Payment acceptance for the longest time was thought to be a necessary business expense. But over the last decade, a few significant changes have transformed the definition of “payments” in the industry. One of the changes that acted as a catalyst in this transformation is the improved efficiency in carrying out electronic transactions. Combined with the advancement in technology over the last two decades, innovative solutions have become easily available in the market for all merchants (big or small) looking to improve efficiency and enhance their customers’ experience.

The food & beverage industry has gone through many changes in the last few years. Better technology has enabled restaurant owners to bring the payment process right to the patron with Pay-at-the-Table solutions. A Pay-at-the-Table solution allows servers to bring the payment process right to the patron. Instead of shuttling their credit card back and forth between the diner and the point of sale (POS) system, the servers can use a wireless terminal or an mPOS solution to accept payment right where the diner is. This assures customers that their credit card data is safe as they have complete control over the transaction and allows restaurants to better engage with them.

With EMV and mobile wallets, the payment experience across different U.S. industries is starting to change. Many restaurants are addressing this evolution by adopting Pay-at-the-Table payment solutions. Although most full-service restaurants already take guest payments at the table, typically the server takes the guest’s payment card away to a workstation to process the payment. However, with Pay-at-the-Table, servers bring the check and a wireless or mobile point of sale solution to the diner’s table to process the payment.

The restaurant industry is going through many changes when it comes to payments. Adding to a regular dining experience, better technology has enabled restaurant owners to bring the payment process right to the table with Pay-at-the-Table solutions. If you are unfamiliar with a Pay-at-the-Table solution, it is when the server brings a wireless payment terminal or an mPOS device to the customer at their table to complete the transaction rather than the server taking the card back to a POS station. This allows for high credit/debit card security and provides the restaurant with opportunities to further engage with their customers.

Restaurants, bars and other food service businesses work hard to provide their customers with the best quality of food and service. Any customer happy with their overall experience at a restaurant is more likely to come back and may even become a brand advocate for the establishment.