Mistake 1. Choosing "Free" Systems

Why you should be super careful with the "free" offerings? Because the "free" stickers often hides extra costs like payment processing fees (around $60 + GST), marketing add-ons (another $40 + GST), and if you want a branded app (that's another $125 + GST). And suddenly, "free" doesn't seem so free anymore.

Say your Auckland café handles 200 transactions a day. At first glance, a 2.7% transaction fee might seem small, but those small fees add up quickly. 200 transactions at an average of $25 each, is roughly $1,350 a month just for payment processing. Factor in software licenses and integration costs, which can run between $500 and $800, and that's how "free" softwares make profits from.

Mistake 2. Ignoring Integration Capabilities

Well, it's natural if you don't have to integrate anything. However in this digital, it's almost impossible to have zero integration. For example, what about your food delivery platform? Poor integration can lead to operational chaos and quietly eating your profits day after day. When your table ordering system or food delivery app doesn’t talk to your POS, it triggers a chain of problems that can seriously impact your bottom line.

Manually juggling orders across different systems can eat up a whopping 30% of your staff’s time. Imaging your staff stuck with endless data entry, order verification, and fixing errors. In New Zealand, finding skilled hospitality staff is a constant battle. Every minute spent on admin is a minute lost to serving customers and generating revenue. 

Moreover, in New Zealand's competitive F&B scene, integrating with delivery apps has become a necessity. Without it, you risk falling behind, facing higher operating costs, and limiting your growth, which is never worth risking.

Read more: Integrating Your Restaurant POS with Delivery Apps: What You Need to Know (eats365pos.com)

Mistake 3. Assuming System Change is Easy

One often overlooked factor contributing to New Zealand’s high hospitality turnover rates (ranging from 29.2% to a staggering 88%, compared to the national average of 21.4%) is poorly managed change during table ordering system implementations.

Implementing new systems can put a real strain on your team. McKinsey’s research shows 70% of change programs fail, mostly due to employee resistance and lack of management support. Restaurant work is already high-pressure; adding new tech without proper training and support just adds fuel to the fire. Experienced staff can feel overwhelmed and underappreciated, struggling to learn new interfaces, troubleshoot customer issues, and adapt to new workflows. Seasoned servers, comfortable with traditional service, might find digital systems challenging, impacting their confidence and job satisfaction.

Turnover costs the New Zealand hotel industry alone NZ$22 million annually, a clear indicator of how implementation missteps can snowball into costly staffing crises that linger long after the tech issues are resolved.

Mistake 4. Overlooking Customer's Preference

Digital ordering is transforming the Kiwi dining experience, but there's still some resistance. Understanding this is key for restaurants aiming for a smooth digital transition. CGA Strategy’s research paints a complex picture. While 53% of consumers use digital menus, there’s a definite hesitation. Around 56% prefer talking to a server for drinks, and 30% want that traditional bartender interaction.

This resistance varies by age. Younger diners (18-34) are digitally comfortable: 70% are likely to use digital platforms, 40% see tech-enabled venues as modern, and 42% equate digital integration with sophistication. Older demographics, however, may see tech-heavy venues as impersonal and might even avoid them. Thus you should consider your customer's need and the best way that they can feel comfortable with.

Read more: How to Deal with Difficult Customers in New Zealand (eats365pos.com)

Balancing Tech and Hospitality

The Restaurant New Zealand 2025 Consumer Dining Insights Report hits the nail on the head: Kiwi diners appreciate technological advancements, but they also value the human touch. Hybrid models offering flexible ordering options, seamless human-digital interactions, and respect for individual preferences seem to be the sweet spot. Looking at 2025 hospitality trends, counter service models, with QR code menus alongside traditional ordering, offer a promising compromise. This lets restaurants maximize efficiency while retaining personal interaction and catering to different customer preferences. The future of hospitality tech in New Zealand isn’t about replacing humans with screens; it’s about thoughtfully integrating technology to enhance the dining experience for everyone. Talk with Eats365 and see how we can help you with blending technology with human warmth.

FAQs on Table Ordering System

What are common cost pitfalls of a table ordering system for NZ restaurants?

Many NZ restaurants find that 'free' table ordering systems come with hidden fees like payment processing ($60+GST/month), marketing add-ons, and branded app costs, which quickly add up, sometimes costing over $1,300 monthly just in fees. Additional expenses include software licenses and integration costs, putting pressure on profit margins.

How can poor integration in a table ordering system affect my restaurant's operations?

Without seamless integration between the table ordering system, POS, inventory, and payment platforms, restaurants face manual data entry, increased staff workload by up to 30%, order errors, and inventory issues such as selling out-of-stock dishes. This reduces efficiency, increases labor costs, and damages customer experience.

How does Eats365 help streamline table ordering system integration?

Eats365 offers a table ordering system that integrates smoothly with your POS and delivery apps, reducing manual work and errors. This helps save staff time, improves order accuracy, and enhances operational efficiency—critical factors for NZ restaurants facing staff shortages and high turnover.

Can Eats365’s table ordering system improve customer experience and sales?

Yes, Eats365’s system enables quick QR code ordering that customers appreciate, while also allowing upselling opportunities that increase spend per head. By combining digital ease with human support, it balances efficiency with personal service, helping restaurants boost revenue without raising operating costs.

 What challenges do NZ restaurants face when implementing a table ordering system?

Challenges include managing staff resistance to new technology, insufficient training, increased workload during peak times, and maintaining customer satisfaction despite digital changes. Poor change management can lead to high staff turnover, costing the hospitality sector millions annually.

How to handle customer resistance to digital table ordering in NZ?

Restaurants should adopt hybrid ordering models offering both digital QR code menus and traditional server interaction. This respects varying customer preferences, especially across generations, ensuring smooth digital transitions without losing the valued human touch in service.