A contactless point of sales (POS) system like Tablenu and the benefits it offers during the pandemic are apparent. These benefits range anywhere from mitigating customer and server physical interactions, to eliminating the need for unsanitary paper menus. And while amidst the pandemic such benefits are welcomed, it may leave some restaurant owners wondering if contactless POS systems are merely a covid bandaid, or if they’ll also have benefits post-covid.

In this everchanging world amidst COVID-19, businesses and customers alike are contending with new rules and regulations; the dining industry is no exception to these circumstances. These rules have manifested in ways such as reduced occupancy of restaurants, a finite amount of time to finish a meal, and even partitions being placed between tables to name a few. However, the biggest change is at the core of the dining experience, server-to-diner interactions, instead of this traditional model a shift towards contactless dining is becoming more and more widespread.

With the effects of COVID-19 still being felt worldwide, the restaurant industry continues to deal with capacity restrictions, labor shortages, and safety issues. When it comes to handling customer concerns regarding sanitation and safety in particular, restaurants have adopted a couple of different solutions. Some have begun using disposable menus while many others have transitioned to QR-based menus and ordering systems. These contactless solutions vary in complexity and range from simple PDF menus to web-apps with in-depth features that allow users to place orders and pay directly from their phones.

Ever since the pandemic hit, QR codes have been popping up in restaurants across the country. Some of these codes simply display PDF menus upon being scanned, whereas others will link to entire contactless ordering web apps that allow guests to place orders directly on their mobile devices. In a recent industry report, the National Restaurant Association noted that, as of March of 2020, about 50% of full-service operators have added digital menus accessed by scanning a QR code.