How to choose a self-ordering kiosk for restaurants

Short answer: A restaurant self-ordering kiosk needs four things: a touch screen sized for your menu, a receipt printer, a way to take payment (QR, NFC or a card terminal), and software that sends orders to your kitchen or POS. Mounting — floor, wall or countertop — follows from the space you have.

1. Mounting: floor, wall or countertop

Floor-standing kiosks are the most visible and suit open entrances. Wall-mount versions save floor space in narrow stores. Countertop units work at a counter or bar. Our self-ordering kiosk comes in floor-standing and wall-mount versions built on the same platform.

2. Screen and orientation

Portrait screens show long menus with large photos and match how people scroll on phones. Choose capacitive touch for a phone-like feel. When the kiosk is idle, the screen can play promotions.

3. Printer and scanner

An 80 mm thermal printer prints the order number and receipt. A wide-window barcode scanner reads QR codes from customers’ phones — for payment, coupons or loyalty. Face recognition can identify members if your program uses it.

4. Payment

Decide how customers pay: QR code payment through the scanner, NFC, or a bank card terminal mounted in the cabinet. Tell the manufacturer the exact payment terminal model so the cabinet includes the right bracket and cut-out.

5. Software and integration

The kiosk app must send orders to your POS or kitchen display. Either use your POS vendor’s kiosk app, or have one developed. Ask the manufacturer to pre-install and test it before shipping, and to lock the device to that app.

Questions to ask the manufacturer

• Which mainboard and Android version does it use?
• Which printer and scanner models are fitted, and are drivers available?
• Can the cabinet take my payment terminal?
• Can you pre-install and lock my app?
• Which languages does the interface support?
• What is the warranty, and how are spare parts supplied?

Frequently asked questions