In restaurants, payments are the last step—and often the lasting impression. Whether it’s a tableside tap, mobile pre-order or split bill on a kiosk, diners expect fast, flexible and secure options. But what feels simple is powered by complex systems behind the scenes. That’s where Worldpay® comes in.
Worldpay processes millions of transactions daily across hospitality, helping restaurants deliver frictionless service. From pay-at-table to offline authorizations, its omnichannel platform integrates with major POS providers to create consistent, reliable experiences—even during peak hours.
“Restaurants are mostly card-present environments,” says Maria Prados, SVP, Go to Market, Global Enterprise at Worldpay. “So having mobile, flexible payment systems that just work is non-negotiable. But many legacy tools still fall short.”
Designed for the rush
Speed matters. In high-turn environments, even seconds at checkout impact table turnover and guest satisfaction. Worldpay’s SmartPOS solutions let staff take payments tableside, split checks and add tips without leaving the floor.
“It’s not just about speed—it’s about reliability,” says Prados. “You can’t afford device downtime during dinner rush. That’s why our hardware is supported with secure, remote maintenance and localized service.”
Worldpay also improves approval rates with smart routing, retry logic and enriched transaction data. For restaurants, that means more payments succeed the first time—keeping lines short and experiences smooth.
Personalized payments, scalable service
Diners now expect digital wallet options, mobile order-ahead and loyalty integration as standard. They want the ease of e-commerce—but at the table.
“The line between ecommerce and dining has blurred,” Prados notes. “People want to pay their way, without waiting or waving for the check.”
Worldpay supports that shift with payment tools that integrate directly into ordering, rewards and feedback systems—unlocking personalized experiences that drive repeat visits.
Security is critical, too. Worldpay uses PCI-validated encryption and advanced fraud tools to protect every transaction—at the table, on an app or at a kiosk.
Meeting diners anywhere
Omnichannel dining is here to stay. Restaurants now serve guests across delivery, drive-thru, curbside and counter. Worldpay helps unify these experiences with integrated payments across platforms—and the flexibility to support new formats as they emerge.
“Post-COVID, digital-first is the norm,” says Prados. “Guests expect to pay from their phones, even at full-service venues. The winners will meet them wherever they are.”
That flexibility reduces friction, improves operational flow and positions payments as a strategic asset—not just a backend process.
Because when payments disappear into the background, the dining experience takes center stage.
“If checkout is smooth, the whole meal feels better,” Prados says. “That’s how payments help turn guests into regulars.”
What this will look in the near future
Worldpay’s 2025 Global Payments Report successfully identified key shifts in how people move money, with subsequent numbers largely validating its forecasts. A year after its release, the report’s predictions concerning the ascendance of digital payments have proven remarkably accurate. Digital payments now account for 66% of global e-commerce value, a near doubling of their 2014 share, and mobile e-commerce has tripled to 57%, underscoring a clear consumer preference for tap-and-go payment methods over traditional cash or card.
The report also correctly predicted the central role of mobile devices in commerce. Smartphones now drive over half of global e-commerce, and in-person mobile payments are on track to become the majority by 2030. This mobile-first environment has fostered the rapid growth of digital wallets, Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) services, and account-to-account transfers, showcasing how consumers are increasingly embracing mobile-driven payment solutions.
It accurately anticipated the disruptive influence of fintechs on the established financial landscape. The report highlighted how fintechs would compel traditional incumbents to adapt, a trend clearly demonstrated by the explosive growth of BNPL, which soared from $2.3 billion in 2014 to $342 billion in 2024. Similarly, wallet payments expanded significantly to $15.7 trillion, with companies like Klarna, Apple, and Mercado Libre exemplifying how fintech-led models are fundamentally reshaping consumer finance.
The emergence of real-time payments as a widespread reality was another accurate forecast from the report. Instant payment systems such as Brazil’s Pix, India’s UPI, and the U.S. FedNow illustrate the global movement by governments and banks to meet the demand for immediate transactions. This shift is projected to lead to a global account-to-account value of $3.8 trillion by 2030, reinforcing the report’s insight into the growing importance of instant payment infrastructures.
Finally, Worldpay’s report correctly observed that cards would evolve rather than disappear, and that cash would retain a persistent, albeit smaller, presence. Over half of digital wallets continue to be funded by cards, which remain relevant through tokenization and integration with digital wallets. While cash now accounts for only 15% of point-of-sale share, the report recognized its enduring importance for financial inclusion, privacy, and cultural reasons, suggesting ongoing opportunities for hybrid solutions that bridge digital and physical money.
