How do you handle tips on a payment terminal?

On TKpay terminals, the server can offer the option to add a tip before payment confirmation. The customer chooses an amount or percentage, and the tip is included in the transaction. It appears separately in the statement for easy redistribution to the team.

Is it possible to split a bill across multiple cards with a POS terminal?

Yes, TKpay terminals allow entering a partial amount for each card. The server divides the bill and collects each portion individually. This feature is particularly useful for group dining.

Is tableside payment secure with a mobile terminal?

Absolutely. Mobile terminals like the SUNMI P2 use the same level of encryption and PCI DSS certification as fixed terminals. The 4G/Wi-Fi connection is secure and the customer never loses sight of their card.

Restaurant Card Payments: A Complete Guide

Card Payment: A Must-Have for Modern Restaurants

Morocco's restaurant industry is experiencing a quiet revolution, driven by Bank Al-Maghrib's push for payment digitalization. Customers — both locals and tourists — now expect to pay by card at restaurants, cafes, and fast-food outlets. For restaurateurs, managing electronic payments effectively is no longer just a competitive advantage: it's a survival requirement. This guide covers the entire journey, from order-taking to tipping.

Tableside Payment: A Premium Experience

Why Tableside Payment Changes Everything

Traditionally, the customer walks to the cash register to pay. This approach has several drawbacks: waiting times, queues during peak hours, and the customer leaves their table when they could be freeing it up faster. Tableside payment, made possible by mobile terminals, reverses this dynamic.

The server brings the terminal directly to the customer's table. The card never leaves the diner's hands, enhancing trust and security. To learn more about protecting your business, read our article on payment security and fraud protection. The transaction is quick, and the table is freed up sooner for the next service.

The SUNMI P2: A Restaurateur's Best Ally

The SUNMI P2 terminal is particularly well-suited for restaurants thanks to its compact size and mobility. Equipped with a long-lasting battery, 4G via Orange Business M2M and Wi-Fi connectivity, and a built-in thermal printer, it allows servers to move throughout the dining room without constraints. The built-in NFC reader accepts contactless cards, Apple Pay, and Google Pay, delivering a modern payment experience to your guests.

Managing Split Bills

The Group Dining Challenge

Group meals are common in Morocco, whether for family gatherings, business lunches, or outings with friends. The question "Shall we split the bill?" is a classic. Your terminal needs to handle it efficiently.

The Partial Amount Method

The simplest technique is to divide the total amount by the number of diners and collect each portion separately. On a TKpay terminal, the server enters the partial amount for each card. For example, for a 600 MAD bill split three ways, the server processes three transactions of 200 MAD each.

The Per-Item Method

For groups who prefer to pay for exactly what they ordered, the server can identify each diner's items and enter the corresponding amount. This method takes more time but is appreciated by customers. A good POS system connected to the terminal greatly facilitates this operation.

Tip Management on POS Terminals

Electronic Tipping: A Growing Trend

As cash usage declines, tipping takes on a different form. If the customer pays entirely by card, how do they leave a tip for the server? Modern terminals include a tipping feature that elegantly solves this problem.

How It Works

Before final payment confirmation, the terminal offers the customer the option to add a tip. Depending on the configuration, the customer can:

Choose a preset percentage (5%, 10%, 15%)
Enter a custom amount
Skip the tip

The tip amount is added to the transaction and appears distinctly in the statement. This allows the restaurateur to redistribute tips to their team in a transparent and traceable way.

Impact on Tip Amounts

International studies show that card-based tips are on average 15 to 20% higher than cash tips. The psychological effect of percentage suggestions and the ease of the gesture explain this increase. For your servers, that's excellent news.

Pre-Authorization: Essential for Certain Scenarios

What Is Pre-Authorization?

Pre-authorization involves blocking an estimated amount on the customer's card without immediately charging it. The final amount is captured later, once the service is complete. This feature is essential in two restaurant scenarios:

Bars and lounges: where the customer opens a tab and consumes over time
Hotel restaurants: where dining charges are added to the stay and settled at check-out

Practical Implementation

The server performs a pre-authorization for the estimated amount at the start of service. At the end, they adjust the amount and finalize the transaction. If the final amount is less than the pre-authorization, the difference is automatically released on the customer's card.

Optimizing Rush Hours

The Payment Bottleneck

During peak hours (lunch and dinner), payment can become a bottleneck that slows table turnover. Every minute saved on the payment process translates to a potential additional cover.

Optimization Strategies

To streamline checkout during rush periods:

Equip yourself with multiple terminals: one terminal per dining area zone avoids back-and-forth trips and waiting
Prioritize contactless: NFC payments take less than 3 seconds compared to 15 seconds for PIN transactions
Prepare the bill in advance: print the bill summary as soon as the table requests it, without waiting for the terminal
Use the restaurant's Wi-Fi: more stable than a 4G connection shared among multiple terminals

The Turnover Calculation

A 40-cover restaurant with an average meal time of 90 minutes and 5-minute payment process loses the equivalent of 2 to 3 covers per service in payment time. By reducing this to 1 minute with contactless and tableside payment, the annual gain can represent tens of thousands of dirhams.

Training Your Team on Electronic Payment

Key Training Points

A server well-trained on the payment terminal delivers a better customer experience and reduces errors. Here are the essential skills to pass on:

Amount entry: systematically verify the amount before presenting the terminal to the customer
Decline handling: know how to react calmly when a card is declined (offer an alternative payment method, check the limit)
Split bills: master the partial payment procedure
Tipping: know how to present the tip option naturally, without pressure
Technical incidents: know the procedure in case of terminal failure (switch to another terminal, cash payment as last resort)

Attitude Makes the Difference

The payment moment is the last impression the customer takes away from your restaurant. Fast, professional, and seamless checkout contributes as much to satisfaction as the quality of the meal. Train your servers to present the terminal with a smile and thank the customer once the transaction is confirmed.

Conclusion

Learn more about our smart POS terminal and our restaurant solutions tailored to your business. If you offer delivery, discover how to accept card payments on the go with a mobile terminal.

Card payment in restaurants goes beyond a technical gesture. It's an essential link in the customer experience that deserves as much attention as the menu or the dining room decor. With the right tools — a mobile terminal like the SUNMI P2, a TKpay dashboard for tracking — and a well-trained team, you transform the payment moment into a measurable competitive advantage.