Swipe, Print, Sign and Go

Rubinsten, Ed. Swipe, Print, Sign, and Go. HT Magazine, June 2007
http://www.htmagazine.com/HT/archive/0507/0507_03.html

This article discusses the onset of a new trend in payment systems in many restaurants across the country. Wireless payment processing, which basically means that customers in a restaurant can have their credit cards processed and receipts given to them tableside. Not only is this a much more fast and efficient way of processing payments, it also gives customers greater piece of mind, especially in a world where identity theft is a major issue among consumers. Since the card remains in plain view, no one will have to worry about a dishonest employee copying the number down in the back and then using it to commit fraud. New portable input devices such as the "rugged" verifone vx-670 is capable of taking orders and processing payments tableside, allowing for employees to spend more time with the customers and less time running back and forth to remote terminals. The "rugged" part deals with the unit's construction, being water resistant and able to function after much abuse, which is important for a fast paced restaurant. The last part of the article describes the use of printer peripherals and their impact on the wireless pc trend. using small printers in conjunction with these pocket PC's employees are ablet o produce receipts for customers on demand. Curbside take out establishments will no longer have to run in and out of the restaurant to make payments. There is also a growing trend away from kitchen printers to screen displays that can be manipulated and changed instead of having to write on receipts and make changes by hand.

As far as I am concerned, when it comes to technology innovation in the restaurant, as long as it doesn't hinder the speed or quality or service, it is fine with me. I believe technology is important to make the industry better and much easier to manage, but there is also the danger of having technology for the sake of technology. Specfically this article is talking about wireless technology, and in my experience wireless ANYTHING can give you problems, no matter how new or up to date the harware is, there is always something that can interfere with teh signal. I have a wireless network in my apartment and it is always dropping off because of other network interference, and sometimes it just decides to not work. If the staff is properly trained to handle these devices, especially since you can't expect ALL waiters and service staff to be as savvy with technology as you are. Many can pick any gadget up and figure it out on their own, but many would just be happy with a pad of paper and a pen. I recently was at a Mcdonald's drive thru during a busy lunch hour, and they actually had staff outside walking up to the cars with wireless tablet pc's or something of that nature taking orders to speed up the process, they simply just tapped the order on the pad and away you went, very fast and efficient.