Maps API for QSRs: Powering smarter, faster order-ahead experiences

In the world of quick-service restaurants, speed is everything. A slow checkout, wrong address, or missed arrival alert can disrupt the customer experience and lead to lost business.

That's why leading QSR brands are making the switch to Radar, a modern, developer-first alternative to outdated maps platforms. With Radar's address validation, maps APIs, geofencing, and routing tools, QSRs are streamlining the full customer journey, from order to pickup.

Here's a look at how QSR teams are using Radar to power faster, more reliable experiences.

1. Speed up checkout and reduce errors with address validation

For delivery, clean address data isn't optional. It's essential. Radar's address validation API helps eliminate failed deliveries and delays by catching errors and standardizing addresses in real time.

QSRs use Radar to:

• Autocomplete delivery addresses quickly and accurately.
• Validate customer inputs at checkout.
• Format addresses consistently for routing and fulfillment.

Leading QSR brands, like Panera Bread, Jersey Mike's, Arby's, Sonic, and dozens more use Radar to improve checkout accuracy and streamline the ordering experience.

2. Better maps for store location and pickup routing

Helping users find the right store or pickup location is a core part of the order-ahead experience. With Radar's maps APIs, you can build fast, on-brand maps that power everything from store search to drive-thru routing.

Radar powers:

• Store locators with real-time distance filtering, as seen in apps from Buffalo Wild Wings, Arby's, and Sonic and more enterprise QSRs.
• Pickup selectors for curbside and BOPIS orders.
• Arrival detection for drive-thru and curbside to optimize kitchen timing and speed up handoffs.

The result is smoother experiences for guests and up to 90 percent savings on map spend for operators. That's why more QSRs are switching to Radar Maps Platform as a Google Maps alternative and a Mapbox alternative.

Check out how top restaurant brands are using Radar Maps to power store search.

3. Smarter prep and faster handoffs with real-time arrival detection

Once an order is placed, timing becomes everything. Using Radar's geofencing SDKs and routing APIs, QSRs can detect when customers are en route or have arrived without QR codes or manual check-ins.

This helps teams:

• Automatically detect arrivals at drive-thru or curbside.
• Trigger real-time prep and staff notifications.
• Power ETAs, handoff timing, and throughput tracking.

These are the kinds of experiences Radar powers for top QSRs, helping them move faster, serve fresher food, and keep operations running smoothly, all while delivering the kind of seamless experience today's customers expect. 

4. Boost loyalty and engagement with real-time location triggers

With Radar's reverse geocoding and geofencing tools, marketing teams can create personalized, location-based experiences that drive app engagement and repeat orders.

Use Radar to:

• Trigger in-app offers or loyalty reminders when users are nearby.
• Enable automatic check-in rewards.
• Measure campaign performance with accurate visit attribution.

These small, seamless moments help keep customers coming back. Learn more about location-based marketing best practices here.

Why top QSRs trust Radar

Radar is the all-in-one location platform built for restaurants. We support over 1 billion API calls every day and power location experiences for 17 of the top 30 QSR brands.

Teams choose Radar for:

• Arrival detection accurate to within 5 meters, ideal for drive-thru and curbside zones.
• Developer-first tools, built for quick integration and easy updates.
• Simple, transparent pricing, up to 90 percent less than legacy platforms.
• A complete platform with maps, geofencing, address validation, and routing.

Customer spotlight: Bojangles

Bojangles migrated from Google Maps to Radar. The results were immediate:

• 60 percent savings on maps and geocoding costs.
• A full migration completed in just a few weeks, thanks to Radar's dev-friendly docs and UI kits.
• A scalable foundation for geofencing, arrival detection, and location-based marketing, now rolling out to 20 more brands.

"From creating meaningful location experiences for our guests and our restaurants to saving almost 60 percent in cost, Radar Maps Platform is a game changer for the industry, and Radar has solidified their position as the premier all-in-one location platform."

Sergio Perez, Senior Director of Omni-channel at Bojangles

Stories like these show how Radar helps QSRs improve both customer experience and the bottom line.

Build a better order-ahead experience

From checkout to curbside, Radar helps QSRs move faster and deliver more reliable experiences using real-time location intelligence.

Learn more about the Radar Maps Platform or connect with our team to modernize your tech stack.