Self-service kiosks have moved from “nice-to-have” to essential in modern foodservice across corporate cafeterias, retail healthcare foodservice, and higher education. According to PYMNTS, 65% of restaurant customers prefer self-service options when available, and QSR Magazine reports kiosks can lift average check sizes by as much as 20–30%. The opportunity is clear: when optimized, kiosk software doesn’t just speed up ordering in corporate cafeterias — it can grow revenue, build loyalty, and improve the guest experience.

This guide walks you through the essential strategies to maximize check sizes, enhance usability, deepen loyalty, and streamline back-of-house operations with self-service kiosks. Review the steps below to ensure your kiosks are configuring in a manner that will maximize your ROI and enhance your guest experiences.

Step 1: Boost Check Sizes with Smart Upselling on Your Foodservice Kiosk

Upselling is one of the biggest revenue drivers for kiosk ordering. In fact, McDonald’s reported a 30% increase in average ticket size when introducing self-service kiosks.

How to do it:

• Use dynamic prompts: Suggest sides, drinks, or desserts automatically when a main item is chosen.
• Highlight bundles: Promote combo meals to increase order value.
• Showcase visuals: Photos of add-ons and options/modifiers can increase conversion rates by up to 25%.
• Price effectively: Add-ons don’t need to be expensive to be effective. Ensure you are capturing missed revenue on the common add-on items, including cheese, extra sauces, and dressings.

Step 2: Simplify the Corporate Cafeteria Kiosk User Experience

Customers expect kiosks to be intuitive. According to Zebra Technologies, 70% of diners say they’re more likely to use kiosks again if the interface is fast and simple.

Key optimizations:

• Streamline navigation: Organize menus logically with minimal steps.
• Use large visuals: Clear images and easy-to-read text prevent hesitation.
• Offer multiple languages: Catering to diverse guests broadens adoption.
• Ensure clear access to allergy and nutritional data: Use icons and words to indicate specific allergens or ingredients within your menu items.

Pro Tip: Observe how customers interact — hesitation often signals confusing steps.

Step 3: Build Corporate Cafeteria Customer Loyalty at the Kiosk

Loyalty programs increase repeat purchases by 20% on average (Harvard Business Review). Integrating them directly into kiosks makes earning and redeeming rewards effortless.

How to leverage kiosks for loyalty:

• Enable sign-ups at checkout: Reduce friction by letting guests join in seconds.
• Display loyalty balances: Seeing available points encourages redemption.
• Personalize offers: Use purchase history to suggest relevant upsells.

Pro Tip: Feature loyalty prompts early in the process to remind guests of value.

Step 4: Connect Orders to Kitchen Display Systems (KDS)

In corporate cafeterias, behind the scenes technology in the back of house is just as important as customer-facing tech. Restaurants and cafeterias using kitchen display systems experience up to 40% faster order processing compared to paper tickets.

Best practices:

• Direct kiosk-to-KDS integration: Eliminate manual entry and errors.
• Organize by order channel: Give staff visibility across kiosk, online, and counter.
• Real-time prioritization: Ensure hot food moves quickly during rush periods.

Pro Tip: Use color-coded KDS screens for instant visibility into prep times.

Step 5: Use Analytics to Keep Improving

Data is the backbone of kiosk optimization. According to Hospitality Technology, 58% of restaurants using analytics report improved operational efficiency.

What to track:

• Top sellers & modifiers: Double down on items customers already love.
• Drop-off points: Identify where orders are abandoned.
• Loyalty engagement: Measure how offers influence repeat visits.
• Prep times: Spot inefficiencies slowing down service.

Pro Tip: Run A/B tests on menu layouts or upsell prompts to continually refine performance.

Wrapping Up

Optimizing kiosk software is more than a tech upgrade — it’s a business growth strategy. By combining data-driven upselling, a seamless user experience, loyalty integration, KDS connectivity, and continuous improvement, you can increase check sizes, reduce friction, and build customer loyalty at scale.

With 2 in 3 diners preferring kiosks when available, the time to refine your kiosk strategy is now.

Interested in seeing how Volanté’s retail dining technology could work in your building?
Reach out to Volanté at 1.877.490.6333 ext. 3.