As restaurants began reopening after being shut down by the COVID-19 pandemic, establishments opted to have QR-coded menus over traditional paper printouts. However, a new survey asks whether or not consumers want to go back to tradition in lieu of ordering from their phones.
The new poll from William Blair found that 45% of consumers are not comfortable using QR codes via their mobile phones to view menus, order, and pay.
Different age groups did report varying levels of comfortability with the technology, as the poll highlighted that among those over the age of 60, 65% were not comfortable with using a QR code at restaurants.
Among other age groups, 38% of those ages 18 to 29 said they would use the technology, compared to 29% of those aged 30 to 40, and 6% of those aged 45-60, the William Blair survey found.
The National Restaurant Association found similar results to the recent poll in its State of the Restaurant Industry 2023 report.
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The report noted that among the generations, Gen Z adults (73%) were the most likely to have an interest in using QR codes for restaurant menus, compared to 46% of baby boomers.
The restaurant industry has been forced to adapt greatly throughout the last four years, with the pandemic and inflation all but up-ending businesses and standard practices that had been in place for decades.
Still, reports like the William Blair show that Americans are dining out at least a few times a month (80%), despite prices remaining high.
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“While macroeconomic conditions seem to be weakening incrementally, consumer engagement with restaurants seems to be holding up well, which is consistent with recent commentary from restaurant brands,” the report noted.
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