QR Codes on Menus

QR Codes give you an easy and accessible solution for customers to maintain social distancing while enjoying their dining experience. But beyond this, QR Codes are the next step food services need in order to keep up with digital marketing trends and remain relevant in a world that favors faster and more efficient ordering and payment options.

The impact of COVID-19 on the restaurant industry

In March, most businesses across the world hit the pause button. Empty streets, closed restaurants, and a quiet club scene. All of this in a powerful, unanimous effort to disrupt the spread of COVID-19.

But social distancing did not translate into complete disconnection. In fact, people ended up increasing participatory culture and connecting with each other more, either through social media challenges, Zoom meetings, group calls, or sharing in the sourdough baking experience.

During this time, restaurants relied on food delivery and takeaways in order to continue generating income while their doors were closed. Several bars in Berlin survived the COVID-19 lockdown by offering cocktails and beers to go. They significantly shifted from printed menus to digital menus and online ordering.

So even though COVID-19 got in the way of people’s 2020 life plans, businesses and restaurants used the power of web 2.0, the connectivity afforded by different digital platforms, to continue providing products and services to their customers. Thanks to QR Codes connecting offline and online platforms, events no longer needed to be canceled and also helped in the fight against coronavirus. In a post-lockdown world, we might even continue to see online life thrive after this unexpected launch into fast gear.

But, as governments begin to ease restrictions on restaurants, we can expect to see more and more QR Codes help eateries make upholding social distancing in this brand new world more engaging and effective. And honestly, the forecast seems to point towards these changes being permanent.

Contactless menus for your restaurant

By simply adding a Dynamic URL QR Code to a table-tent, for instance, you ensure customers have access to a contactless menu, ordering, and payment method right at their fingertips. By connecting to a digital menu, like Zomato did in April, you ensure minimal contact between your staff and customers.

A QR Code menu is an effective way of staying contactless with your patrons. Since your information and menu remain on their smartphones, customers take it home with them and can order from your restaurant at any time. Like when they are having a Friday night in and are too cozy to brave the hassle of going out.

Here is another idea. Let’s say you always meant to but never got around to creating a website for your business, but you still want to engage customers on an online platform. No problem! You can upload pictures of your menu to your social media account of choice, let’s say Instagram, and use our Social Media QR Code to connect with your patrons. Print either directly on your menu or, if you want a more contact-free operation, simply tape the QR Code with a CTA to the table. And, since they are already on your social media channels, customers are more likely to subscribe or follow you.

Improve customer experience and increase engagement

Bring the entertainment to your customers, regardless of whether they are dining in your restaurant or picking up some to-go dinner.

Especially true for bars that offer some grub, sometimes eating out means more than just good food. It’s the experience, whether in the form of musical or theatrical entertainment.

With a simple MP3 QR Code, you can do as Chicago’s Darling did and deliver the experience to your patrons’ doors. You can work in conjunction with bands, who have also taken a hard hit during quarantine, and help promote and uplift their work while keeping your customers engaged with your brand.

Or, give customers a virtual tour of your kitchens, or a look into your supply-chain for more transparency and a better B2C relationship with a video playlist or a gallery of images. Maybe you are running a promotion, either a 2 for 1 deal for returning customers or a discount on their next meal and want to ensure patrons profit from it. Use the Coupon QR Code to make it easy for scanners to save your coupon to their mobile device and redeem it the next time they place an order.

With an array of QR Codes, there is a solution for every type of content to keep your guests engaged.

Track and measure your success

If you opt for our Dynamic QR Codes (as opposed to Static), you can view real-time tracking data for all your marketing campaigns you apply them to. Metrics such as location by city and country, time scanned, operating device used, and unique vs. total scans enable you to concretely measure how well your QR Codes are working and whether your print material is reaching your target audience, keeping you informed on how to improve them for the future.

Out with the old and in with the new! The QR Code is no longer constrained by a black and white aesthetic, offering a colorful spectrum of choices. You can now design QR Codes to fit your brand image with a variety of creative tools. Here are five best practices to follow when creating QR Codes, and for even more design tips and tricks, visit our blog and our in-depth design guide.

Need some inspiration to get the creativity going? Here are five use cases showcasing real-life QR Code ideas on menus.