Mobile POS and SoftPOS: make tableside ordering and payment work

Taking payment at the table can remove a trip to the fixed till. If staff still need to return to split a bill or correct an order, however, a bottleneck remains. Start with the complete task.

Two functions that need to work together

Mobile POS manages the order: selecting a table, entering dishes, sending them to the kitchen and managing the bill. SoftPOS accepts a contactless card or wallet payment on a compatible phone.

Apple's Tap to Pay on iPhone announcement describes a feature used with an app from a participating payment provider. Opening an ordinary website on a phone does not turn it into a payment terminal.

Adyen also distinguishes Tap to Pay from a separate card reader. Support depends on the solution, device and market. Have the supplier confirm your proposed combination, including operating system and payment methods, before purchasing equipment.

Test a complete table visit

Ask a server to use the proposed solution to:

• Enter an order with modifiers and check how the kitchen receives it.
• Amend a dish after sending the order.
• Split the bill between two guests using different payment methods.
• Handle a declined payment without incorrectly closing the order.
• Provide the sales receipt and demonstrate a refund.

Also check what happens if a payment is interrupted or its result is delayed. Staff need a way to confirm its status before attempting payment again.

Test on the restaurant floor

Try the devices where they will actually be used: the furthest terrace table, behind the bar and throughout a complete service. Assess battery life, readability, grip and connectivity. Decide how devices are handed over, charged and blocked if lost.

Measure the guest's wait

Track the time from a guest requesting the bill to completing payment. Note situations in which staff must leave the table to finish a task. Compare similar services before and after the change.

Faster payment does not guarantee higher table turnover. Kitchen capacity, booking intervals and guests' preferences matter too. Use your own observations to assess the value of mobile POS.