Square launches QR-based self-serve ordering feature for restaurants

By Pavithra R

Square, building simple tools to help people participate and thrive in the economy has announced the launch of QR-based, self-serve ordering feature, enabling buyers to place orders through their mobile device, preventing unnecessary physical contact with staff, at no additional charge to the business.

The COVID-19 pandemic has altered the way we live in countless ways. Today, more than ever, every sale matters for businesses of all types and sizes. With the new self-serve ordering, Square Online sellers can limit in-person contact, increase safety, improve order accuracy, and adapt to changing consumer preferences.

Customers visiting restaurants can scan the QR code with their personal device and place the order via the seller’s mobile-optimized ordering page. Once the buyer completes their order, it is received at the seller’s point of sale and relayed to their kitchen printers just as if the order was inputted directly by a server. Once the order is ready, a food runner looks for the table identifier on the order ticket and brings out the food.

Square believes that self-serve ordering can increase efficiency and improve a restaurant’s bottom line. The feature has the potential to remove wait times, improve order accuracy and the process for handling payment between waiters and patrons. Self-serve ordering also enables sellers to collect customer information on sales and foster deeper relationships with buyers through Square Loyalty and Square Marketing. The feature is currently available for Square Online sellers in the US, UK, Canada, and Australia.

“Self-serve ordering on Square Online has made it easy for guests to safely, and seamlessly place orders using just their mobile phone and a QR code. In addition to keeping our staff and customers safe, the feature also helps improve efficiency by making it easier to perform tasks like flagging down a waiter, paying the bill, splitting a check, or even just reordering a drink,” said Jeff Krupman, owner of Pizzahacker, a restaurant in California.

Recently, Square launched On-Demand Pay & Instant Payments features.

Founded in 2009, San Francisco based Square builds tools to empower businesses and individuals to participate in the economy. The company has offices in the United States, Canada, Japan, Australia, Ireland, Spain, and the UK.