In cafés and restaurants, payment is a pivotal part of the customer experience. Today’s customers expect speed, flexibility, and convenience, whether they’re scanning a QR code, paying at the table, or collecting an online order on the go.

As these businesses increasingly operate across both physical and digital environments, payment can no longer be treated as a purely in‑store process. A smooth, fast, and reliable checkout experience has become an essential part of the guest journey.

The challenge: Cafés and restaurants under operational pressure

According to the European Central Bank’s 2024 SPACE* study, most European consumers prefer electronic payments and expect them to be efficient and frictionless in point‑of‑sale environments, including restaurants and cafés. Yet many merchants still rely on legacy systems that slow down service and create friction at checkout.

From independent local cafés to multi‑site restaurant groups, the recurring challenges include:

  • Lengthy queues and slow checkout that disrupt customer flow during busy periods.
  • Operational inefficiencies, as staff spend too much time managing separate POS systems, cash handling, or manual reconciliation.
  • Limited payment flexibility, particularly when serving customers across multiple environments; from indoor dining to terraces, takeaway counters, and online ordering.
  • Order management complexity, as Click & Collect, delivery, and in‑store service all converge.
  • The need for inclusivity, both to ensure that everyone can make a payment easily -whether through international cards or alternative local payment methods- and to guarantee accessible payment journeys. This includes solutions adapted for people with visual impairments, so that all customers can pay without difficulty.

In short, the payment experience plays a decisive role in shaping the guest journey, with a direct impact on revenue, brand perception, and customer satisfaction.

The solution: Omnichannel payment solutions for cafés and restaurants

To address the growing complexity of operations, merchants are increasingly adopting omnichannel payment solutions that unify physical and digital payment experiences.

Rather than managing separate systems for in‑store, online, and mobile payments, these solutions connect all customer touchpoints into a single payment infrastructure.

The objective is to simplify operations, ensure consistency across channels, and offer customers a smooth and reliable payment experience, regardless of how or where they choose to pay. By consolidating transactions and data, businesses gain better visibility over performance while reducing friction at checkout.

Common omnichannel payment capabilities include:

  • On‑the‑go payments: Mobile or portable POS devices allow staff to accept payments anywhere -at the table, on the terrace, during delivery, or while customers are waiting- helping reduce queues and improve customer flow.
  • Click & Collect integration: Customers can order and pay online in advance, reducing congestion on site, improving order accuracy, and enabling fast, seamless pickup.
  • QR code ordering and payment: QR code solutions allow guests to browse digital menus, place orders, and pay instantly, creating a more autonomous and efficient dining experience.
  • Omnichannel infrastructure: A unified payment platform consolidates all payment channels; in‑store, mobile, and online, into a single system, ensuring consistent reporting and simplified reconciliation through real‑time dashboards.
  • Operational efficiency and inclusivity: Faster, more flexible payments support staff efficiency while ensuring guests can pay using international cards or local alternative payment methods.

How PayXpert can help

PayXpert supports merchants with an omnichannel payment solution that connects in‑store, online, and mobile payments within a single platform. By unifying payment channels and transaction data, PayXpert helps restaurants and cafés simplify operations, improve visibility through real‑time reporting, and deliver seamless and inclusive payment experiences.

Beyond technology, PayXpert acts as a strategic partner, guiding businesses through every stage of digital transformation. For restaurateurs and café operators, the benefits are clear and measurable:

  • Operational agility through faster, integrated transactions.
  • Increased table turnover without compromising the customer experience.
  • Growth opportunities via Click & Collect and QR orders.
  • Simplified reporting and automated reconciliation that reduce administrative load.
  • Customer satisfaction driven by speed, transparency, and choice.
  • Payment is more than a transaction, it’s an experience. By combining technical excellence with human‑centered design, PayXpert helps restaurants, cafés and hotels deliver service that feels easy to use, seamless, secure, and inclusive.

Payment is more than a transaction, it’s an experience. By combining technical excellence with human‑centered design, PayXpert helps restaurants, cafés and hotels deliver service that feels easy to use, seamless, secure, and inclusive. Contact our experts now.

*Source: Study on the payment attitudes of consumers in the euro area 2024