Exploring advantages of digital receipts in the hospitality industry

While convenience and sustainability have become increasingly important and modern POS systems offer a variety of convenient and reliable features, consumers are still issued receipts using old-fashioned paper slips.

The perfect customer experience is essential for business success in the retail industry, a seamless and convenient process from booking to the payment process also plays a big part in guest satisfaction in the hospitality sector.

How digital receipts take hospitality businesses to the next level

Faster receipt issuance

In restaurants and cafes, the central cash register and printer are usually located behind the bar, or tiny printers need to be carried around by staff. This means that waiters must go back and forth, payment takes longer, and customers face waiting times. In contrast, electronic receipts can be issued via QR code directly on handheld devices and are available immediately without disclosing personal data. This saves money on additional hardware and simplifies the process for staff members.

Improved guest experience

With digital wallets on the rise, a German study on the perfect restaurant visiting experience found that 38% of customers prefer digital receipts to paper slips. Digital storing of receipts after a restaurant visit makes it easy for guests to save receipts and access them at a later point. This can be especially useful for expense claims or business receipts, where keeping track of receipts is vital. Additionally, the fast issuance of the e-receipt also saves waiting time for seated customers and increases guest satisfaction.

Additional digital touchpoint

Implementing digital receipts provides hospitality businesses with a low-entry digital touchpoint to engage with their customers. For smaller businesses, this is particularly useful since they might not have the time or budget to invest in additional digital channels like a website or social media account. By incorporating dynamic advertising content, such as promotional offers, or links to loyalty programs within the electronic receipt, restaurants can enhance customer relationships and encourage guests to return. As a result, even older receipts can easily be updated with relevant advertising longer after they have been issued.

Enhanced efficiency and streamlined operations

Digital receipts offer many operational benefits for hospitality businesses and their POS vendors. With a reliable digital receipt system, they can bid farewell to the tedious process of printing, organizing, and storing paper receipts. Digital receipts simplify the workflow and reduce costs by eliminating the need for paper, printers, and ink cartridges. In addition, they can be easily stored, organized, and accessed through a cloud-based platform, allowing businesses to effortlessly make informed decisions about inventory management or menu planning by gathering valuable data and gaining insights into customer behavior.

By eliminating paper slips, streamlining operations, and enhancing customer experience, digital receipts pave the way for a more sustainable and technologically advanced future.