Ordering on tablet and smartphone: how to digitalise service

Digitalising orders: what it means

Digitalising orders means moving the order from paper to an application. The waiter takes the order at the table, enters it on screen and from that moment the information is available to everyone: kitchen, bar, counter and till. It is not just a matter of appearance: by changing the way the order is created, the way it is transmitted and checked changes too.

The key point is that the order is written only once. There is no longer a step where one person reads the handwritten order and repeats it to someone else, with the risk of errors that involves. And there is no waiting time between when the order is taken and when the kitchen sees it.

Using the devices you already have

The most concrete advantage of browser-based apps is the ability to reuse what the venue already owns: a smartphone on the floor, a tablet used as a kitchen display, a computer at the counter. No special devices are needed, no software installation is required and no technician is needed to get everything running.

In A5App you sign in from the browser on smartphone, tablet and computer. The same application adapts the interface to the screen: the phone is handy for taking orders at the table, while a tablet or larger monitor works well as a kitchen station or as an overview of orders. Floor and kitchen staff see the same updated data.

Benefits and limits compared with traditional systems

Compared with a paper pad, an ordering app changes the way you work in a few respects. But it is worth being honest about the limits too: no application is perfect in every situation.

Limits to keep in mind: the app needs a working data connection, the screens require a minimum of familiarity (usually very little) and printing orders depends on a compatible printer, not just any model.

Printing and managing orders

Many venues want to keep printing orders, for example for the kitchen or bar. A5App lets you print on compatible Bluetooth thermal printers connected directly to the device, without a dedicated computer acting as a bridge. Orders can also stay on screen on a kitchen display, with the order status moving from "to prepare" to "in preparation" to "ready".

A technical clarification is needed here, because it is a real limitation: Bluetooth printing from the browser relies on Web Bluetooth technology, typically supported by Chrome, Edge and Android. On iPhone and iPad with Safari this printing method may not be available. In that case, use the on-screen display, or an Android device or computer as a printing station.

Before you startCheck that your thermal printer is compatible and that the device you will use for printing supports Web Bluetooth. That way you avoid surprises on the first day of service.

How it works in practice with A5App

When you open A5App on tablet or smartphone, you enter the WebApp from the browser and find the floor with tables, the loaded menu, the order cart, the orders view and the bills view. You build the order by tapping products, add notes or variations, and send the order to the preparation stations. If you want to try it without signing up, a demo is available; to use it in your venue you start with a 15-day free trial.

If you want a complete overview of features, supported devices and pricing, the A5App product page brings all the information together. To understand what sets an ordering app apart from a full management system, read the guide on restaurant ordering apps.