9 Smart Ways to Use a QR Code for Restaurants

QR codes have become an increasingly popular tool businesses use to connect with customers, promote their products, and streamline processes.

One, in particular, is the QR code for restaurants. They can be a powerful tool for everything from ordering and payment to marketing and customer engagement.

In modern dining restaurants, convenience and efficiency are keys to a successful business. With QR codes, you can fasten your earnings and even leave a great impression on customers.

This article will explore key strategies for using QR codes in restaurants and how they can benefit your business.

You will learn the basics of a free QR code generator to use to your advantage.

Table of Contents

    1. Top 9 uses of QR codes in restaurants
    2. Why restaurateurs are using restaurant QR codes
    3. Implementing QR Codes with Free QR Code Generator
    4. How to create a QR code for restaurants
    5. Get your QR codes for restaurants today!
    6. FAQs

Top 9 uses of QR codes in restaurants

Under this section, you will read various ways to use a QR code in restaurants. 

Digitized menu

Restaurant QR codes can be an interactive menu that customers can access by scanning the code with their smartphones.

The digitized menu can include pictures of dishes, ingredient lists, and even videos showing the actual preparation of the meal. Menu QR codes can make the ordering process more engaging and informative for customers.

Contactless payment

QR codes help customers pay their bills securely and conveniently from their phones. This minimizes physical contact and handling cash or cards, making it a safer payment option and reducing staff mistakes.

Additionally, it speeds up the payment process, improving table turnover and customer satisfaction.

Online reservation or booking system

By making your QR code available online, customers can check availability, reserve seats, and book a schedule with a scan. 

They can do this anytime, anywhere, allowing the staff to focus more on providing excellent service. Codes can help you effortlessly optimize your seating and improve table arrangement.

Loyalty programs

It is also possible to use QR codes to provide customer loyalty programs, where customers scan QR codes for restaurants to earn points for purchases. 

Once customers reach a certain number of points, they can redeem them for discounts or free meals. This encourages customers to make more purchases and visit again.

Social media integration

Restaurants can use QR codes to link customers to their social media pages. This allows customers to follow the restaurant, share pictures, and leave comments. Customers can also repost your content to their profiles or mutuals. 

Restaurant location

Provide detailed directions through QR codes to make it easy for customers to find you.

Embedding map services like Waze and Google Maps allow customers to be guided on directions from their current location to your restaurant. 

If they are new customers, this will be especially helpful and reflect significantly on the restaurant's reputation.

Event invitations

You can also use QR codes to host events like cooking classes, theme nights, or wine tastings. Customers can scan the code to join the event and interact with the chef or sommelier during the celebration. 

Promote your special events with a QR code advertising that provides all the details and allow customers to RSVP or buy tickets.

WiFi access

WiFi access to your restaurant significantly improves customer satisfaction by providing customers a place to work and dine simultaneously.

Table tent QR codes can seamlessly connect customers to your network, making your restaurant a more attractive spot and reducing your staff's burden.  

Instant SMS

By scanning the SMS QR code, your customers can receive SMS notifications of promotional offers, event reminders, or order confirmations through SMS.

With this, you can expect repeat customer visits and build stronger connections with them.

Why restaurateurs are using restaurant QR codes

There are several advantages of using a QR code, including:

Streamlined ordering and payment

You can streamline customer ordering and payment processes using QR codes, making them more efficient and convenient.

It can lead to faster service and shorter wait times for customers. And who wouldn't love a quick service?

Improved marketing and advertising

Improve marketing and advertising efforts with QR codes for restaurant marketing to direct customers to the restaurant's menu, online ordering system, or other information about the business.

Doing so can increase visibility and attract new customers.

Increased customer engagement

You can use QR codes to increase customer engagement and drive repeat business.

For example, restaurants can encourage customers to visit more frequently by offering special promotions, discounts, or rewards through QR codes.

Gather customer feedback

Feedback is essential to helping make business decisions. Still, now, everyone has the luxury of sitting down and filling out a form.

Feedback QR codes, however, are a great alternative to gathering customer feedback and reviews, which can be valuable information for restaurants to improve their service and offerings.

The best solution for this is a digital online form. Smartphone scanners can fill out the form. 

With that, you can use their preferences to make improvements and adjustments. 

You can do all of that with the free QR code generator online.

Cost-effective

With QR codes, there's no need to use physical menus and promotional materials. Printing costs would be reduced significantly, and updates to your menu would be no problem, saving both time and money.

Contactless ordering and payment

You can reduce the risk of germ transmission by providing a QR code menu ordering and payment options.

You can set up a contactless payment QR code redirecting customers to your e-wallet. It can keep customers and staff safe and create a better overall experience than exchanging paper bills. 

Increased customer loyalty

By implementing a loyalty program or rewards through QR codes, restaurants can increase customer loyalty and drive repeat business.

Some loyalty programs you can apply are coupons, vouchers, and discount deals. 

Implementing QR Codes with Free QR Code Generator

Here, you will learn how to use your QR codes in more effective ways:

Ensure visibility

QR codes should be placed on well-lit materials in visible locations. It is essential to consider accessibility for your QR codes, so putting them on table tents, flyers, posters, or the payment counter to make them stand out.

Provide instructions

Place a call-to-action beside your QR code so that customers who need to become more familiar with how to use it may do it on their own. Make the instructions simple and understandable.

Monitor usage

Analytic tools in QR codes can help you monitor the number of times your QR code was used and how much you earn through it.

The data can provide information on which items customers prefer and which ones you need to improve. 

Test the QR codes

Unreadable QR codes or faulty links may cause disruption and more work for your staff. Double-check the QR code before launching it to ensure customers always have access to the latest offers and events.

Keep information updated

Menus and offers should be updated regularly to ensure that customers fulfill the services and discounts they seek. Links should be monitored for order processing and feedback.

How to create a QR code for restaurants

To realize all the suggestions above, you'll need a QR code. Below are the steps to do so.

  • Find a QR code generator. There are lots of QR code makers online. However, not all of them are safe to use or have enough features that you can use.

A recommended generator is the Free QR Code Generator; both of these have a wide array of solutions and offer advanced features.

  • Choose a solution. It would be best if you had a purpose for using a QR code. Is it for marketing? Is it for payment systems? Choose different solutions.
  • Upload or attach the details. QR code generators will ask you for more information; it could be a file, or you'll need to input other data.
  • Generate the QR code. Click the Generate QR code button to facilitate the creation of a QR code.
  • Customize your QR code. You can add colors to it and change frames. Adding a CTA is also recommended.
  • Test your QR code. It should redirect scanners to the correct data.

Get your QR codes for restaurants today!

QR codes are versatile tools that can benefit your restaurant in various ways. How creative you can be with your QR codes is up to you. 

Brand awareness among customers is the ultimate goal for future achievements, and a QR code for restaurants can be a useful tool for this purpose.

By implementing these strategies, you can maximize your resources and improve sales while still serving your customers at their convenience. 

Create your QR code today. Visit the Free QR Code Generator and sign up for an account, then start exploring the software to find the best solutions for your needs.

FAQs

What should I do if a QR code stops working?

If a QR code stops working, the link or site you entered in your QR code must be incorrect or no longer active. With dynamic QR codes, you can always change or update the link. 

But if you are using a static QR code, you will have to create a new code with the updated information. 

In a QR code generator, you can explore what type of QR code fits your needs.

Restaurants should use dynamic QR codes, which will eliminate the need for reprinting. This will reduce the costs of QR codes for restaurant marketing and promotions and make updates more manageable. 

But if you are using a QR code for events, a static one is good. This enables it to be available to the public for a certain length of time and then close independently.

What are some creative ways to use QR codes in a restaurant?

With a QR code for restaurants, you can attach any marketing material you want, including a food review, chef interviews, interactive games, or food quizzes related to your menu, behind-the-scenes videos, and virtual tours of the restaurant and other branches.