How Checkmate Helps Restaurants Eliminate Tablet Chaos & Scale Digital Ordering
Vishal Agarwal shares how a frustrating airport restaurant experience, where he was nearly late for a flight because he couldn’t find a way to pay his bill, sparked the idea that became Checkmate. What began as a mobile payment concept quickly pivoted into integrating third party delivery platforms directly into restaurant POS systems. In this episode, Agarwal explains how solving real operational problems helped Checkmate grow into a platform supporting thousands of restaurant brands.
- Real Problems Build Real Products – Checkmate did not start as a delivery integration platform. Vishal Agarwal’s first idea was a mobile payment app. The company pivoted after a restaurant operator showed him the real problem: a counter full of delivery tablets pulling staff away from guests.
- Enterprise Sales Runs on Timing – Checkmate’s first enterprise client, Five Guys, came from an elevator conversation at a conference. Agarwal believes large brands buy on their own timeline. Founders must stay available, build trust, and be ready when the moment comes.
- Menus Are the Hidden Challenge – Most POS systems were built for in-store ordering. Today restaurants manage menus across delivery apps, kiosks, websites, and more. Extracting menus from the POS allows operators to optimize each channel while maintaining brand consistency.
Episode Links
- Vishal Agarwal LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vishalagarwal82/
- Checkmate Online: https://www.itsacheckmate.com/
- Checkmate LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/itsacheckmate/
- Checkmate YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKDPX--cVJ2uPtnS_6sC1hA
- Checkmate Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsacheckmate
- Checkmate Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/itsacheckmate/
Go to the National Restaurant Show 2026: https://nationalrestaurantshow.com
Use our promo code SHAWN26 for $26 off registration! Disclaimer: Promotional offer is valid through 5/8/2026. Offer is redeemable through online registration and is only valid for operators. Offer cannot be combined with any other promotion and does not apply to current 2026 Show registrants. Non-exhibiting suppliers are subject to a higher badge rate. #2026RestaurantShow
Checkmate’s digital menu boards help restaurants increase average check size by surfacing the right add-ons and offers at the right moment. In a recent 30-day test with a national QSR brand, average check size increased by nearly $1 per order, about a 6% lift, with no extra labor and no slower lines.
Learn more at https://www.itsacheckmate.com
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