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Set up and manage QR code ordering for your website

Who is this article for?
  • Account owners or team members with online permissions. Set permissions in Square Dashboard.
  • Square Online Plus or Premium subscribers.
  • About QR code ordering

    QR code ordering offers a contactless, in-person ordering experience that increases safety and workflow efficiency. Instead of browsing a paper menu and placing orders with a staff member, customers use their mobile devices to scan a QR code at their table, seat, parking spot or anywhere that you want them to order. You can automatically tie each QR code to a specific ordering station (great for smaller food venues and restaurants) or get customers to enter their location manually when they order (best for large-scale events and stadiums).

    QR codes are automatically generated when you set up QR code ordering, and you can print and place an ordering card wherever you want customers to order. Customers scan the QR code to open your website ordering page, then select items, add special requests and pay – all from their mobile device. Since everything is processed online, there’s no need to handle cards or cash.

    Once your customer completes their order, the order will appear on your point of sale and feed directly to your kitchen ticket printer or kitchen display system (KDS). Since each QR code is connected to a specific ordering station, staff will already know where to send each order once received.

    Before you begin

    Step 1: Set up QR code ordering

    1. Sign in to Square Dashboard and go to Websites.

    2. Click Fulfilment > QR code ordering.

    3. By the desired QR code ordering location, click Set up QR codes.

    4. View a list of your items available for QR code ordering, then click Continue.

    5. Customise messaging instructions for placing and getting orders that your customers should follow. You can also add messaging for when you’re not accepting orders. Click Continue.

    6. Click Add ordering stations to start creating ordering stations that match the setup of your business. If you’ve set up QR code ordering previously on a different location, you can click Import groups from location to use those ordering stations. When you’ve finished setting up ordering stations, click Continue.

    7. Set QR code ordering hours, or import and customise the collection, QR code ordering or working hours of another location. Choose your location’s time zone and click Continue.

    8. Set your text message alerts, order ticket preferences and click Done.

    Step 2: Download your QR codes

    1. Sign in to Square Dashboard and go to Websites.

    2. Click Fulfilment > QR code ordering.

    3. Click Get QR code by the location you just set up and choose one of the following options:

      • Customers are automatically assigned an ordering station: Unique QR codes must be placed at each ordering station. This is great for smaller food venues and restaurants.

      • Customers manually enter their ordering station: Use the same QR code and place it throughout your business. This is best for large-scale events and stadiums.

    4. Scan the QR code to preview what your customers will see.

    5. Click Select designs and choose your QR code design from the following options:

      • Ordering card with QR code: Pre-designed cards with instructions. Great for quick and easy printing and setup.

      • QR code only: QR codes to place on your own designs. You can also hire an expert to create custom ordering cards through our partnership with 99designs.

    6. Click Download to print your downloaded document and place your QR codes wherever they’re needed.

    Step 3: Manage other QR code ordering settings (optional)

    QR code ordering has settings you can edit or enable after setup.

    1. Sign in to Square Dashboard and go to Websites.

    2. Click Fulfilment > QR code ordering.

    3. Click Edit by the location you want to update.

    4. Click Edit next to any of the following options.

      • You can update these QR code ordering settings at any time after initial setup, including QR code ordering hours, ordering stations, messaging, text message alerts and order ticket printing.

      • Alcohol: Indicate if you plan to serve alcohol, and set an optional maximum quantity limit of alcoholic items per order. To set up alcoholic items for online selling, learn how to manage online alcohol sales.

      • Service fee: Charge an optional service fee on QR code orders. You keep the amount charged, minus standard processing fees.

    Stop accepting QR code orders

    1. Sign in to Square Dashboard and go to Websites.

    2. Click Fulfilment > QR code ordering.

    3. Toggle off Accept QR code orders by your chosen location.

    You can turn QR code ordering back on at any time.

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