Personalized NFC plates: the 2025 trend for effective communication in commercial catering

What is a personalized NFC plate?

A personalized NFC plate is a contactless communication device, which uses Near Field Communication (NFC) technology. Unlike a QR code, which requires visual capture, NFC enables instant interaction with an equipped smartphone, simply by approaching the device to within a few centimeters. In commercial and collective catering, this solution thus offers numerous possibilities for interactions to smoothen the customer experience and automate certain operations, particularly those linked to order-taking.

For example, in a commercial catering establishment, an NFC plate installed on each table would enable customers to consult the menu in the form of an application without the need for a waiter. By approaching their phone, they access an interactive menu, which can be modified in real time by the manager from a dedicated interface. This reduces the need to print physical menus, which become obsolete as soon as there are changes in the offer, and enables promotion of daily specials or specific offers depending on the time of day, thus optimizing supply management and stock clearance.

On a technical level, an NFC plate works with an integrated chip that communicates directly with the smartphone via a specific frequency. Once contact is established, the customer is redirected to a pre-programmed URL, such as an interactive menu, a review page, or even a reservation system. Personalizing these plates becomes anew point-of-sale communication medium: by engraving the restaurant's logo or adapting the design to the brand's visual identity, restaurateurs can reinforce their image while making the user experience fluid and immersive.

Uses of NFC plates in commercial catering

NFC plates have become versatile and fully integrated tools in commercial catering, as they can automate and enrich several levels of customer interaction.

In practice:

• Real-time interactive menus: NFC plates installed on tables enable customers to access the menu directly. This simplified access eliminates the need for physical menus, thus simplifying dish or price updates. For a multi-site catering chain, this simple tool centralizes menu management, ensuring that each establishment is aligned with the head office offer, while offering local flexibility for the day's promotions.
• Instant customer review collection: By integrating a direct link to a review page, restaurateurs can encourage customers to leave their comments immediately after the meal. This improves customer engagement rates, enables real-time assessment of satisfaction, and strengthens the establishment's e-reputation.
• Promotions and customer loyalty: NFC plates can be configured to offer immediate discounts or access to a loyalty program. This approach thus optimizes the management of promotional offers according to footfall and foreseeable consumption peaks.
• Simplified reservations and payments: Restaurants can integrate online reservation functionalities via NFC plates, facilitating table management and customer flow. What's more, some establishments also allow the bill to be paid directly from the smartphone by scanning the plate, reducing waiting time for payment

Benefits and outlook for 2025

NFC plates represent a major breakthrough for restaurateurs, with immediate benefits and promising prospects for the future. By 2025, they will become a central tool for improving both operational efficiency and the customer experience.

• Automating services and reducing costs:By enabling customers to consult information, place orders or pay via their smartphones, NFC plates reduce dependence on servers for certain lower value-added tasks, and also optimize labor costs.
• Strengthening customer loyalty: The integration of NFC plates into digitalized loyalty programs enables restaurateurs to personalize the customer experience by offering, for example, promotions based on consumption habits.
• A sustainable, scalable solution: Unlike paper menus or more traditional management systems, NFC plates are environmentally friendly and easy to update remotely. They adapt to changing needs and trends, guaranteeing restaurateurs a flexible solution that can be adjusted without significant additional costs.

With personalized NFC plates, the future of commercial catering is already underway.

To go even further in managing your multi-site operations, find out how Adoria can support you with comprehensive software solutions, integrating inventory management, margin tracking and customer experience optimization.

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