Chili’s Grill & Bar Begins Rollout of Wireless Tabletop Terminals

30 franchised Chili’s restaurants have deployed wireless, on-table touch-screen technology to facilitate limited guest self-ordering, check settlement, customer surveys and other miscellaneous activities for the guest. The technology used on the table comes by way of TableTop Media LLC, a Dallas-based company behind the Ziosk brand terminals sitting on the restaurant’s tables.

The plan for a full company rollout by end of summer is in response to a successful 90-day test at four units in the Chicago area. According to these early reports from ERJ Dining LLC, the 122-unit Chili’s franchisee that originally deployed the technology, has reported a higher per-person check average, experienced a significant increase in its loyalty club enrollment and has shaved an average of three minutes off its table-turn times. [NRN]

It will be interesting to note the impact of this technology on the brand’s metrics once it is rolled out to more locations. With casual-dining locations looking for ways to boost traffic and come upon more positive margins and sales, the implementation of products like Ziosk could be a game changer.

We’ll be watching.