By Kaan Gural, founder of Tapelio - 8.15.2025
Rising food costs, labor shortages, and tight margins have become everyday challenges for restaurant operators. Delivering a high-quality guest experience while keeping operations efficient is no small task. At the same time, customer expectations are evolving. Diners want convenience, speed, and personalization from the moment they are seated to the moment they pay.
One increasingly popular solution is the use of NFC (Near Field Communication) and QR code-enabled interactions. Originally adopted for touchless menus, these technologies have evolved into powerful tools for streamlining operations, improving guest engagement, and increasing efficiency.
Restaurant apps like Tapelio take NFC (Near Field Communication) and QR code technology further by providing a single dashboard where staff can create and update a mobile-friendly landing page that includes the menu, WiFi details, current promotions, review links, and other guest resources in one place. Guests can tap a NFC card or scan a QR code, to instantly launch this digital experience without downloading an app.
With the right system, these touchpoints can display time-sensitive specials, collect guest emails, share location-specific content, and keep information accurate through real-time updates. The result is a streamlined process that improves operational efficiency while creating new opportunities for guest engagement.
1. Reduce Printing Costs with Dynamic Digital Menus
Printed menus are expensive to produce and often become outdated quickly due to price changes, seasonal items, or availability issues. Reprinting creates waste and adds ongoing costs.
A digital menu eliminates these problems. Staff can update items, prices, and descriptions in seconds, and guests scanning a QR code or tapping an NFC tag instantly see the latest version. This prevents confusion, reduces waste, and ensures guests always have accurate information.
For example, a small bistro that changes its lunch specials daily can make updates each morning in just minutes. Guests immediately see the new offerings at their table with a quick scan or tap, without the expense of reprinting.
2. Serve Guests Faster and Reduce Staff Workloads
Staff shortages remain a major challenge for many restaurants. Short-handed teams often struggle to meet guest expectations during busy periods.
NFC and QR solutions allow guests to handle simple actions themselves, such as viewing menus, checking specials, or finding WiFi details. This reduces repetitive questions and frees staff to focus on higher-value service interactions.
A café that uses NFC cards on each table gives guests instant access to menus and WiFi details. Staff spend less time answering basic questions and more time engaging with customers in meaningful ways.
3. Boost Reviews and Capture Feedback
Online reviews have a significant impact on where people choose to dine. Securing reviews consistently can be difficult, especially when staff are busy and may forget to ask.
Review prompts built into an NFC Google review card or QR code make the process simple. Every Google review card can link directly to a restaurant’s Google review page, allowing guests to leave feedback on the spot.
For guests who may have had a less-than-perfect experience, a review protection feature can route them to a private feedback form instead of a public review page. This allows management to address issues directly and protect the restaurant’s online reputation.
One Toronto restaurant saw its Google rating rise from 4.0 to 4.6 and more than doubled its total reviews within months of adopting this approach.
4. Promote Specials in Real Time
Daily specials and limited-time offers can be difficult to promote effectively. Verbal announcements are easy to miss, and printed boards often go unnoticed.
By using NFC and QR menus, restaurants can feature current specials at the top of their digital menu so guests see them first. This increases the likelihood of an order and can help sell high-margin items before they sell out.
A seafood restaurant that features its “Catch of the Day” in this way consistently moves the item faster and increases revenue.
5. Share WiFi and Collect Marketing Data
Guests often ask for WiFi passwords, event schedules, or other general information. Answering these requests repeatedly can slow down service.
NFC and QR solutions can display WiFi login details, event information, and booking links in one place. They can also collect an email address before granting WiFi access, helping restaurants build a marketing list for future promotions.
A coffee shop that uses NFC coasters to display WiFi details also promotes upcoming live music nights. Many guests choose to share their email to receive event updates, giving the shop a way to reach customers long after their visit.
6. Gain Insights with Real-Time Analytics
Without data, it is difficult to know which promotions work or how guests interact with your menu.
Analytics built into NFC and QR systems show how many times each link is tapped or scanned, what content guests engage with most, and when peak engagement happens. This allows restaurant operators to refine menus, adjust promotions, and compare performance across locations.
A restaurant group used analytics to track which dessert menus received the most views. Underperforming locations adjusted their offers based on these insights, resulting in higher sales.
7. Enhance the Guest Experience at Every Touchpoint
NFC and QR technology is ultimately about making the dining experience smoother and more enjoyable. Guests get what they need instantly without downloads, logins, or unnecessary delays.
By managing menus, promotions, reviews, WiFi details, and analytics from one platform, restaurants can ensure information is accurate and consistent. Every scan or tap becomes an opportunity to connect with guests and leave a positive impression.
Final Thoughts
In a competitive market, operational efficiency and guest satisfaction are equally important. NFC and QR technology can deliver both by helping restaurants cut costs, increase revenue, and enhance service quality.
With the right system in place, every table, menu, and guest interaction can become an opportunity to improve efficiency, strengthen customer relationships, and grow the business.
Kaan Gural is the founder of Tapelio, a restaurant technology platform that helps businesses increase Google reviews, share digital menus, promote specials, and engage guests instantly using NFC and QR code solutions. Tapelio’s tools are designed to streamline operations, reduce costs, and enhance the guest experience without the need for complex setups.
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