How to Streamline Your Venue with QR Codes: A Complete Guide to Automation

Venues are constantly seeking new ways to improve guest experience while optimizing operations. QR codes, a simple yet powerful technology, have emerged as a versatile solution, helping venues automate processes from food and beverage (F&B) ordering, ticket purchases, guest waivers, and parking management.

By integrating QR codes, venues can boost operational efficiency, reduce wait times, and offer a seamless, contactless experience that keeps guests satisfied. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to effectively use QR codes in your venue.

The benefits of using QR codes in your venue

QR codes are becoming a standard across industries for mobile payments and automation but they offer more than just convenience—QR codes can help you enhance the guest experience while providing valuable business insights. They can also help streamline your operations, making them a powerful tool for efficiency.

Increase guest satisfaction

If you're wondering how guests feel about using QR codes, the numbers speak for themselves. 58% of customers prefer having the option to pay with a QR code and 70% of those who’ve used QR code menus say they like the experience. While Millennials and Gen Z consumers have a high preference for digital convenience, even older generations are embracing QR codes. A surprising 56% of Boomers who have used QR codes for menus report a positive experience, proving their appeal across all age groups.

Reduce wait times

QR codes offer a quick and efficient way to minimize wait times in your venue. By enabling guests to place orders, sign a waiver, or purchase tickets directly from their smartphones, QR codes eliminate the need for physical queues. Once guests have purchased a ticket through ROLLER, they’ll also receive a confirmation email with a QR code that staff can simply scan at venue entry, rather than having to manually search for the customer’s info.

Whether it’s allowing guests to browse menus and order food without waiting for staff or speeding up check-in, QR codes ensure a smoother, faster experience. This not only enhances guest satisfaction but also improves the flow of operations, making it easier for staff to focus on delivering high-quality service.

Streamline operations

QR codes aren’t just for improving the customer experience—they can also streamline your operations. By implementing QR-based ordering systems, businesses can increase efficiency and reduce labor costs, especially during staff shortages. Automating tasks like ordering food and purchasing tickets frees up your staff to focus on more essential aspects of guest service, improving both operations and customer satisfaction.

Additionally, with QR code ordering, staff can concentrate on turning F&B orders around faster instead of spending time taking them manually. This means quicker service for guests and the ability to reallocate staff to other roles, like providing personalized attention. It's a smart solution that enhances, rather than replaces, human interaction—offering a win-win for both businesses and their teams.

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Better customer insights

Each time a guest scans a QR code, they generate valuable data that can help your venue operate more effectively. This data provides insights into guest preferences and behaviors, allowing you to fine-tune everything from menu offerings to marketing strategies.

Businesses that leverage data are 23 times more likely to acquire customers, 6 times as likely to retain them, and 19 times as likely to be profitable as a result. For example, by tracking which menu items are ordered most frequently via QR codes, you can adjust inventory and promotions to cater to demand, driving higher sales and repeat visits.

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Health and safety

The contactless nature of QR codes made them essential during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to a Frontiers in Psychology study, perceived health benefits significantly contributed to their rapid adoption. This makes QR codes an ideal solution for venues looking to prioritize guest safety, offering peace of mind while maintaining a seamless experience.

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Where to use QR codes in your venue

QR codes can be implemented across various touchpoints in your venue, offering many opportunities to improve the guest experience and reduce operational bottlenecks.

Mobile food & beverage (F&B) ordering

One of the most popular applications of QR codes is mobile F&B ordering. Guests can scan a QR code from their table, browse the menu, customize their orders, and pay—all without leaving their seats or waiting for staff.

To implement QR codes for F&B ordering:

1. Configure your menu: Ensure your menu is optimized for mobile browsing with high-quality images, clear descriptions, and logical organization. The ROLLER platform makes this easy with customizable tags and add-ons, allowing guests to personalize their orders.
2. Set up table-specific QR codes: Create unique QR codes for each table or area in your venue, directing guests to your mobile ordering platform.
3. Make sure they’re easy to see: Place QR codes where guests can easily see and access them, such as on table tents or counters.
4. Use clear instructions. Make sure to include clear instructions, like “Scan this code to order food and drinks,” to ensure guests understand how to use them.

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At the front entry for quick check-ins

Simplify guest check-ins by using QR codes to let visitors bypass queues. This automated system can be used to purchase tickets or sign digital waivers, speeding up the entry process.

• QR code placement: Display QR codes prominently near the entrance or in waiting areas. Clear instructions, like “Scan here to sign a waiver,” help guide guests through the process.
• Seamless integration: Connect the QR code to your venue’s ticketing or booking system, such as the ROLLER platform, to provide a smooth check-in experience.

In the parking lot for faster access

First impressions matter, and long lines at the entrance can start your guests' visit on the wrong foot. By placing QR codes in visible areas of your parking lot, you can reduce congestion at the front desk and speed up entry. Guests can easily scan the codes to purchase tickets or sign waivers online, avoiding the need to wait in line.

To use QR codes in the parking lot:

1. Place QR codes in your parking lot to direct guests to your online checkout or waiver form. 
2. Ensure the process is seamless and contactless, allowing guests to complete transactions before reaching the front desk, ultimately reducing wait times and improving their overall experience.

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Best practices for adding QR codes to your venue

To ensure guests use QR codes to their full potential, follow these best practices:

• Place them strategically: Make sure QR codes are visible and easy to access. Place them at eye level and in high-traffic areas like tables, entry points, and counters.
• Use clear descriptions and instructions: Always provide simple, step-by-step instructions for using QR codes. For example, “Scan the code with your phone’s camera to access our menu and place an order.”
• Engage guests with prompts: Use engaging language to encourage usage, such as “Skip the queue—order now!” or “Enjoy contactless ordering for faster service.”
• Highlight the benefits: Emphasize the convenience of QR codes, such as reducing wait times, offering contactless payments, and allowing for order customization.

Free tools to generate QR codes

Creating QR codes is easy and can be done using several free online tools:

• QR Code Monkey offers customizable QR codes where you can add your logo or brand colors.
• Canva has an easy-to-use interface so you can add QR codes to marketing materials, business cards and more. 
• QRStuff lets you generate QR codes with various functionalities.

What’s next?

QR codes offer an efficient and cost-effective way to automate processes across your venue, from mobile F&B ordering to speeding up guest check-ins. By strategically implementing QR codes and following best practices, you can enhance the guest experience, reduce operational bottlenecks, and streamline your venue's operations.

With ROLLER, incorporating QR code technology into your venue’s processes is easier than ever, ensuring a seamless and engaging experience for your guests while maximizing efficiency for your team.

Beyond QR code technology, ROLLER offers several other smart tools to optimize your venue’s performance and guest experience:

• Analytics: Gain valuable insights into your venue’s operations and guest behavior with ROLLER’s powerful Analytics tool, helping you make data-driven decisions to improve efficiency and profitability.
• Self-service ticketing kiosks: Reduce wait times and streamline entry by allowing guests to purchase tickets on-site without the need for staff assistance, providing a faster and more convenient check-in experience.
• GX Score: Automatically gather guest feedback through post-visit surveys, and use those insights to enhance your operations with the GX Score.
• Smart checkout and POS technology: ROLLER’s online checkout and smart POS system does more than handle transactions—it’s designed to help you sell faster online and instore, which boosts revenue, and creates a seamless experience for guests.

Ready to transform your venue with smart technology? Book a demo today to get started!