Printers & Service Points
Before customers can order from your restaurant through OKeep, they need a way in. That is what service points do -- each one is a physical location (a table, a counter, a terrace section) with a QR code that customers scan to see your menu and place orders. Service points are the bridge between your physical restaurant and the digital ordering system.
Key Concepts
What Is a Service Point?
A service point is a virtual ordering location tied to a physical spot in your restaurant. When a customer scans the QR code for a service point, they enter a lobby where they can browse your menu, build a cart, and place an order -- all from their phone.
Each service point has a name your staff sees on orders ("Table 5", "Terrace A", "Counter"), a unique QR code, and settings that control how orders from that location are fulfilled.
You may see the term "printer" in some parts of the system. Service points were originally called printers -- they mean the same thing.
QR Codes
Every service point gets a unique QR code. This is how customers connect to your restaurant. They scan the code with their phone camera, and it opens your menu for that specific location. No app download is required -- the QR code works in any phone's browser, and customers with the OKeep app get the full experience.
QR codes matter because they eliminate friction. No waiting for a waiter to bring a menu, no calling someone over to order. The customer scans, browses, and orders at their own pace.
Delivery Modes
Each service point can be configured with a delivery mode that tells the system how orders from that location should be fulfilled:
- Table Service -- Staff delivers the order to the customer's table. Best for QR codes placed on individual tables.
- Pickup -- The customer picks up their order at the counter. Best for QR codes at the counter, entrance, or takeaway window.
- No Default (App decides) -- The app lets the customer choose. Use this for flexible locations.
Setting the right delivery mode per service point means customers do not have to choose every time. A QR code on Table 3 automatically pre-selects "Table Service." A QR code at the counter pre-selects "Pickup."
Lobbies
When a customer scans a service point's QR code, they join a lobby -- a virtual room for that location. Everyone who scans the same QR code ends up in the same lobby, which enables group ordering: multiple people at the same table can each browse the menu on their own phone, add items to a shared order, and one person places the combined order.
How It Works
- You create service points in the CRM, one for each ordering location (tables, counter, terrace sections)
- Each service point gets a unique QR code that you print and place at that location
- A customer scans the QR code with their phone
- They enter the lobby for that service point and see your menu
- They browse, add items to their cart, and place an order
- The order appears on your kitchen display with the service point name, so staff knows where to deliver it
The entire flow -- from scan to order on the kitchen screen -- takes under a minute for a returning customer.
Set the delivery mode on every service point so customers do not have to choose manually. Table QR codes should default to "Table Service." Counter QR codes should default to "Pickup."
Types of Service Points
Different areas of your restaurant call for different service point setups:
| Location | Suggested Name | Delivery Mode | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Individual tables | Table 1, Table 2, ... | Table Service | One QR per table so staff knows exactly where to deliver |
| Terrace sections | Terrace A, Terrace B | Table Service | Group tables into sections if individual codes are impractical |
| Counter | Counter | Pickup | Single QR for walk-up and takeaway orders |
| Bar area | Bar Left, Bar Right | Pickup | Customers pick up drinks at the bar |
| Takeaway window | Takeaway | Pickup | For customers who never sit down |
| Private dining | VIP Room, Private Dining | Table Service | Dedicated codes for special areas |
How Many Do You Need?
| Restaurant Size | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Small cafe (5-10 seats) | 1 counter point + 3-5 table points |
| Medium restaurant (20-40 seats) | 1 counter point + 10-20 table points |
| Large restaurant (50+ seats) | 1-2 counter points + tables grouped by section |
| Takeaway only | 1 counter point is enough |
It is better to have one service point per table than one per area. Individual table points let your kitchen and wait staff know exactly where to deliver each order.
Quick Start
Ready to set up your service points? Follow this guide:
- Service Point Setup -- Step-by-step guide to creating service points, configuring delivery modes, and downloading QR codes
Tips and Best Practices
- Name service points for your staff, not the system. Use the names your team already uses -- "Table 5" or "Window Seat", not "Printer 47" or "SP-003."
- Test every QR code after printing. Scan each one with your phone to make sure it opens the right menu and location.
- Disable rather than delete. If you close a section for the evening, toggle the service point to "Unavailable" instead of deleting it. Deleted service points cannot be recovered, and their QR codes stop working permanently.
- Replace damaged QR codes immediately. A customer who cannot scan a code cannot order -- that is lost revenue and a bad first impression.
- Laminate or use waterproof stickers for table QR codes. They need to survive spills, cleaning, and daily wear.
What's Next
- Service Point Setup -- Create service points, configure delivery modes, download and print QR codes
- Kitchen Display -- See how orders from service points appear in the kitchen
- Build Your Loyalty Program -- Set up points, vouchers, and challenges for your customers