A guest’s first interaction with your brand often starts with login. Yet, many restaurant brands still rely on outdated, email-only systems that frustrate customers, create duplicate profiles, and slow down the guest journey. At PAR Engagement, we believe the login experience should be as smooth and welcoming as the first smile from a server.
That’s why we built Guest Identity Service and Advance Authentication powered by Auth0—a next-generation identity platform that puts flexibility, speed, and security first. Together, they simplify authentication for guests, empower enterprise brands with more control, and ensure that every login is an opportunity to build trust and loyalty.
What Is Guest Identity Service?
Guest Identity Service is the foundation of a modern, unified guest profile. Think of it as a “digital passport” that works across all PAR Engagement products—whether your guests are checking loyalty points, placing an online order, or engaging with marketing campaigns.
Unlike legacy systems, Guest Identity Service isn’t tied to one identifier like email. Instead, it lets brands define what makes a guest unique—phone number, loyalty ID, or even a third-party token. This flexibility means no more fake emails or messy duplicate profiles. Every guest interaction feeds into a single, clean record, making loyalty and personalization effortless.
For enterprise brands, it’s a major leap forward. The service integrates seamlessly with leading identity providers like Okta, Azure AD, and Cognito, allowing businesses to bring their own IDP and maintain full control of guest authentication. There’s no need to worry about re-enrollment or losing historical data when switching systems.
Why We Built It This Way
Guest Identity Service with Advanced Authentication solves three key problems:
- No More One-Size-Fits-All Logins: Guests can log in the way they prefer, using email or phone, without being forced into a single identifier.
- Cleaner Guest Profiles: With flexible identifiers and real-time verification, guest data stays clean and accurate.
- Enterprise-Ready Security: For large brands with strict security requirements, Guest Identity Service integrates directly with identity providers like Okta, Azure AD, or Cognito via SAML. This ensures your team can manage guest accounts across platforms without compromising on compliance or control.
Enter Advance Authentication: Passwordless, Frictionless, Future-Ready
Guest Identity Service lays the groundwork for better login experiences. Advance Authentication, our premium passwordless authentication suite, takes it a step further.
With Advance Authentication powered by Auth0 for scale, security and reliability— guests can log in using email or SMS one-time passcodes (OTPs)—no passwords required. This reduces the friction that often causes guests to abandon sign-ups or forget credentials, particularly on mobile devices. It’s faster, safer, and better aligned with the expectations of modern consumers.
Why does this matter for your business? Because passwordless login drives results. Brands using OTP-based authentication typically see 2–3x higher login success rates on mobile compared to traditional email-and-password flows. Fewer failed logins mean fewer support tickets and, most importantly, happier guests.
Built for Scale and Security
Security is baked into every layer of Guest Identity Service and Advance Authentication. By using tokenization and a decoupled architecture, we ensure that sensitive information is protected while still allowing cross-platform access. Whether your guests are logging into Punchh, Ordering, or other PAR products, a single login session can carry across multiple systems without compromising security.
Enterprise brands will also appreciate the ability to plug in their own SAML-based IDPs. This allows IT teams to manage guest authentication using their preferred tools while meeting strict compliance and privacy requirements.
Built for the Future
- Passwordless sign-up via OTP or magic links, so guests can create accounts instantly without setting a password.
- Ordering-native OTP login, streamlining the checkout process.
- Multi-factor Authentication (MFA), providing a second layer of protection from fraud
- We’re also exploring future enhancements like biometric login—because security and convenience should go hand in hand.
Why Now?
Guest Identity isn’t just about logging in—it’s about building trust from the first click.
Ready to give your guests the seamless experience they deserve?
Contact us to learn more about how PAR Engagement can transform your brand’s login journey.
