Challenge

Cafes, bakeries, coffee shops, and other quick-service restaurants operate in a particularly demanding environment. Staff must fill orders in seconds during peak periods, and even the slightest delays at checkout can create long lines and cost merchants sales.

To help these businesses speed up checkout and improve the customer experience, in 2021 the Singapore-based software company Waffle set out to build a modern POS platform that would be easy to use for merchants and customers alike. Beyond the POS, the company built an integrated CRM to give cafes and restaurants a customer intelligence layer, helping them personalise rewards and the customer experience.

“In Asia, traditional POS systems are big, black machines that are difficult to set up, complicated to train on, and hard to use,” said Auston Quek, cofounder at Waffle. “We saw a gap in the market to build a POS that can help quick-service food and service businesses work faster, know their customers, make better decisions, and automate operations.”

Waffle’s initial POS and CRM platform ran on iPads but did not include embedded payments. As a result, restaurants relied on separate payment terminals that were disconnected from the POS, making setup slower and checkout less efficient. For the next iteration of its software, the company wanted to fully integrate the payments experience to create an all-in-one solution that was easy for restaurants to implement. Given the high employee turnover in the quick-service restaurant industry, the payment system also needed to be one that new employees could learn quickly.

Waffle also needed to support a wide range of payment methods, including PayNow, the fastest-growing local payment method in Singapore. The company wanted flexible technology that would allow it to continue to innovate and introduce new products, such as mobile ordering and a self-serve kiosk.

Solution

In 2023, Waffle partnered with Stripe to add fully integrated payments to its platform.

Waffle integrated Stripe Connect to manage the flow of funds across its platform so it could collect payments from diners and distribute the proceeds to the correct merchant. The company uses Stripe-hosted onboarding so restaurants can sign up and begin accepting payments quickly without setting up a separate payment provider or managing multiple systems.

Waffle used Stripe Terminal to enable its POS users to collect in-person payments. Typically, a merchant receives an iPad running Waffle’s software that can be mounted to the checkout counter, which is then connected to a WisePOS terminal for in-person payments. Through the iPads, staff can add items, modify orders to accommodate special requests, and complete transactions through a simple workflow that requires minimal employee training.

Waffle used Stripe Payments to allow restaurants to accept a wide range of payment methods for in-store and online orders, including cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and PayNow. By integrating PayNow through Stripe Payments, Waffle enables restaurants to generate a unique QR code for each transaction directly in the POS, rather than relying on a static QR code at the counter.

Waffle used Terminal to enable in-person payments, while using the payment element to enable mobile ordering so customers can place and pay for orders without waiting in line.

In 2026, Waffle launched a self-serve kiosk solution connected to the Stripe Reader S700 so customers can order and pay without waiting for a cashier.

Results

Waffle integrated payments into its POS in 12 weeks

Once Waffle decided to embed payments directly into its platform, a team of two engineers—both fresh out of school—launched the all-in-one version in about 12 weeks.

“Our team started Waffle just after graduation, so it was our first time implementing payments. The documentation and low-code options were easy enough for us to get onboarded quickly,” said Quek.

Merchants can onboard in five minutes

With Stripe-hosted onboarding, Waffle’s account reps can help restaurants set up payments in about five minutes, without requiring them to set up separate payment processors or integrate multiple systems. Stripe performs all the necessary background checks and compliance tasks to keep the process moving fast, reducing workload for the Waffle team.

“A cafe can get its permit to operate today and want to do business tomorrow, so we don’t have weeks for lengthy implementations. Stripe lets us do it on the spot with customers,” said Quek. “Instead of spending time setting up the software, our account reps can spend more time training business owners and taking care of last-minute details so they can launch with confidence.”

Waffle reduced average checkout time to about 12 seconds

Using Waffle’s streamlined POS interface with Stripe Terminal, merchants can complete transactions in about 12 seconds, down from roughly 20 seconds when payments were managed outside the POS.

“Because we focus on quick-service, grab-and-go restaurants, we needed a payment integration that could meet the speed of our transactions. Stripe helps us meet the checkout speed goals we designed our POS for,” said Quek.

Offering PayNow helps restaurants move away from cash

By supporting PayNow, Waffle helps restaurants reduce their reliance on cash and offer customers a faster, more convenient way to pay. Because PayNow is embedded into the ordering and checkout flow, each payment is automatically confirmed inside the system, helping restaurants ensure every transaction is captured.

“A lot of our customers, such as bakeries, want to move to cashless, so supporting payment methods like PayNow is critical,” said Quek.

Scan-to-order customers spend 3.2x more per transaction

For one cafe chain using Waffle, customers who order via mobile spend 3.2x more per transaction than those who order at the counter.

Waffle’s integrated CRM personalises the mobile ordering experience, and smooth integration with Stripe Payments—including Apple Pay and Google Pay—enables quicker, seamless checkout flows that help merchants capture more revenue.

94% of transactions go through self-serve kiosks when available

Launched in February 2026, Waffle’s new self-serve kiosks have helped restaurants shift 94% of transactions away from the counter. That frees up to two people per shift to focus on food prep and customer service.

“The key value of the kiosks is manpower management. Staff can drive revenue when they are making food and getting drinks to customers faster instead of just taking orders,” said Quek.

One cafe using Waffle’s kiosks saw customers spend 56% more per visit than typical POS customers, driven by built-in upsell features that prompt customers to add drinks, sides, or suggested menu combinations.

“We find that when people have comfort and control over ordering, they tend to spend more than if a cashier was trying to do an upsell. Moving towards self-ordering gives customers a better experience while helping our merchants drive more revenue,” said Quek.