Photo credit: TotalFood.com

The National Restaurant Association recommends you sanitize your laminated menus between each use or make single-use menus only. But let’s be real, who has time/money for that? And what if you change your menu?

Enter QR codes.

Most people think of QR codes as an old school marketing tactic. Back in the day, they were typically  linked to a static PDF and required a special app. Turns out QR codes were ahead of their time. Now you can link to any type of media (with no extra apps) to create a contactless, entertaining experience for guests.

Benefits of QR codes

For restaurants:⁣⁣
🌳  Easy way to go green with your menu (ditch the paper!)⁣⁣
💰  Saves time + money (no need to sanitize, laminate or reprint your menus)⁣⁣
👨🏻‍💼  Reduced labor costs (less FOH staff needed)⁣⁣
⁣⁣
For customers:⁣⁣
👉  Contactless method to order/pay ⁣⁣
👉  No need to flag down a busy waiter⁣⁣
👉  No need to download a special app⁣⁣

How to use QR codes in your restaurant:

1. Digital menu viewing
2. Pre-ordering or contactless ordering on-premise
3. Pickup from a food locker (office buildings or apartment complexes)
4. Personalized thank you message
5. Playlist to recreate restaurant vibe
6. Recipe or cooking instructions for a DIY kit
7. Download your own mobile app
8. Coupon codes
9. Customer satisfaction survey

How it works in the real world

View this post on Instagram

 

Have you visited our newly opened patio yet? We’ve created this highly technical and informational video to show you just how our new Beer-O-Matic ordering system works, as well as everything else we’re doing to keep ya’ll safe. Shout out to our amazing bar staff for lending their talent to this Temescal Brewing production. Visit the link in our bio to make a reservation! We also accept walk-ins but seating is limited. See ya on the patio ✌️ MON: 2pm – 7pm (To Go Only) 🛍️ TUE: 2pm – 7pm (To Go Only) 🛍️ WED: 2pm – 7pm (To Go Only) 🛍️ THU: 4pm – 8:30pm (To Go + Patio) 🪑 FRI: 4pm – 8:30pm (To Go + Patio) 🪑 SAT: 3pm – 9pm (To Go + Patio) 🪑 SUN: 3pm – 9pm (To Go + Patio) 🪑

A post shared by Temescal Brewing (@temescalbeer) on Aug 7, 2020 at 2:55pm PDT

Tools & tech for QR codes

$

QR Code Monkey (DIY) | Free

QR Code Generator (DIY) | Free or Pro versions

Flowcode | Free for first 20 codes

$$

Check with your own cloud-based POS system

$$$

Toast Order & Pay | You don’t need to be a Toast customer to use

GoTab

Ready

OneDine

Tutorials + templates

Watch this brief tutorial on how to create your own QR code using QR Code Monkey:

Here’s a simple Microsoft Word template from A. Marshall Hospitality that you can use for a table tent.

Here’s how it works:

1. Download and open the document.
2. Replace the sample QR code with yours (use the PNG version). Right click the QR code images in the Word document and select Change Picture. Find your downloaded QR code and select that file.
3. Change fonts to match your branding and adjust the language as needed.
4. When you print, try a thicker card stock such as 65 lb. Once printed, just fold down the center, creating a 5.5 x 8.5 table tent.

If you’re using Flowcode as your QR code generator, download these free templates.

Follow similar instructions as above.

Adobe Spark has plenty of contactless resources and templates:

How to Go Contactless with Your Business

Templates for Business Recovery

For a QR alternative…

Check out Popl, a sticker-like device that can be scanned for contactless sharing. Most people appear to use Popls for social handles or business cards, but it can just as easily link to your restaurant menu, ordering system, or mobile app. Best part is, the other person doesn’t need a Popl to scan it! Just tap and go.

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Popl Tap – Perfect for letting your customers know that your technology is interactive 📲 • Now available worldwide 🌏

A post shared by popl (@popl.co) on Aug 27, 2020 at 10:42am PDT