Why Tableside Ordering is the Key to Increasing Average Check Size

In today's competitive hospitality landscape, restaurants are constantly seeking innovative ways to enhance efficiency and, more importantly, increase their average check size. Tableside ordering has emerged as a pivotal solution, transforming the traditional dining experience and offering a myriad of benefits for both the business and the customer. By empowering servers with mobile tablets and integrating a seamless ordering system, restaurants can streamline operations, optimize order accuracy, and unlock new opportunities for upselling and personalized service. This article explores how implementing tableside ordering can significantly impact a restaurant's bottom line and overall success.

Understanding Tableside Ordering

What is Tableside Ordering?

Tableside ordering refers to the practice of allowing customers to place their food and drink orders directly at their table using a mobile device, usually a tablet, provided by the restaurant. This digital ordering system empowers servers to take orders accurately and efficiently, sending them directly to the kitchen and point of sale (POS) system in real-time. This eliminates the need for servers to memorize orders or manually input them into a terminal, reducing errors and saving valuable time. The tableside ordering system often includes a digital menu, showcasing menu item descriptions, ingredient lists, and enticing photos. This modern approach enhances the dining experience, allowing for a faster and more personalized service.

Benefits of a Tableside Ordering System

Implementing a tableside ordering system offers numerous benefits for restaurants aiming to increase their average check size. Firstly, it streamlines the ordering process, allowing servers to handle more tables and provide faster service. The real-time order transmission to the kitchen ensures accuracy and reduces errors, minimizing food waste and customer dissatisfaction. Furthermore, tableside ordering systems often include upselling prompts and suggestive selling features, encouraging customers to add appetizers, drinks, or desserts to their order. This targeted approach can significantly boost the average check. From a management perspective, the system provides valuable data on customer preferences, popular menu items, and ordering patterns, allowing for informed decisions on menu engineering and pricing strategies.

How It Enhances the Dining Experience

Tableside ordering elevates the overall dining experience by providing customers with greater control and convenience. Diners can browse the digital menu at their own pace, exploring various menu item options and ingredient details, especially for takeaway orders. The interactive nature of the tablet allows for easy customization of orders, catering to specific dietary needs or preferences. The system may also offer features like contactless payment options, simplifying the payment process and enhancing customer safety. By reducing wait times and providing a more personalized service, tableside ordering fosters a fast and memorable dining experience. This improves customer satisfaction and encourages repeat business, ultimately contributing to increased sales and a higher average check size for the restaurant.

Implementing Tableside Ordering in Your Restaurant

Choosing the Right Digital Ordering System

Selecting the right digital ordering system is crucial for successfully implementing tableside ordering in your restaurant. Consider your specific needs and budget when evaluating various options. Look for a system that includes a chip for easy payment processing. The system seamlessly integrates with your existing POS and kitchen systems, including your iPad and ePOS. to ensure efficient order management and real-time updates. The best systems will offer a user-friendly interface for both servers and customers, minimizing the learning curve and maximizing efficiency. Evaluate the hardware requirements, such as tablets and payment terminals, and factor in the cost of software and support. Some restaurants are adopting ordering systems that allow customers to order via their own mobile devices. Ensure the chosen solution aligns with your restaurant's brand and enhances the overall dining experience.

Training Servers for Effective Upselling

Effective upselling is a key component of increasing the average check size with tableside ordering. Train your servers to confidently use the iPad and ordering system to suggestively sell appetizers, drinks, and desserts. Equip them with knowledge about menu item ingredients, specials, and promotions. Encourage them to personalize recommendations based on customer preferences and ordering history. The tableside ordering system can also be configured to prompt servers with upselling suggestions at appropriate points in the ordering process. Emphasize the value of offering complementary items or premium upgrades to enhance the overall dining experience. Ongoing training and performance feedback will help your servers master the art of upselling and contribute to higher average check sizes. In some cases, the servers need to be confident with card payments too.

Streamlining Your Menu for Efficiency

A streamlined menu is essential for maximizing the benefits of tableside ordering. Analyze your menu items and identify those that are most popular and profitable. Consider removing slow-moving or low-margin items to simplify the ordering process and reduce kitchen complexity. Optimize menu item descriptions and photos to entice customers and highlight key ingredients for both dine-in and takeaway options. Implement clear categorization and filtering options within the digital menu to facilitate easy browsing and selection. The ordering system can also track menu item performance and provide valuable data for menu engineering decisions, particularly for takeaways. Streamlining your menu not only improves efficiency but also enhances the overall dining experience by making it easier for customers to find and order what they want, ultimately contributing to an increased average check.

Impact on Average Check Size

Real-Time Recommendations and Upselling

One of the most significant advantages of tableside ordering is its capacity to drive upselling and increase the average check size through real-time recommendations for takeaways. The tableside ordering system allows servers to offer personalized suggestions directly to customers while they are making their food selections. Integrating the digital menu with the restaurant POS system enables the automatic display of relevant add-ons, such as appetizers, desserts, or premium drink pairings. This proactive approach can subtly encourage customers to enhance their order, increasing the overall value. Training servers to use the tablets effectively for suggestive selling is also crucial; they should be able to articulate the value of complementary items and highlight special promotions, ultimately enhancing the overall dining experience and boosting the average check.

Analyzing Check Sizes with Tableside Ordering

Tableside ordering systems provide restaurant management with invaluable data for analyzing check sizes and optimizing pricing strategies. The system can track every order, providing insights into the average check size per table, server performance, and the popularity of specific menu items. This detailed data allows the restaurant to identify trends and patterns, enabling them to make informed decisions regarding menu engineering and pricing. For example, if a particular appetizer is consistently ordered, the restaurant might consider increasing its price slightly to maximize profits. Furthermore, tableside ordering offers the flexibility to implement dynamic pricing strategies, adjusting prices based on demand or time of day, further optimizing revenue and increasing the average check size and overall level of sales.

Case Studies: Success Stories from Cafes and Restaurants

Numerous cafes and restaurants have already experienced significant success by implementing tableside ordering systems. A small independent coffee shop in London, for instance, reported a fast increase in customer satisfaction. 15% increase in their average check size after adopting an affordable iPad-based tableside ordering solution. This was achieved through targeted upselling of pastries and specialty coffee blends using the ePOS system. A multi-location pizza chain across the UK also saw a boost in sales by integrating a digital menu with real-time customization options. The system allowed customers to easily create their perfect pizza, driving up order values. These case studies demonstrate how tableside ordering enhances the dining experience and boosts the average check size for a diverse range of food service businesses. Many restaurants in 2026 will have these systems in place.

Cost Considerations and Management

Evaluating the Cost of Implementation

Evaluating the total cost of implementing tableside ordering involves assessing various factors. Hardware costs, such as tablets and payment terminals, represent a significant initial investment. However, it's crucial to consider the long-term value and return on investment when choosing a cheap system. Software and support costs, including POS integration and ongoing maintenance, should also be factored in. Choosing the cheapest or most affordable ordering solution may not always be the best approach for the restaurant industry. Prioritize a system that seamlessly integrates with existing infrastructure and offers reliable support. Consider cloud-based ordering systems for potentially lower upfront costs and scalability. Conduct a thorough cost-benefit analysis to determine the overall value proposition of different tableside ordering systems for your restaurant, including potential increases to the average check size. The increase in sales from the takeaway options might be higher than the cost of the system.

Managing Inventory and Kitchen Efficiency

Efficient inventory management and kitchen operations are critical for maximizing profitability with tableside ordering. The tableside ordering system should integrate with inventory management software to provide real-time stock visibility. This enables accurate food costing and reduces waste from over-ordering or spoilage. By streamlining the ordering process, tableside ordering also enhances kitchen efficiency. Orders are transmitted directly to the kitchen display system in real-time, minimizing errors and reducing wait times. Analyze popular menu items with the online system and adjust your menu accordingly. Efficient kitchen operations lead to faster service, increased table turnover, and a better overall dining experience, contributing to a higher average check and enhanced level of sales.

Contactless Payment Options and Customer Experience

Offering contactless payment options is essential for enhancing the customer experience and increasing efficiency with tableside ordering. Customers can easily settle their bills directly from the tablet at the table, eliminating the need for servers to handle physical cards or cash. This speeds up the payment ordering process, reduces errors, and provides a more secure and convenient experience. Tableside ordering systems often include a variety of payment methods, including credit cards, mobile wallets, and other digital options. Promoting contactless payment can improve customer satisfaction and contribute to a more positive dining experience, ultimately leading to increased sales and a higher average check size. Train your servers to be confident with different types of card payments.