Where to Put Cameras in a Counter-Service Restaurant
If you want your cameras to measure operations as well as record incidents, cover the counter and the line in front of it, the pass where food is handed off, the drive-thru window and the entrance. Add the make line if you care about portions and add-ons. A security layout usually covers the doors, the safe and the register, which records an incident but can't time a guest's wait. Where the cameras point decides which numbers you can get later.
The placements that carry ops numbers
| Camera | What it lets you measure |
|---|---|
| Counter and line, from behind the register | Line wait, time to take the order, staffing at the counter by hour |
| The pass | Order to handoff, food sitting on the pass, order accuracy at handoff |
| Drive-thru window | Time at the window, the handoff, cars pulled forward |
| Entrance and lobby | Guests coming in, opening and closing times, lobby cleaning |
| Make line | Add-ons and portions against the ticket, prep starting on time |
| Back door and receiving | Deliveries checked in, trash runs, the door opened after close |
What makes a placement work
- Height and angle: high enough to see over the crew, aimed so the counter or the pass fills most of the frame.
- One job per camera: a wide shot of the whole store measures very little, while a camera aimed at the pass measures a lot.
- Light: keep cameras from facing the front windows, where afternoon glare washes out the picture.
- The recorder: a standard NVR on the store network with a local login. TableIQ's device plugs into it.
New stores are the easy time to do it
Moving a camera after the ceiling is closed means a lift and a service call. Adding the counter, the pass and the window to the plan before the low-voltage contractor starts is a few lines on a drawing. If you're opening new stores, mark the ops placements on the layout you send whoever designs the camera plan.
FAQ
Do I need special cameras?
No. Standard security cameras work. What matters is where they point. One small device connects to your recorder and takes 5 minutes to set up.
Can you look at our layout?
Yes. Send the floor plan and we'll mark where cameras would need to go for the numbers you care about.
See it on your own floor.