{"id":31076,"date":"2026-04-16T21:20:12","date_gmt":"2026-04-16T11:20:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nowbookit.com\/is-contactless-dining-still-a-thing\/"},"modified":"2026-04-16T21:20:14","modified_gmt":"2026-04-16T11:20:14","slug":"is-contactless-dining-still-a-thing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nowbookit.com\/en-us\/hospitality\/is-contactless-dining-still-a-thing\/","title":{"rendered":"Is Contactless Dining Still A Thing?"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Let\u2019s rewind to 2020. Remember wiping down every menu, spacing out tables like a school exam room, and printing out QR codes by the dozen? Contactless dining\u2014QR menus, order-at-table systems, no-touch payments\u2014wasn\u2019t just a trend then; it was a survival tactic. For a while, it felt like the whole industry had flipped overnight. <\/span><\/p>

In 2025, things look a little different. Most diners aren\u2019t scanning codes to enter venues anymore. Guests linger at the bar again. And more than a few of us have rediscovered the joy of handwritten specials boards. <\/span><\/p>

So\u2026 is contactless dining still a thing?<\/span><\/p>

We think the better question is: where does it still make sense?<\/span><\/p>

Perhaps it\u2019s less about being \u201cfor\u201d or \u201cagainst\u201d contactless, but figuring out what works best for your venue, your team, and your guests.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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What guests liked (and didn't) about contactless dining<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Contactless dining made a lot of sense when we needed to limit touchpoints and reduce face-to-face interaction. Speed, safety, convenience\u2014it ticked all the boxes. <\/span><\/p>

And we saw plenty of upsides for operators too. During the height of restrictions, one of our clients reduced front-of-house labour costs significantly using QR ordering during lunch hours. Another one told us it helped cut down on order errors and improved table turn times. <\/span><\/p>

One thing we know is here to stay: contactless payment is the new normal. A survey by <\/span>R&CA<\/span><\/a> found that 92% of customers use credit, debit, or contactless payments, which really says it all. So even if QR menus aren\u2019t front and centre anymore, guests still expect a smooth, fuss-free way to pay at the end of their meal.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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But here\u2019s the flip side:<\/strong>
<\/b>The tech wasn\u2019t always loved by guests. Some felt disconnected. Others found it clunky. And depending on your crowd, there was a definite learning curve\u2014especially with older guests or those who just didn\u2019t feel like pulling out their phones on a night out.<\/span><\/p>

Our take? <\/strong>Contactless ordering can be great\u2014but only if it\u2019s well executed and actually suits your venue style.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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So\u2026 is there still a place for contactless dining? <\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Absolutely\u2014but as with most things in hospitality, context is everything.<\/span><\/p>

Over the past couple of years, we\u2019ve seen a natural sorting happen. Some venues quietly phased out QR ordering as soon as they could. Others never looked back after rolling it out. But the ones doing it best? They\u2019ve figured out where it makes sense\u2014and where it just doesn\u2019t. <\/span><\/p>

And honestly, that tracks with what we\u2019re seeing on a bigger scale too. The Australian <\/span>card payments market<\/span><\/a> is set to hit AUD1.1 trillion in 2025, growing more than 6% in just a year. That tells us what we already feel on the floor: guests are leaning into cashless and digital-first habits, especially when it makes things faster or easier.<\/span><\/p>

Where it still works<\/strong><\/h3>