QR Code Payment vs.Traditional Methods: A Comparative Analysis for Restaurants

Wondering how are QR code payment solutions different from traditional methods? Should you make changes to your restaurant’s payment system? What are the pros and cons of going digital? Let’s dive in.

QR code payment at restaurants: What is it, and how does it work?

QR code stands for “quick-response code” and was invented in 1994 by the Japanese company Denso Wave for the automotive industry. A QR code is a barcode composed of squares that can be read by a smartphone camera. To read a QR code, just open your smartphone camera and scan the code. A link will appear for you to continue on a web page.

QR codes can link to a payment page, and countries like China have widely adopted them for that purpose —especially in the restaurant industry. There, even the tiniest street food stand has a QR code to receive customer payments. At sunday, we’ve been helping 2000+ restaurants implement QR codes in Europe and the US (such as El Viñedo in Atlanta), resulting in higher staff retention rates, higher table turnover, increase in average baskets, and much more.

QR codes are revolutionizing restaurant checkout. Customers now only have to scan a QR code, pay, and walk away. That’s it. With sunday, paying at restaurants became an effortless, less than 10 seconds process.

QR Code Payment vs. Traditional Methods

Are you considering implementing QR code payments for your business? Let’s explore the pros and cons of QR code payment versus traditional checkout methods.

Customer Experience

At sunday, you know it by now, we love QR code payments. And it started from a desire to make you and your diners’ lives easier.

Our QR codes allow your customers to pay with their own phones in less than 10 seconds. That’s way quicker than asking for the check or going to a checkout counter and taking out cash or a credit card. Not to mention when diners want to split the bill.

However, not all your customers will understand how to pay with a QR code and may prefer traditional payment methods. And it does require a smartphone. You need to make sure your staff is ready and trained to help in such cases.

The adoption of QR code payment will only spread as we all use our phones more and more. Let’s face it: when you leave your house, are you more afraid to forget your phone or your wallet? Increasingly, people are using their phones for everything. Offering diners the option to pay through their phone is a huge plus.

Also, you can do many things with the design of your QR code payment system to make it more user-friendly and appealing. Traditional payment methods don’t offer such design flexibility.

Time efficiency

QR code payment saves time for your customers. They don’t have to wait for a server or make complex math calculations on the spot to split the bill.

QR code payment also saves your staff so much time! Your servers no longer need to manually process payments. Instead, your staff can focus on what matters: serving good food and doing it well. At sunday, we save restaurant staff 2 million hours per year just like that.

However, QR codes do take some time to implement. First, you need to find the QR code payment system that best suits your business. Then you need to test it and train your staff. Your regular customers may also need some time upfront to understand how it works.

Service quality

Restaurant checkout processes with traditional payment methods can take up much of your staff’s time, slow your service, and lower its quality with stressed employees. With QR code payments, your staff can focus on providing customers with the best dining experience.

Customers, too, have more time to enjoy the moment they spend at your restaurant. Checkout is the last bit of your diners’ experience at your restaurant. You want to avoid ending on a sour note with a slow and troublesome payment process that makes them late for the rest of their day or evening. Even if your customers had a good time at your restaurant, difficulties with payment can negatively impact their overall experience.

QR code payments are also hygienic and secure. It’s an entirely contactless payment method protecting both your diners and your staff. Sunday helped many restaurants stay open during the Covid-19 pandemic. QR code payments may also be more secure than taking out cash or a card.

Business Growth

QR code payments are user-friendly and efficient. They also improve service quality, which has a direct impact on business growth.

Faster service means higher turnover and more meals served. At sunday, we help businesses increase their turnover and enable them to welcome up to 15% more customers. Payment via QR codes can provide you with better data to track your business statistics. Plus, it can link directly to your accounting system, allowing for hassle-free closing and a clear vision of your business’s finances.

QR code payments also allow you to save money. They are less error-prone than traditional methods. The bill can be updated digitally. Transaction costs can be more affordable with QR payments than with traditional payment methods. At sunday, they are cheaper based on your usage.

Oh, and we can also improve your staff retention by 23%. Our QR code payment solutions help your employees save time and increase their average tip by about 10%. Hard to dislike, right?

Customer Engagement

Checkout with traditional payment methods is just a time to pay. With sunday, payment time can be so much more.

Paying via QR codes also allows customers to tip, review, fill out a feedback form, request a digital receipt, leave their contact details, participate in a loyalty program, and more. All that is tracked and saved to measure customer engagement. We also developed tools for you to integrate a menu and an ordering feature to QR codes on top of payments. And we keep exploring new horizons to best serve food businesses.

Why do 2000+ restaurants choose sunday's QR code solutions?

Many apps provide QR code payments nowadays, so what sets sunday apart? At sunday, our mission is to make your customers and staff’s lives easier. Here’s how.

We’re the QR code payment pioneers in the restaurant industry. We know what we’re doing. Here are just a few track record numbers:

• 2000+ clients
• 50M+ diners per year
• $38M tips redistributed to staff
• 423k 5* Google reviews gathered

We offer many different payment options: credit card, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and more.

We’re not only about payment solutions. We have bigger plans for your business. In addition to saving you time and money and boosting your growth, we want to provide you with the tools to understand your business and team better and help you make informed decisions through analytics, staff performance reviews, and an accounting system.

We also provide:

• Easy-to-edit digital menus.
• Review and feedback systems.
• Even handhelds built specifically for hospitality businesses like yours.
• And many more tools to grow your business, such as click & collect solutions.

Want to know more about how sunday can help your business with QR code payment solutions? Get started here.

FAQ

What are the different QR code payment options?

There are many ways to implement QR code payment options at your restaurant. Some businesses use QR codes at their checkout counters. At sunday, we like to implement QR codes directly on tables, easily accessible for customers to pay when they wish, without having to go anywhere—more time for them to stay seated and have a coffee or dessert. And leave you a tip!

How do I choose the right QR code payment system for my restaurant?

Many QR code payment solutions are now available, and that’s excellent news. We recommend you choose a solution specifically designed for the food industry. A restaurant is a one-of-a-kind business requiring a one-of-a-kind solution. We’re happy to offer you a demo over here if you’d like to see what a partnership with us looks like.

How do I implement QR code payments at my restaurant?

We’re here to help! Get started here.