Hospitality Teams Streamlining Service with Table-Side Device Mounts

The Rise of Table-Side Technology in Hospitality

Around 2014, Applebee's introduced tablet-mounted systems in its restaurants, eventually rolling out over 100,000 tablets across its entire chain. This setup was the start of a trend among some restaurants, where customers could perform tasks such as ordering food directly to the kitchen or paying for a check with a tap, without having to wait for their server to come over.

The technology allows restaurants and cafés to turn tables more quickly and serve more guests in less time. Servers still deliver food and care for guests, but the system streamlines the process, and many restaurants report increased sales.

More and more food establishments have found that installing tablets in their restaurants, bars, and other hospitality areas has become a valuable tool in their business toolkit.

The Challenges of Traditional Service Workflows

Although having a server offers personalized service to customers, introducing a table-mounted tablet can improve restaurant efficiency, productivity, and overall sales. Servers usually write down orders and input them away from the customers into a fixed tablet device.

Benefits of a table-mounted POS tablet:

• Reduce delays during peak hours

• Give servers more time with guests

• Cut manual steps and order errors

• Eliminate mistakes from handwritten tickets

• Prevent misheard order modifications

• Keep order notes secure and visible

• Enter orders once with no duplicates

• Send orders directly to the kitchen

• Let staff check orders instantly

• Reduce trips between tables and POS terminals

How Table-Side Devices Improve Restaurant Efficiency

Having your POS tablets attached to the table is a game-changer for restaurants and cafés. It can streamline every type of hospitality business, from the smallest coffee shop to the busiest bar.

Faster Order Entry

Depending on the setup, whether customers or servers enter the order on the table-mounted tablet, the process still improves speed, with no pen-and-pad orders needed. 

Customers can place orders in their own time at the table, or servers can enter the order at the table. This sends the order directly to the kitchen, saving time because the server doesn't have to walk to a separate POS system to re-enter the order after they've written it down.

Speeds Up Food Preparation

Because the order lands directly in the kitchen, food prep is almost instant. It may only be a few minutes, but that'll soon add up during busy hours, increasing productivity.

As each order comes in, prep can start immediately, allowing orders to be created faster. Restaurants using table-side POS systems have reported up to a 30% reduction in order processing time.

Faster Table Turnover

Using the tablet to order and pay speeds up the entire dining cycle by eliminating the wait for the server to move between tables, back-and-forth for add-on orders, and the wait for the server to return with the check at the end of the meal.

This has a significant impact on table turnover, improving revenue per table without dumbing down the dining experience.

Add On Orders

During service, customers can instantly place additional orders such as drinks, appetizers, and sides, without having to get the server's attention and call them over. This reduces processing time and allows the server to continue handling other tasks.

Finalizing the Check

At the end of the meal, with some table-mounted POS systems, you can review the bill, add a tip, and pay the final amount without waiting for a server to bring the check. Customers can then email the bill to themselves without waiting for the server to deliver it, reducing paper use.

Improving Guest Experience with Table-Side Technology

Having table-side tech can improve customer satisfaction and experience by removing friction and the overall stop-start process of traditional ordering methods. The balance of still having a server on for any questions and food delivery, paired with table-side ordering, delivers the perfect balance of a dining experience.

Faster and More Convenient Payments

Allowing the customer to pay at the table lets them use cards, contactless wallets, or mobile apps at their own pace, without the pressure from the server to pay. It keeps their payment details secure and reduces waiting time.

Interactive Ordering Experiences

Table-side tablet ordering systems can also display photos of the food for guests and offer wine-pairing suggestions. It can also easily display meal ingredients, allowing customers to customize their meals by adding extra portions or removing unwanted items due to allergies.

This interactive experience often leads to more upselling opportunities, including side and drink add-ons, ultimately resulting in higher check averages.

What Are Table-Side Device Mounts?

Tablet holders, such as those from ARKON Mounts, are hardware systems designed to securely hold tablets, POS devices, or mobile screens on a table, counter, or workstation. They usually consist of a device holder, an arm or shaft, and a mounting system such as a clamp or a drill base.

ARKON Mounts offers a wide range of tablet holders suitable for table-side device mounts. Without a mount, tablets are easily dropped and damaged, frequently misplaced, and difficult for multiple users to view.

Table-side tablet mounts can be:

• Fixed table mounts: Using a drill-based mount that is secured to the table or countertop using screws. This is a permanent setup.

• Adjustable arms: They feature adjustable arms that allow customers to view the screen and for the server to check the order.

• Rotatable: Tablet mounting systems rotate 360°, allowing customers on either side of the table to view the tablet. Plus, when the server comes to the table, they can swivel it toward them if they need to check or use it.

• Wall-mounted: Some restaurants, cafés, and bars need the POS ordering system to be mounted on the wall. It can be easily attached to the wall or other flat surface using a secure drill base.

• Locked: ARKON Mounts does a range of lockable tablet holders for extra security in busy restaurants and late-night bars.

• Adjustable holder fits most tablets: The holder is adjustable and works with a wide range of tablet brands and models, from iPad minis to large tablets.

Six of The Best Tablet Mounting Systems for Restaurants

Slim-Grip® Ultra Pro POS Drill-Base Tablet Mount

The Slim-Grip® Ultra Pro POS Drill-Base Tablet Mount is a low-profile tablet holder that fixes permanently to the restaurant tablet via a 4-hole AMPS mount. It features a short arm and can be rotated 360°, making it usable by all customers.

The Slim-Grip® Ultra Pro tablet holder secures the tablet with a spring-loaded mechanism that enables quick, single-handed insertion and removal, ideal for servers who bring the tablet to the table at the start of service. It comes with several different arms so you can customize the holder to fit different tablet sizes and models.

It can also be wall-mounted thanks to its drill-based mount.

Slim-Grip® Ultra Pro POS Tablet Mount with 12” Gooseneck Clamp

For those wanting a less-permanent mount, the Slim-Grip® Ultra Pro POS Tablet Mount with 12” Gooseneck Clamp features a C-Clamp that extends to 3" and securely attaches to the side of the table. It also features a flexible and solid 12" gooseneck, which can be positioned for the customers so they can easily operate and order using the tablet.

It includes the spring-loaded Slim-Grip® Ultra Pro tablet holder, which comes with several alternative legs for different tablet sizes. Once the tablet has been used, it can be quickly unclamped and used at another table.

LockVise™ POS Drill-Base Locking Tablet Mount

Similar to the Slim-Grip® Ultra Pro POS Drill-Base Tablet with a short rotatable shaft and drill-base mount, except the LockVise™ POS Drill-Base Locking Tablet Mount features a lockable tablet holder.

This locking system allows servers to lock the tablet into the holder, providing extra security for high-traffic restaurants and fast-food burger joints, streamlining operations, and keeping the device safe.

It can also be wall-mounted, and the locking tablet holder prevents the tablet from being pulled out. It also works for permanent table-side tablet holders that stay fixed at every table.

Slim-Grip® Ultra Pro Tablet Holder with Multi-Angle Arm and Drill-Base Mount

For greater adjustability, this POS tablet system, with Slim-Grip® Ultra Pro Tablet Holder and drill base, features a multi-angle arm.

This allows customers and servers to angle and position the holder so it's perfect for ordering, whether by the customer or serving staff.

Slim-Grip® Ultra Pro POS Tablet Stand

This table-side tablet holder features a weighted base that allows the server to bring it to the table and remove it after service.

The weighted base is heavy enough to keep the tablet stable while the server or customers are operating it, but light enough to move from table to table.

LockVise™ POS Locking Tablet Mount with Triple Tablet Holders

Sometimes, restaurants need several tablet holders available to the server or to guests, in case they need different tablets for a wine menu, desserts, or payment.

The LockVise™ POS Locking Tablet Mount with Triple Tablet Holders features three tablet holders on a secure, weighted base. It also comes with a clamp for a more secure fixing method.

All tablet holders are lockable, making them especially suitable for busy, high-traffic restaurants, coffee shops, and bars.

The Right Mount Makes Table-Side Technology Work

As restaurants and hospitality move toward a more digital setup, the physical design of these devices must keep pace with the software advances that power them. Mounted tablets deliver increased productivity, smooth efficiency, and a streamlined service, enabling servers to deliver a quality guest experience.

Tablets only work when they're paired with high-quality tablet mounting systems, like those from ARKON Mounts. Secure, solid, and stable tablet holders ensure devices stay protected, properly positioned, and ready throughout even the busiest shifts.

Upgrade Your Restaurant Workflow with Secure Table-Side Tablet Mount

ARKON Mounts offers a range of tablet mounting systems designed specifically for hospitality environments, including bars, cafés, and restaurants, from drill-base mounts to flexible clamp systems and lockable holders for high-traffic areas.

The customer can customize each mount to match their business needs, thanks to the options available from ARKON Mounts, and each mount comes with a limited warranty.

Whether you have a high-end chain of restaurants or it's your first coffee shop, the right tablet mount can help turn table-side technology into a powerful operational advantage over your competition.

Explore ARKON’s tablet mounting systems to find the right solution for your restaurant or hospitality space.