient and efficient way of ordering, while allowing you to save on printing costs. Moreover, QR codes promote hygiene and sanitation since diners and your staff won’t have to risk physical contact by passing the menu from one set of hands to another. Lastly, these codes are useful for brand awareness and marketing purposes.
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