IRIS Launches Open Tab and Pay at Table to Accelerate F&B Orders and Payments

IRIS, a provider of digital ordering for the hospitality industry, announced the launch of two new features. Open Tab and Pay at Table have both been developed to enhance the user experience, as well as increase revenue, and support operators against the challenges of rising costs and staff shortages. 

With staffing challenges and job openings at an all-time high, digitizing processes can help alleviate the strain on operations. Open Tab puts the guests in control and provides a new way to order with the option to start a tab, order multiple rounds of food and drink, and pay in one single transaction at the end. Groups can also order across multiple devices which can then be reconciled with one final bill to pay. For payment, guests can retrieve the bill using the relevant table number, add a tip and pay by credit card. Previously with other solutions guests have been required to pay every time they placed an individual order, rather than the option of settling one final bill.

As a mobile first service and with 73% of travelers wanting to use their mobile device to manage their hotel stay, Open Tab satisfies the need  for guests to self-serve. Guests can determine their delivery location, order multiple rounds/items and pay off the open bill, how and where they choose, at the end, for complete flexibility. The bill can be accessed throughout via the order history function. Unlike other solutions there is also no need to download or spend time setting up an account and logging in. It can be selected by the guest and become operational immediately.

From an operator perspective, hotels save time and resources as orders and bills are updated and processed automatically enabling hotels to serve more guests with less demands on staff. Hotels will increase revenues as guests can order additional items as soon as they like without having to wait for a member of staff. The added benefit of one larger bill paid at the end is also an increase in tips for staff. All with the reassurance of a quick, simple, and secure payment process to safeguard revenue and profit.

Working alongside Open Tab, Pay at Table enables guests to retrieve their bill at the end of a meal and pay directly via the app – regardless of how the order was placed. As a result, guests can pay more quickly and efficiently without the need to wait for a member of staff. Pay at Table was developed to be mobile-first and meet the ever-growing demand from guests who want to use their mobile to manage their hospitality experience. Guests have the option to order with staff and then pay when they are ready via a QR code to enjoy both a high-touch and high-tech experience. Swifter payment options also provide operators with the opportunity to improve turnover rates and increase revenues even further.

Graham Rushin, VP Sales and Marketing at IRIS, comments: “The role of mobile has had a transformative impact on the hospitality industry. Not only from a guest journey perspective but also in supporting owners and operatorsto mitigate the impact of rising costs and staff shortages.

“We have developed Open Tab and Pay at Table as two features that will not only meet the ever-growing demand from guests for a highly digital, self-service experience that is delivered across other aspects of daily life but will also enable hospitality owners and operators to increase their earnings and revenue potential of their venues. Both features deliver intuitive, efficient functions that support staff, operations, cashflow, revenue and payment security to build a better experience for guests and operators alike.”

According to a recent study by the National Restaurant Association, 58% of operators said recruiting and retaining employees is the top challenge currently facing their business. Digitizing processes and automating mundane processes can empower hotels to enhance productivity and job satisfaction amongst staff.

Both features can be customized with relevant property branding, logos and color themes for a consistent guest brand experience and offer the opportunity to combine the fine dining experience of a waiter service with the convenience of autonomous payment options.

Pay at Table and Open Tab are available now. For more information on IRIS, click here.