One Year Later: Are We Still Turning Tables on Pay-at-the-Table?

3 Min Read By Dirk Izzo

Tech has taken its seat at the table – literally. Pay-at-the-table proved its value through the pandemic and breathed new life into old technology like QR codes. However, can innovation teach these old dogs new tricks, or will a post-pandemic environment sunset this trend?

The Quintessential QR ComebackQR codes were invented in the 90s but didn’t pick up steam until 2011 – when smartphones became the ubiquitous devices they are today. However, since many restaurant operators didn’t understand QR codes, they failed to implement them correctly or didn’t properly advertise them, so the trend quickly died. 

Now, the QR code is known as the comeback kid. 

The pandemic re-opened the door for QR codes when contactless menus became paramount. According to a statement by Professor Cihan Cobanoglu, director of the M3 Center for Hospitality & Innovation at the University of Florida, “contactless menus will be a key point for restaurants to adapt. To both keep businesses as clean…