Point of Sale Newsmakers from April
Mobility and loyalty are definitely two buzzwords when it comes to the point of sale of late. Operators are rolling out the latest technologies available, vendors are teaming to offer more options and the latest research is revealing that consumers are more likely to place orders from mobile-friendly websites. These are just some of the hot button topics dominating the point of sale landscape during the month of April. If you missed any of these headlines the first time, check them out now.
Carl's Jr. Franchisee Rolls Out CRM/Loyalty Program Across 38 Locations
Carl’s Jr. Franchisee Star Chasers Oklahoma, Inc. and Beanstalk Data jointly announced today that the franchisee is adopting Beanstalk Data’s Marketing Master and Loyalty products at all 38 of their Carl’s Jr. locations under the MyStarChasers name. Features of the program that appealed to Star Chasers include Integration with the point of sale system and a willingness to integrate with MIRUS Restaurant Solutions, the company’s cloud-based reporting platform.
QikServe Integrates with MICROS
Customers using MICROS for point-of-sale can now extend their system to include QikServe’s mobile ordering and payment service, providing an end-to-end mobile solution from customer order through to fulfillment and back-end systems. This means that hospitality businesses can now provide customers with the choice to order and pay for food and drink through their smartphones seamlessly through their existing POS system.
Research Reveals 67% of Consumers More Likely to Buy from Mobile-Friendly Site
With mobile traffic gaining market share month after month, hotels need to ensure their desktop versions of their websites are optimized for smaller screens and deliver fast loading times. Lodging Interactive says the more responsive a hotel website, the higher its SEO rankings on Google, and the easier it will be to maintain. Responsive websites turn visitors into customers. According to a study conducted by Sterling Research and SmithGeiger for Google: 96% of consumers say they’ve encountered sites that were clearly not designed for mobile devices; 75% of users prefer a mobile-friendly site; 67% of users are more likely to buy from a mobile-friendly site.
The POS Tipping Point: When & Why to Upgrade
Many restaurant IT directors and store managers struggle to determine when the right time to upgrade POS workstations is. Although there is a significant cost for purchasing new POS systems, what many restaurants do not realize is the associated return on investment (ROI) that comes from upgrading versus keeping old POS technology. This story includes some key areas to consider throughout the lifespan of the point-of-sale and how they can either be a drain or boon to ROI.
Partnership Enables Customers to Order and Pay Via Phone
Mobile technology company QikServe today announced a collaboration with PayPal that will allow the UK hospitality sector to take orders and payment using the PayPal app on their customer’s smartphone. QikServe’s mobile ordering solution can now be integrated into PayPal’s payment app. This means that restaurants and bars can offer customers the choice to order and pay for food and drink through their smartphone, creating a seamless experience for customers.
Capriotti's Engages Customers Via Mobile CRM Platform for Loyalty
Punchh, a brand-centric mobile CRM suite for restaurants, has created a customized mobile loyalty rewards program for Capriotti’s Sandwich Shop, a 100-plus unit fast-casual sandwich chain based in Las Vegas. Dubbed “CAPAddicts Rewards,” customers can use the new program’s branded mobile app to earn rewards based on how frequently they visit and how much they spend. Punchh's cloud-based, POS-integrated platform allows restaurant operators to engage customers in real time right on their mobile devices and provide offers that boost incremental sales and repeat traffic. Using one-to-one engagement, restaurant operators can customize offers to each customer’s established preferences.
Buffalo Wild Wings Increases Revenue with Online Ordering
Buffalo Wild Wings has selected the NCR Aloha Online Ordering solution for its 1,000 company-owned and franchised locations to help drive its takeout ordering business. Adding online ordering functionality to its existing NCR technology solution will enable Buffalo Wild Wings to manage both on and off-premise transactions seamlessly within one system. Aloha Online Ordering enables Buffalo Wild Wings customers to order online and avoid wait times on the phone. Their payment information is securely stored for future orders and they can review their order; increasing order accuracy. All web orders are instantly distributed to the appropriate store and then routed to the kitchen.
Panera Launches Digital Experience
Panera has announced its plans to launch the Panera 2.0 Experience, an enhanced customer experience powered by technology and delivered with Panera warmth. As an introduction, Panera 2.0 is about how customers are living in a digital future in an omni-channel world. Developed over three years, the comprehensive Panera 2.0 model provides an integrated experience that meets the differentiated needs of To-Go, Eat-In, and Large-Order Delivery customers through new mechanisms for ordering, payment, production and, ultimately, consumption.
Carl's Jr. Franchisee Rolls Out CRM/Loyalty Program Across 38 Locations
Carl’s Jr. Franchisee Star Chasers Oklahoma, Inc. and Beanstalk Data jointly announced today that the franchisee is adopting Beanstalk Data’s Marketing Master and Loyalty products at all 38 of their Carl’s Jr. locations under the MyStarChasers name. Features of the program that appealed to Star Chasers include Integration with the point of sale system and a willingness to integrate with MIRUS Restaurant Solutions, the company’s cloud-based reporting platform.
QikServe Integrates with MICROS
Customers using MICROS for point-of-sale can now extend their system to include QikServe’s mobile ordering and payment service, providing an end-to-end mobile solution from customer order through to fulfillment and back-end systems. This means that hospitality businesses can now provide customers with the choice to order and pay for food and drink through their smartphones seamlessly through their existing POS system.
Research Reveals 67% of Consumers More Likely to Buy from Mobile-Friendly Site
With mobile traffic gaining market share month after month, hotels need to ensure their desktop versions of their websites are optimized for smaller screens and deliver fast loading times. Lodging Interactive says the more responsive a hotel website, the higher its SEO rankings on Google, and the easier it will be to maintain. Responsive websites turn visitors into customers. According to a study conducted by Sterling Research and SmithGeiger for Google: 96% of consumers say they’ve encountered sites that were clearly not designed for mobile devices; 75% of users prefer a mobile-friendly site; 67% of users are more likely to buy from a mobile-friendly site.
The POS Tipping Point: When & Why to Upgrade
Many restaurant IT directors and store managers struggle to determine when the right time to upgrade POS workstations is. Although there is a significant cost for purchasing new POS systems, what many restaurants do not realize is the associated return on investment (ROI) that comes from upgrading versus keeping old POS technology. This story includes some key areas to consider throughout the lifespan of the point-of-sale and how they can either be a drain or boon to ROI.
Partnership Enables Customers to Order and Pay Via Phone
Mobile technology company QikServe today announced a collaboration with PayPal that will allow the UK hospitality sector to take orders and payment using the PayPal app on their customer’s smartphone. QikServe’s mobile ordering solution can now be integrated into PayPal’s payment app. This means that restaurants and bars can offer customers the choice to order and pay for food and drink through their smartphone, creating a seamless experience for customers.
Capriotti's Engages Customers Via Mobile CRM Platform for Loyalty
Punchh, a brand-centric mobile CRM suite for restaurants, has created a customized mobile loyalty rewards program for Capriotti’s Sandwich Shop, a 100-plus unit fast-casual sandwich chain based in Las Vegas. Dubbed “CAPAddicts Rewards,” customers can use the new program’s branded mobile app to earn rewards based on how frequently they visit and how much they spend. Punchh's cloud-based, POS-integrated platform allows restaurant operators to engage customers in real time right on their mobile devices and provide offers that boost incremental sales and repeat traffic. Using one-to-one engagement, restaurant operators can customize offers to each customer’s established preferences.
Buffalo Wild Wings Increases Revenue with Online Ordering
Buffalo Wild Wings has selected the NCR Aloha Online Ordering solution for its 1,000 company-owned and franchised locations to help drive its takeout ordering business. Adding online ordering functionality to its existing NCR technology solution will enable Buffalo Wild Wings to manage both on and off-premise transactions seamlessly within one system. Aloha Online Ordering enables Buffalo Wild Wings customers to order online and avoid wait times on the phone. Their payment information is securely stored for future orders and they can review their order; increasing order accuracy. All web orders are instantly distributed to the appropriate store and then routed to the kitchen.
Panera Launches Digital Experience
Panera has announced its plans to launch the Panera 2.0 Experience, an enhanced customer experience powered by technology and delivered with Panera warmth. As an introduction, Panera 2.0 is about how customers are living in a digital future in an omni-channel world. Developed over three years, the comprehensive Panera 2.0 model provides an integrated experience that meets the differentiated needs of To-Go, Eat-In, and Large-Order Delivery customers through new mechanisms for ordering, payment, production and, ultimately, consumption.