Adopt Web-based food ordering and payment system

During my recent trips to Shenzhen, China, I noticed that many eateries and small restaurants have adopted a system that relies on QR code-based ordering and WeChat Pay to reduce reliance on wait staff and improve efficiency.

These eating places have a QR code pasted on each table. Customers would scan the code and the menu pops up on their smartphones. Orders can be placed directly and payment made immediately using the WeChat-linked system.

Customers then receive confirmation on their phones and the order is immediately routed to the kitchen, with the table number identified.

When the food is ready, it is delivered with no confusion or misunderstanding that may happen with orders taken by hand.

It should be relatively easy to implement a similar system either using the existing Nets framework with an app or just adopting the WeChat-linked payment system.

Such a move can help reduce manpower costs and improve service efficiency greatly.

I hope the authorities, agencies and local food and beverage operators can look into rolling out a similar system.

Visvanathan Govindasamy

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on June 26, 2017, with the headline Adopt Web-based food ordering and payment system. Subscribe