Mobile ordering platform Orda and barcode-scanning hardware maker Socket Mobile have deployed a combined self-checkout solution across workplace dining environments in New York City, with corporate dining and hospitality provider Great Performances serving as the launch operator. The deployment—active at sites including those managed for Silverstein Properties and the Rockefeller Foundation—marks the first real-world validation of the two companies' integrated stack and sets a template for broader enterprise foodservice rollouts.
How the Stack Works
At the core of the solution is Orda Express, the platform's self-checkout interface, paired with Socket Mobile's S320 Contactless Barcode Scanner. Guests browse menu items and place orders through the Orda mobile or web interface, then complete payment by scanning items at checkout via the S320. Socket Mobile selected the hardware for its compact footprint, consistent scanning performance, and straightforward API integration—factors that matter when deploying across multiple locations with varying physical layouts.
Brandon Reichert, Director of Transformation and Technology at Great Performances, said the previous self-checkout solution was cumbersome for both staff and guests. "With Orda Express, we were able to customize the setup based on specific client needs, creating an easy to use, fast, and intuitive experience for our guests," he said. The shift reflects a broader pattern in enterprise foodservice technology, where operators are replacing one-size-fits-all kiosk systems with configurable, mobile-first stacks that can be tuned to each client's brand and workflow.
Operator Implications
For foodservice operators managing corporate dining contracts, the partnership addresses two persistent pressure points: labor costs and guest throughput. Self-checkout reduces the number of cashiers needed during peak lunch periods while accelerating transaction times—a meaningful efficiency gain in high-volume environments like corporate campuses, healthcare cafeterias, and university dining halls. Orda integrates with Square and counts more than 10,000 Square-based businesses on its platform, which lowers the barrier to adoption for operators already running on that payments infrastructure.
Socket Mobile, traded on Nasdaq under the ticker SCKT, has historically derived most of its revenue from specialty retail and field-service scanning applications. The workplace dining deployments represent a deliberate push into enterprise foodservice—a channel where the company sees demand growing as employers invest in digital workplace amenities. Hilary Barr, COO at Orda, framed the opportunity in terms of the broader hospitality technology landscape: "Whether operators are managing corporate lunch catering or company lunch programs, they need technology that makes the experience faster and easier for both guests and staff."
What Comes Next
Both companies describe the New York City deployments as a repeatable model, with eyes on corporate campuses, healthcare systems, universities, stadiums, and airports as the next target segments. The end-to-end nature of the stack—ordering, payment, and scan-based checkout managed through a single integration—positions it for multi-site rollouts where consistency and minimal disruption are priorities. As employers continue competing on workplace experience, enterprise foodservice operators face increasing pressure to deliver the same digital convenience employees expect from consumer quick-service and fast-casual brands. Solutions that can be deployed quickly and customized by client are likely to gain traction fastest in that environment.
Written by Michael Politz, Author of Guide to Restaurant Success: The Proven Process for Starting Any Restaurant Business From Scratch to Success (ISBN: 978-1-119-66896-1), Founder of Food & Beverage Magazine, the leading online magazine and resource in the industry. Designer of the Bluetooth logo and recognized in Entrepreneur Magazine's "Top 40 Under 40" for founding American Wholesale Floral, Politz is also the Co-founder of the Proof Awards and the CPG Awards and a partner in numerous consumer brands across the food and beverage sector.
