Should Your Restaurant Invest in Pay-at-Table Technology?

At the end of the meal, an employee brings a payment processing machine to you. You tap, dip, or swipe your card, and you’re done. It’s a quick, easy, and safe way to pay for your meal, without a lot of fuss.

The old way of taking payments is finally made new. Square Terminal is your all-in-one credit and debit machine for tableside payments and receipts. It’s secure, reliable and an entirely fairer way to get paid.

A system that grows with your business.

We’re with you from Square one to whatever’s next.

Enabling your servers to take tableside payments has a number of benefits that outweigh possible awkward interactions or a one-time output for new technology. Those benefits include:

Added convenience

Tableside payments make payments more convenient, especially when it comes to splitting the bill. It’s much easier to split the payment by order and pay individually at the table, instead of having one friend put the tab on their credit or debit card, and everyone adding up their orders, taxes, and tips. Maybe that’s why nearly a third of millennials look for advanced technology when dining at restaurants.

Faster service

In a traditional payment experience, a server brings the customer a bill. Then they come back to collect the bill with payment. If the customer uses a card, the server has to run the card at a station and then bring back the card and receipt. All of those steps can take a good chunk of time.

Tableside payments, on the other hand, cut down on all the back-and-forth and allows your diners to pay more quickly. This means a better experience for your diners — both those who have finished eating and those who are waiting for a table. A faster checkout also allows you to turn tables more often.

Higher tips

Though it may seem like pay-at-table technology might bring about awkward interactions when it comes to tipping, it might actually help servers increase tips. You can use the technology to cut down on the time it takes to pay, and who doesn’t love a quick and smooth experience when they’re done with their meal? Additionally, the tableside payment device can offer tip suggestions, which help customers (no more doing math on a napkin) and may result in higher tips.

Secure checkout

Most tableside payment technologies come equipped to process all types of payment — including chip cards and contactless payments. That not only allows your customers to pay in whatever way they want but also means that you’re using more secure payment methods.

While customers might not realize how secure those payment types are, they will likely appreciate that tableside payments mean that their card never leaves their hand. This helps them feel more secure as it protects their personal information.

Running a business is no easy feat, but Square is here to help. We have all the tools you need to start, run, and grow your business, whether you’re selling in person, online, or both. And we’ve made all our tools to work together as one system, saving you time and money — and making decisions easier. So you can get back to doing the work you love and focusing on whatever’s next. See how Square works.