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Ziosk, a leading provider of hospitality technology, has announced a new strategic partnership with Texas-based casual dining brands Gringo’s Tex-Mex and Jimmy Changas. The agreement centres on the system-wide rollout of Ziosk’s Drop & Pay™ handheld payment solution across all 21 of the brands' locations.

The deployment highlights a continued shift in restaurant operations, where operators are seeking hardware solutions that streamline the checkout process and capture first-party data without sacrificing the traditional, hospitality-driven dining experience.

The 'Digital Check Presenter' Model

Unlike standard handheld Point-of-Sale (POS) devices that require the server to stand at the table while the guest completes the transaction, Ziosk’s Drop & Pay™ functions as a modern digital check presenter.

Servers discreetly leave the tablet at the table, allowing guests to review their itemised bill, split checks, and complete payment securely at their own pace. Crucially for front-of-house operations, this frees the server to immediately grab another device and attend to other tables, significantly improving labour efficiency and table turn times.

ROI and Operational Metrics

Since implementing the technology, Gringo’s and Jimmy Changas have reported rapid guest adoption and measurable operational improvements.

Key Performance Metrics:

• Pay-at-the-Table Rate: Achieved a highly successful 96% adoption rate.

• Loyalty Integration: A 23% increase in loyalty program participation, facilitated by on-screen prompts during the payment flow.

• Data Capture: A 45% guest survey engagement rate, allowing management to capture actionable feedback before the guest leaves the restaurant.

Additionally, the brand noted that the transition to the Ziosk ecosystem has successfully reduced "costly, unnecessary fees," helping to protect bottom-line profitability in a margin-tight sector.

Balancing Tech and Hospitality

Heather McKeon, COO of Gringo’s Tex-Mex, explained the strategic pivot from traditional tabletop systems to the new handheld model.

"We were looking for a platform that could offer our guests secure payments at the table while saving us money on unnecessary fees," McKeon stated. "Originally, we thought Ziosk was only a tabletop platform, but this handheld payment solution is tailored perfectly to significantly improve service efficiency while catering to our guests' needs... The results have been positive, and we’ve seen high adoption by team members and guests very quickly."

Raymond Howard, Chief Revenue Officer of Ziosk, emphasised the alignment with the restaurants' service models: "Ziosk Drop & Pay™ gives them a secure, modern way to streamline payments, drive loyalty engagement, and capture actionable guest insights while preserving that people-first dining experience our guests expect and value."

Market Context

For restaurant operators, the integration of loyalty and feedback mechanisms directly into the payment hardware represents a significant value-add. By capturing real-time insights at the point of payment, brands can immediately address service issues and leverage high-conversion touchpoints to build long-term customer retention.