Five keys to improve the payment experience in restaurants

Nowadays, customers expect quick and easy payments when dining out. Nothing ruins the experience more than having to wait too long to settle the bill when you are ready to leave, especially when more efficient options are available.

At PaynoPain, as a provider of payment solutions for the hospitality sector, we share five essential strategies to enhance the payment experience in restaurants. Discover how to offer a fast, secure service that aligns with the latest trends in payment methods.

1. Implement multiple digital payment methods

Facilitate payments and reduce waiting times

More and more customers prefer to pay using credit or debit cards, as well as digital payment methods such as Bizum, Apple Pay, or Google Pay. Therefore, it is essential for restaurants to have an online payment gateway such as Paylands, which ensures fast, secure, and customisable transactions for each business. It is an ideal payment gateway for restaurants, featuring the most popular payment methods on the market.

With our payment gateway, restaurants can provide a swift and intuitive payment experience, improving the payment process across all devices and thereby reducing waiting times.

2. Introduce loyalty programmes

Reward customer loyalty to increase visit frequency

Incorporating these tools will help restaurants gather valuable information about customer behaviour and habits. This data can be used to personalise offers and promotions, increasing the effectiveness of marketing campaigns.

Additionally, such measures encourage customers to return more frequently and increase their spending. For instance, if a restaurant awards points for each purchase, customers will be incentivised to return to accumulate points and redeem rewards.

3. Tap to Pay: fast payments without a physical card reader

Turn your mobile phone into a POS terminal and speed up payments

To prevent customers from enduring long waits to pay their bill, an effective solution is implementing Tap to Pay, a tool that allows any Android mobile phone to become a payment terminal without additional hardware. Having a POS terminal on a mobile device enables restaurant staff to accept payments more efficiently, reducing waiting times and providing a much smoother customer experience.

Moreover, as this is a fully digital alternative, customers can receive their receipt via email, eliminating the need for printed receipts and making the restaurant more sustainable by reducing waste.

4. Customise special promotions and discounts through digital payments

Attract customers with strategic offers

Offering special discounts and promotions based on customer purchasing behaviour is an excellent strategy to encourage loyalty and increase spending. Thanks to digital payments, businesses can securely collect data and provide personalised incentives, such as discounts on future visits or promotions on specific days of the week.

Another option is to create special menus to attract new customers, encourage loyalty, and boost average spending. For example, establishing traditions such as “Pizza Thursdays” can help develop a routine among consumers and generate demand that previously did not exist.

Restaurants could also consider offering menus featuring locally sourced products (km 0) or including vegan and vegetarian options in their menus.

5. Provide more efficient payment experiences

Improve service and increase table turnover

A smooth payment experience is crucial to ensuring customers leave a restaurant satisfied, as it enhances their perception of the service. This also increases the likelihood of them recommending the restaurant to others. Moreover, reducing waiting times through an efficient payment system contributes to higher table turnover, allowing more customers to be served within the same period and, consequently, increasing revenue.

To optimise this process, it is advisable to implement solutions such as online ordering or mobile device ordering via QR codes. This allows customers to select and pay for their meals before arriving at the restaurant, giving staff ample time to prepare them. This reduces the margin for error and enhances the experience for both customers and the business.

We help you improve the payment experience in your restaurant

Find the ideal payment solution for your business

If you are looking to enhance the payment experience in your restaurant or food establishment, do not hesitate to contact us. We will help you choose the payment solution that best suits your business needs.