Table-side payment: the new standard for restaurants
Designed by PAX
According to Square's "2025 Future of Restaurants Report," a significant 24% of consumers said they would actively avoid restaurants that don't offer contactless or table-side payment options. This means the quality of the payment experience directly impacts a restaurant's ability to attract and retain customers.
Table-side payment is quickly becoming the new industry standard for restaurants looking to boost table turnover and enhance their overall customer service.
Why has Table-Side payment become so important for Restaurants?
Faster table turnover
Traditional checkouts often involve long wait times, servers frequently have to run back and forth, while groups of customers end up crowding the counter at once.By bringing the payment process to the table, you cut down on those repetitive trips, saving an average of 3-5 minutes per transaction. During peak hours, that translates to a turnover.
A good approach to Handling Tips
In countries like France where tipping isn't mandatory, overly direct requests can often detract from the customer's dining experience. Many people have encountered this situation when settling the bill, the POS terminal presented by the staff displays several predetermined tip percentages. Faced with the gaze of the queue behind, you might randomly select an amount to avoid appearing “stingy” While this may temporarily boost the tip revenue, but it leaves customers with a negative impression of being “forced into spending”, Table-side payments offer a perfect solution to this social awkwardness.When customers pay via the table QR code, they enter a completely private digital space where they can decide at their leisure whether to leave a tip based on real experiences
Let customers to take control of their payments
Paying at the table not only speeds up the transaction but also gives customers a sense of control that is difficult to achieve at a traditional counter.Compared to the situation where one might be in a hurry to swipe their card without clearly seeing the POS screen, table-side payment allows them to calmly review the bill details, ensuring every amount is correct.
How Silkpay helps you integrate Table-Side payments
Silkpay is committed to providing merchants with diverse, lightweight payment solutions. Achieve efficient table-side checkout without the need for bulky equipment.
PAX A920Pro POS payment terminal
The PAX A920Pro smart POS machine offered by Silkpay is the ideal device for implementing table-side payment.
Its lightweight design and strong support for Wi-Fi mean servers can easily bring it directly to the table. It supports a wide range of payment methods, from traditional Visa and Mastercard to Alipay and WeChat Pay, which are most commonly used by Asian customers. Once the checkout is complete, receipts can be printed directly at the table, eliminating customer wait times.
Payment acceptance from a smartphone
Silkpay App: Merchants need only install Silkpay app (Android/iOS) on their mobile devices to accept WeChat Pay, Alipay+, UnionPay QuickPass (Yunshanfu), and PaybyLink via QR code scanning.
SoftPOS: Transform your NFC-enabled smartphone directly into a secure payment terminal. It is designed to accept tap-to-pay transactions for Visa/Mastercard, and is the perfect solution for small merchants.
Printed QR codes
This is currently the most suitable solution for small businesses – economical and efficient. Restaurants don't need to invest in expensive checkout hardware. Silkpay allows merchants to print and display their unique payment QR codes on each table.
Customers simply scan the QR code on the table with their phone to access the payment page and complete the checkout themselves. This QR code integrates Alipay, WeChat Pay, UnionPay Yunshanfu and over 20 other Asian local wallets, perfectly catering to the habits of international tourists.
Payments as Marketing is a growth strategy
Offering innovative payment options is no longer just about back-end operational improvements, it's a powerful marketing tool that can significantly elevate your brand.
Modern payments aren’t just for back-end efficiency, they are a direct tool to attract more customers and grow your business.
Target high value customers
By actively promoting table-side payment systems, you can precisely attract those who value technological experiences and convenient lifestyles. This will establish your restaurant as a forward-thinking leader within the industry, embodying both digital dynamism and innovation.
Drive organic traffic and positive reviews
The exceptional experience and convenience delivered by table-side payments often translate directly into positive reviews and word-of-mouth recommendations across social media platforms and Google Reviews.
Table-side payment will continuously amplify your brand's influence, injecting enduring momentum into your restaurant's reputation.
If you have not yet implemented a table-side payment solution, consider this an invitation to step through the gateway to the future of dining.
Conclusion
In the fiercely competitive restaurant industry, enhancing the payment experience offers one of the most significant returns on investment. Upgrading to table-side payment standards transcends mere efficiency gains.
It's a powerful statement to your clientele that their time and satisfaction are paramount. By prioritizing a modern, secure, and convenient payment process, you cultivate customer loyalty, foster positive word-of-mouth referrals, and ultimately, position your restaurant for sustained success in an ever-evolving market.
Embrace table-side payments and transform your restaurant into a dining destination that truly values its customers.
About the author: Silkpay
Based in Paris, Silkpay provides omnichannel and secure payment solutions to help physical stores and e-commerce in Europe and the Americas accept more than 30 of the world's most popular payment methods: Visa, Mastercard, CB, UnionPay, Alipay+, WeChat Pay as well as Asia-Pacific’s major e-wallets.
Silkpay is a winner of the LVMH Innovation Award. The company was also selected as a finalist for the "Money 20/20" Best Startup and in the "MPE Berlin” Startup Awards. Silkpay also won the "Best Fintech" awards from Capgemini and BPCE.
Silkpay helps merchants deliver the smoothest payment experience to their customers. We are a talented and international team driven by a single goal: to improve the customer experience and make payments simple and secure.