Third-party delivery company DoorDash on Thursday launched a contactless pickup option that allows customers to order and pay at the restaurant by scanning a QR code.
Restaurants that sign up will get a unique QR code and signage to display in the window or at the point of sale. Customers can scan the code, which will take them to the restaurant’s DoorDash pickup menu. They then order and pay through DoorDash and wait for their food to be prepared.
The service is commission-free for restaurants, and the company is waiving credit card processing fees through December 31.
It was prompted by increased demand for both takeout and contactless ordering during the coronavirus pandemic, said Kevin Huang, VP, merchant for DoorDash. It’s intended to help restaurants offer a safer experience for customers and staff by reducing interaction and allowing guests to avoid waiting in line.
“There is real concern around health, safety, ability to social distance, even just the actual payment experience when you go into these restaurants,” Huang said.
While the service is currently designed for pickup only, Huang said the QR technology could have dine-in and off-premise applications down the road.
“We think perhaps safety and health will be as high on the list [of priorities] as price selection, efficiency or quality might be. So if you add in health and safety as another key pillar, I believe QR code-functional contactless abilities do need to expand and grow,” he said.
QR codes have quickly caught on in restaurants as a simple contactless ordering solution during the pandemic, and many ordering software suppliers have rolled out digital ordering and payment using the technology.
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