The COVID-19 pandemic had a profound effect on various industries and sectors, with the restaurant industry being one of the most severely affected.

According to the National Restaurant Association, in 2020, the industry's sales growth was set back by six years with restaurant and food-service sales being $240 billion below its pre-pandemic forecasts for the year. The total restaurant and food service sales in 2020 were $659 billion, $240 billion less than the $899 billion total sales projected prior to the pandemic. Across the U.S. in 2020, more than 110,000 eating and drinking establishments either temporarily or permanently closed, resulting in the loss of 2.5 million jobs in the restaurant sector.

As the restaurant industry looks to recover, restaurant owners and operators are turning to technology, with at-table ordering being at the forefront. Research by Deloitte states that convenience is the primary factor influencing restaurants today, with 64% of customers preferring to order digitally on-premises at a QSR.

At-table ordering provides a paperless, streamlined, and efficient experience, enabling customers to browse the menu, order food and drinks whenever they want, and pay the bill at their convenience.

“By adopting at-table ordering and payment, servers can work more efficiently. The concept and technology are designed to give guests control, enhance customer experience, increase revenue, and collect data on customers’ preferences, likes, and dislikes,” notes Brian Duncan, President of me&u USA, a global leader in at-table ordering that has recently joined Toast, a cloud-based, all-in-one digital technology platform purpose-built for the entire restaurant community.

Restaurants using Toast Mobile Order & Pay generally experience a 10% rise in revenue and a 9% increase in average check size compared to traditional dine-in services.

“At-table ordering offers customers quick, reliable service with minimal communication, allowing for convenient control over their dining experience. The integration between Toast and me&u will offer restaurants AI-driven, data-powered tools through dynamic digital menus to enhance guest ordering experiences and boost revenue,” concludes Duncan.