Should My Quick Service Restaurant Adopt Self-Ordering Kiosks?
Efficiency. Speed. Higher sales. If you run a Quick Service Restaurant (QSR), these are the holy grail of success. But as labor costs rise and customer expectations grow, keeping up can feel like running a marathon in a crowded kitchen.
Should My Quick Service Restaurant Adopt Self-Ordering Kiosks?
Efficiency. Speed. Higher sales. If you run a Quick Service Restaurant (QSR), these are the holy grail of success. But as labor costs rise and customer expectations grow, keeping up can feel like running a marathon in a crowded kitchen.
That’s where self-ordering kiosks come in. They’re not just a flashy piece of tech; they’re a game-changer for QSRs looking to speed up service, reduce errors, and boost revenue. But are they the right move for your restaurant? Let’s break it down.
Turning Wait Time Into Order Time
Every second counts in a QSR. When customers walk in, they expect to order fast and get their food even faster. But long lines and bottlenecks at the counter? That’s a recipe for frustration.
A self-ordering kiosk eliminates that pain point. Instead of waiting for a cashier, guests can step right up to a GoTab Self-Ordering Kiosk, browse the menu, customize their order, and pay—all in a matter of seconds. The order goes directly to the kitchen, cutting down wait times and keeping things moving smoothly.
But speed isn’t the only win here. Kiosks also reduce order mistakes caused by miscommunication. No more “I said no pickles!” moments—customers enter exactly what they want, and the kitchen gets it right the first time.
From Transaction to Bigger Ticket Sizes
A kiosk isn’t just a convenient way to order—it’s a silent sales machine.
When customers place an order at the counter, they’re often in a rush. They don’t always take the time to browse the full menu, and they might skip that tempting side or extra sauce. But on a kiosk? There’s no pressure. Guests take their time, explore options, and are naturally nudged toward add-ons.
Imagine a customer ordering a burger. The kiosk suggests upgrading to a meal, adding extra cheese, or trying a premium topping. No awkward upsell from an employee—just an intuitive, visual prompt that increases check sizes without feeling pushy.
Staffing Smarter, Not Harder
Labor shortages aren’t just a passing headache—they’re an ongoing challenge for the restaurant industry. Hiring, training, and retaining staff is expensive, and when shifts get hectic, burnout happens fast.
A self-ordering kiosk doesn’t replace your team—it empowers them. By offloading repetitive tasks like order-taking and payment processing, your staff can focus on what really matters:
Keeping food quality high and service smooth
Engaging with guests in more meaningful ways
Managing the rush without feeling overwhelmed
This shift reduces stress, improves efficiency, and ultimately creates a better work environment. Happy staff = happy customers = a thriving business.
Is a Self-Ordering Kiosk Right for Your QSR?
Not every restaurant operates the same way, and adopting kiosks is a strategic decision. Ask yourself:
Do long lines slow down service and frustrate guests?
Are staff stretched too thin trying to juggle orders and payments?
Would upselling and menu customization help grow revenue?
Do you want a faster, more seamless guest experience?
If you answered yes to most of these, it’s time to embrace the kiosk revolution. GoTab’s Self-Ordering Kiosks integrate seamlessly into your restaurant, helping you speed up service, boost ticket sizes, and keep guests (and staff) happier.
The future of QSRs isn’t just fast—it’s frictionless. And a self-ordering kiosk is the key to getting there.
Ready to level up your QSR?Request a demo to see how GoTab’s Self-Ordering Kiosks can transform your operations.
Tap Room Playbook Episode 2:
When you really think about it, with everything managers need to do in a tap room, the hospitality aspect is often overlooked.
Situated “in the heart of it all, yet tranquil enough to make you feel away from it all too,” The Limelight Hotel Snowmass offers 99 hotel rooms and 11 residences, as well as footsteps-to-gondola access in winter and summer — right in the middle of Snowmass Base Village.
The Situation
Especially over the last few years, the Limelight Hotels IT team had witnessed a significant shift to contactless technology in the hospitality industry. After evaluating friction points in the guest journey, aligning with modern technology platforms in their restaurant was determined to be an effective way to offer elevated contactless dining experiences to their guests while also evolving their technology platforms to continue to support long-term company goals. Limelight Hotel partnered with GoTab to provide an enhanced on-demand dining experience on par with the brand’s reputation for exceptional guest service.
The Solution
Reducing Staff Touch Points Without Sacrificing Guest Experience
Guests are now able to begin a tab from their room or the property’s restaurant by scanning a QR code, texting a link to friends or family members on the ski slope to add in their orders, then meeting up together at the patio or lodge to enjoy their meal and après ski festivities without interruption. By streamlining tasks like inputting orders and processing payments, this eliminates friction for hotel staff and allows them to focus on delivering renowned guest service for a memorable experience. Since partnering with GoTab, Limelight Snowmass has consistently seen higher check averages and sales.
“We found the Point of Sale platforms we were looking at offered the guest and staff limited opportunities to further reduce touch points or improve the traditional restaurant experience. The GoTab platform enabled the guest to take an active role over the flow of their experience while simultaneously reducing touch points and further streamlining restaurant operations.”Nick Giglio, Manager of Hotel IT Operations, The Little Nell Hotel Group
According to the Limelight Hotels team, some of the other platforms that were evaluated were either missing some of the pieces they were looking for, had weak customer support models, or had little willingness to develop integrations to existing hotel platforms already in place. To that end, GoTab integrated with cloud-based platform, Infor. Together, GoTab and Infor are providing dynamic solutions to support central, efficient service across hotel amenities and deliver exceptional guest experiences.
“Previously, guests would call down to the restaurant to begin an order from their room or while they were out enjoying the ski slopes. Using GoTab, guests can now place orders from anywhere on the resort, giving them the on-demand service they want without interrupting their day. GoTab empowers us to give control to the guest, reducing touch points and streamlining overall restaurant operations, making Limelight Hotel the resort of choice for Snowmass.”Nick Giglio, Manager of Hotel IT Operations, The Little Nell Hotel Group
Since introducing GoTab, The Limelight Hotel has seen a consistent level of upsells and items sold per check resulting in additional revenue capture. They have been able to maintain service levels in their restaurants during periods when there was reduced staffing available without significantly diminishing the guest experience.
The Benefits
Eliminate Phone Orders – Take Orders from the Slopes. Guests can start a tab from their room or on the mountain without interrupting the flow of their day.
Future-Proofed Technologies – Delivering elevated contactless ordering via integration with the Infor hotel management platform.
Eliminating Friction in the Guest Journey – Maintaining service levels during periods of reduced staff without diminishing the guest experience.
Eliminating Friction in the Guest Journey – Maintaining service levels during periods of reduced staff without diminishing the guest experience.
Eliminating Friction in the Guest Journey – Maintaining service levels during periods of reduced staff without diminishing the guest experience.
Eliminating Friction in the Guest Journey – Maintaining service levels during periods of reduced staff without diminishing the guest experience.
Eliminating Friction in the Guest Journey – Maintaining service levels during periods of reduced staff without diminishing the guest experience.
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