The business case for kiosk ordering
Self-service ordering kiosks have moved from fast-food flagship stores to mainstream deployment across restaurants, cafés, food courts, canteens, and university catering. The ROI case is well-established: kiosks pay for themselves within 3–6 months at most busy operations through the combination of higher average order values and reduced counter staffing needs.
Why kiosks increase average order value
When customers order at a counter, they often feel pressured to decide quickly. They stick to familiar items and rarely consider upgrades or additions. A kiosk removes that social pressure — customers can browse the full menu at their own pace, see food photography, read descriptions, and think.
More importantly: the kiosk is programmed to upsell consistently on every single order. "Would you like to add a drink? Upgrade to large for 50p? Add onion rings for £1.50?" A human server might offer these prompts 30–40% of the time; a kiosk offers them 100% of the time. The difference in revenue is substantial at volume.
Key kiosk features in Food-Ordering.com
Full-screen touchscreen menu with photos
The kiosk displays the full menu in full-screen touchscreen format with optional product photography. Categories, subcategories, dietary filters, and customisation options all configured through the same back-office as the online ordering menu — one update updates all channels simultaneously.
Upsell and cross-sell engine
At item and checkout stages, the system presents configured upsell prompts: size upgrades, meal deals, add-ons, drinks, sides, desserts. Each prompt is configurable by menu item, time of day, or category. Upsell acceptance rates typically 25–35% per prompt.
Integrated card and contactless payment
Card, contactless, Apple Pay, and Google Pay all supported via compatible payment terminals. No need for customers to interact with a cashier for payment. Receipt printed immediately or sent to a customer-provided email or phone number.
Kitchen routing
Kiosk orders route to the same kitchen ticket printer or Kitchen Display Screen as online and counter orders. A unified order queue means kitchen staff manage all order channels from one display without switching between systems.
Order collection display
An optional collection screen displays order numbers as they are ready. Customers watch for their number rather than queuing at the counter — further reducing staff workload and improving the dining experience.
Hardware requirements
| Component | Specification | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Kiosk PC | Windows 10/11, 4GB RAM+, touchscreen all-in-one (21"+ recommended) | £400–£800 |
| Card payment terminal | Miura M010, PAX A920, or compatible contactless/chip-and-pin terminal | £150–£300 |
| Receipt printer | Epson TM-T88 or Star TSP143 (USB or LAN) | £100–£180 |
| Kiosk enclosure (optional) | Floor-standing or counter-top enclosure with lock | £200–£500 |
| Food-Ordering.com licence (kiosk included) | Full platform — online + kiosk + CallerID + KDS | £3,500 one-off |
Best suited to
- Fast food and QSR: High-volume environments where queue speed and upsell consistency deliver the greatest return
- Food courts and canteens: Multiple outlets managed from one back-office with kiosks at each station
- Café and bakery: Peak morning rush management with touch-to-pay ordering at the counter
- University campus catering: High student volume, familiar with self-service technology, time-constrained users
- Hospital and workplace catering: Lunch rush management in controlled environments
Frequently asked questions
Does the kiosk require a separate licence fee?
No. The kiosk module is included in the £3,500 full platform licence. There is no separate kiosk module charge and no per-kiosk fee for multiple kiosk deployments.
Can I update the kiosk menu remotely?
Yes. The kiosk menu is managed through the same back-office as the online ordering menu. A price change, new item, or daily special updated in the back-office updates all channels immediately — no manual updates required at each kiosk.
What happens if the internet goes down?
The kiosk operates on the local network; it does not require internet connectivity for each transaction. Orders route to the kitchen over the local network. Internet connectivity is required for card payment processing but most payment terminals include a 4G fallback.
Deploy kiosk ordering at your restaurant
Book a demo to see the kiosk in action. We will walk through the menu configuration, upsell prompts, and hardware requirements for your specific environment.
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