Contactless payment reminders

Purpose

1. Remind diners of unpaid bills or pending payments through contactless channels after dining or ordering, minimizing manual follow-ups.

2. Reduce payment delays, enhance guest convenience, and support secure, touch-free transactions in keeping with modern restaurant standards.

3. Integrate with ordering and POS systems to trigger reminders based on bill status, time elapsed, or customer preferences.

4. Facilitate higher payment collection rates and keep restaurant staff focused on service quality instead of debt collection.

Trigger Conditions

1. Unpaid bill detected a set time after order completion or table closing event.

2. Order status marked “pending payment” in POS system after a predefined grace period.

3. Customer requests digital payment or contactless pay at checkout but has not completed payment within X minutes.

4. Integration with loyalty or reservation system flags “no payment on file.”

5. Mobile order completed without digital payment confirmation.

6. Failed initial payment attempt via contactless method.

7. Online table reservation with no payment after service delivery.

8. Abandoned online checkout in restaurant’s ordering app or web platform.

9. After business closing time, review all orders with outstanding payment.

10. Specific staff-tagged orders requiring follow-up on payment status.

Platform Variants

1. Twilio SMS

• Feature/Setting: Programmable Messaging API — set up SMS reminder flow triggered by unpaid order status.
  

2. SendGrid

• Feature/Setting: Transactional Email API — configure automated emails for payment reminders linked to order records.
  

3. WhatsApp Business API

• Feature/Setting: Automated message template for payment reminders sent via registered business number.
  

4. Stripe

• Feature/Setting: Payment Links API — auto-generate secure payment links, embed in outgoing reminders.
  

5. PayPal

• Feature/Setting: Invoicing API — create and schedule payment reminder invoices via contact email.
  

6. Square

• Feature/Setting: Orders API with Notifications — trigger text or email reminders for open bills in POS.
  

7. Toast POS

• Feature/Setting: Order status webhook — integrate to send reminders based on payment status change.
  

8. Mailchimp

• Feature/Setting: Automated email journey — send payment reminders post-visit based on list triggers.
  

9. HubSpot

• Feature/Setting: Workflow Automation — set up actions for pending payment workflows from contact records.
  

10. Slack

• Feature/Setting: Incoming Webhook — notify staff or send customer reminders via Slack message.
  

11. Zapier

• Feature/Setting: Multi-step Zap — listen for "unpaid order" trigger, execute SMS, email, or WhatsApp reminder.
  

12. Google Calendar

• Feature/Setting: Event reminder API — create calendar events or reminders for follow-ups on unpaid checks.
  

13. Shopify

• Feature/Setting: Abandoned Cart API — send reminders to diners who left an order unpaid online.
  

14. Microsoft Power Automate

• Feature/Setting: Scheduled Flow — regularly check POS and trigger custom reminders by email or SMS.
  

15. ActiveCampaign

• Feature/Setting: Automation Builder — sequence email or SMS reminders based on tag (unpaid order).
  

16. Intercom

• Feature/Setting: Series Automation — push payment request messages based on in-app activity triggers.
  

17. Salesforce

• Feature/Setting: Process Builder — automate task or email reminder for open restaurant invoices.
  

18. Freshdesk

• Feature/Setting: Ticket Automation — open support tickets for unpaid orders and trigger reminder emails.
  

19. Zendesk

• Feature/Setting: Automated Ticket Rules — create reminders and notify staff for outstanding diner payments.
  

20. Plivo

• Feature/Setting: SMS API — configure bulk SMS reminders for batch unpaid payment follow-ups.
  

21. QuickBooks

• Feature/Setting: Invoice Reminder Automation — schedule and send reminders for unpaid restaurant sales receipts.
  

22. Pabbly Connect

• Feature/Setting: Workflow Automation — setup event-based workflow on changing bill status for reminders.
  

23. Telegram Bot API

• Feature/Setting: Automated messages — direct bill reminders to users interacting via Telegram.
  

Benefits

1. Decreases human error and oversight in payment recovery process.

2. Speeds up collection, improving cash flow and reducing time to payment completion.

3. Provides convenient, non-intrusive follow-ups for diners, increasing likelihood of payment.

4. Supports multi-channel reach (SMS, email, chat apps, invoices).

5. Adaptable to customer preference and restaurant operational workflows.

6. Reduces workload on waitstaff and management, allowing focus on guest experience and service.

7. Fosters modern, COVID-safe payment practices and contactless convenience for all parties.