The following feature was published in Hospitality Technology.com on April 28, 2022
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With restaurants offering a wider variety of payment options than ever before, we explore evolving guest expectations, emerging technologies, and how restaurants can best prepare for what’s ahead.
by Robert Firpo-Cappiello
In the near future, restaurant guests could be paying for their meals with the palm of their hand.
No, it’s not sorcery, it’s already happening in Austin, Texas, where the Arbor Trails Whole Foods store is offering “palm recognition” service via Amazon One. As recently reported by Progressive Grocer, customers create a “palm signature” linked to bank card information and, voila, checkout becomes quicker and easier than ever.
And Whole Foods isn’t the only brand making payments as easy as the wave of a hand. As HT has reported, Carnival is empowering cruise guests to conduct transactions via wearable devices that make orders and purchases as simple as a tap.
Palm recognition and wearable devices are just two payment innovations possibly headed to restaurants — and they are certainly indicative of an over arching trend.
“Restaurant guests are looking for accuracy, security, convenience and speed, especially as they become accustomed to services like Amazon’s one-click purchases, automatic toll payments, and emerging grab, scan, and go options in some grocery stores,” says Daniel J. Connolly, Ph.D., Professor of Management, College of Business and Public Administration, Drake University.
Restaurants now offer a wider variety of payment options than ever before, with plenty more on the horizon. Here, we’ll explore evolving guest expectations, emerging technologies, and how restaurants can best prepare for what’s ahead.
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Executive Insight: Benefits of QR-Driven Restaurant Transactions
"Restaurants, staff and guests all benefit from empowering guests to control their experience digitally. There are three clear ROI drivers when restaurants adopt QR-Code driven ordering and paying: Increase table turn times by 20 minutes or more, driving better revenue outcomes; increase tips for your staff by up to 40%, which improves staff retention; and increase guest satisfaction and loyalty, which boosts loyalty and repeat visits." —Laurent May, CEO, Ready READ MORE
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