The world is moving in a technology driven direction, and many hospitality businesses can benefit from upgrading to tablet ordering. It’s a great solution to speed up your table service, improve the overall experience for guests and make placing orders easier for your staff.
What is tablet ordering?
Typically, your wait staff have to go to tables, write down orders in a notepad and then return to a till on the other side of the room to place the order. With an EPOS tablet, this isn’t necessary.
EPOS ordering tablets are essentially a portable version of your EPOS system, that you can use on the go to place orders without the need to keep returning to the till. In addition to placing orders, they can be used to view dietary and allergy information, access table plans, check stock levels, and create bills.
Tablet ordering gets rid of the need for pen and paper. Everything your wait staff would need will be in one place.
What are the benefits of a restaurant tablet ordering system?
Hospitality businesses are fast paced, so finding a solution that can help speed up dining times and table turnover should be a priority. Technology in the industry is constantly changing, and a restaurant tablet ordering system for restaurants, bars, and cafes is a great example of this.
Speed up service
With tablets, servers no longer need to run back and forth between tables and terminals. They can take an order and send it instantly, which shaves minutes off each transaction. The tablet will communicate directly with your POS system. Send orders straight to your kitchen or bar printers once the order is placed. Order fulfillment is sped up, resulting in happier customers.
The faster the average dining time, the more customers you’ll be able to serve in a day, increasing your revenue.
Increase order accuracy
Placing an order on a tablet in real-time greatly reduces the number of mistakes made, especially if special requests or dietary requirements have to be considered. If the waiter has to return to a central till to input the order, they may not remember everything requested. This can negatively affect the customer experience, as well as wasting food.
Upselling Opportunities
Digital systems can prompt staff or customers with suggestions like meal add-ons, drink pairings, or limited-time offers. This increases average spend without added pressure on servers, and built-in prompts ensure every upsell opportunity is used.
Easier for wait staff
Wait staff will always be aware of any extra sides or deals they can recommend. This means they will have more clarity and confidence to actively upsell customers. They’ll also be able to serve more tables at once with no need to return to the counter till – producing additional revenue and increased table turnaround.
Two-way communication with the kitchen
Tablet ordering systems enable real-time updates between the front-of-house and kitchen. When integrated with your POS, staff can instantly see when orders are ready for collection, reducing delays and keeping service flowing smoothly. Tablets can also display key information like course breakdowns and the time a table was seated, allowing kitchen teams to better prioritise and pace meal preparation.
This level of coordination ensures consistent service standards and a more seamless dining experience.
Mobile EPOS: The Power of a Till in Your Hand
Tablet ordering is just the beginning. All-in-one mobile EPOS devices take things even further, offering the ability to take orders, process them, and handle payments, all from a single device.
Sell Anywhere
With a mobile EPOS, your business isn’t tied to a counter. Accept payments from anywhere – inside your venue, at market stalls, pop-up events, or seasonal kiosks. They’re perfect for outdoor dining, food trucks, and festivals.
Faster Transactions
Queue-busting becomes a reality. Staff can process payments on the spot, keeping lines short even during peak times. Use the devices as an extra till when it gets busy to speed up service without crowding your fixed EPOS.
Accurate Inventory Management
Every transaction made on a mobile EPOS is synced with your central back office system in real time. This keeps your stock levels and reporting accurate and up to date, with no manual updates needed.
Efficient Operations
Upsell with ease, streamline order flow, and keep staff mobile. Use the device to take orders over the counter or directly from customers in the queue. It’s a streamlined, convenient solution that keeps service smooth and efficient, especially during busy periods.
Split Bills and Flexible Payments
Mobile EPOS devices make it easy to split bills by item or amount directly at the table, eliminating the need for servers to return to a fixed till. This speeds up the payment process, reduces queues, and enhances the customer experience. Guests can pay using any method from card, cash, digital wallets, gift cards, vouchers, or even pre-paid deposits, all processed instantly on the device.
Thinking about adding tablet ordering to your EPOS system? Get in touch for more information.
