The Adoption of QR Code Menus and Their Impact on Profitability

Evolution of QR Codes in Hospitality

During the pandemic, many restaurants adopted QR codes as an alternative to paper menus. The technology, initially used as a health safety measure, quickly demonstrated additional advantages.

Diners can scan the code and access the menu from their phones, without needing to touch physical menus, which reduces the transmission of bacteria and viruses. This shift coincided with an increase in consumer preference for restaurants offering contactless options.

A study by Hospitality Technology reported that 37% of diners prefer venues that do not use physical menus.

Benefits in Efficiency and Costs

Beyond hygiene, QR code menus offer tangible economic benefits. Eliminating printing and replacement of printed menus represents significant savings for businesses that change their menus frequently.

Digital menus allow real-time updates: if a dish runs out or changes price, the modification is reflected instantly without the need to reprint. According to Restaurant365, using QR codes reduces costs and generates sustainable savings by avoiding paper.

Revenue Increase and New Opportunities

Digitizing the menu opens the door to marketing and sales strategies. Modern platforms can offer pairing recommendations, combos, and highlighted products based on the time of day or customer profile.

Additionally, QR menus facilitate the incorporation of advertising spaces, as businesses can offer suppliers the inclusion of their logos or promotions in specific sections of the menu, generating a new source of revenue.

Recommendations for Restaurants and Other Sectors

To maximize the impact of QR menus, it is recommended to:

• Responsive and Accessible Design: The menu must look good on different devices and screen sizes, with legible text and clear buttons.
• Frequent Updates: Keeping the menu up to date avoids customer frustration when a dish is not available.
• Smart Promotions: Use analytics data to determine at what times and days to launch special offers.

Finally, while the Menuxify tool is designed for restaurants, its QR codes and digital menus are also useful for food trucks, coffee shops, bars, wine shops, clothing stores, or hardware stores.

Real Cases and Future Perspectives

Menu digitization is not just an isolated trend. In several international markets, fast-food chains have reported increases of up to 28% in average ticket size after adopting digital menus.

Furthermore, studies on digital signage indicate that implementing electronic menus reduces wait times and improves order accuracy, resulting in more efficient turnover and more satisfied customers.