Glossary · Operations

What is Wait Time?

Wait time is how long a customer waits between placing an order and receiving food. Lower wait time = happier customers and faster table turn. Modern QR menus broadcast estimated wait time on the customer's order screen.

In detail

Excessive wait time is the single biggest source of negative restaurant reviews. Even excellent food gets one-star reviews if it took 45 minutes to arrive.

ZaikaQR shows a live wait time on the customer's order screen — 'Cooking now · estimated 12 minutes'. Owners set the rough estimate per category in the dashboard; customers see realistic expectations.

Broadcasting wait time has been shown to reduce customer-perceived wait time by 25-40% because anticipation feels longer than the same time spent informed.

Why it matters for your restaurant

Understanding Wait Time helps you evaluate restaurant software properly, talk to your tech vendors with confidence, and make better-informed pricing and operational decisions.

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