Ordering that daily cup of coffee has been made easier thanks to restaurant payment systems provided through brands like Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts. Quick Service Restaurants (QSR) are a thriving industry as consumers will continue to seek the quickest way to get a good meal and pay for their goods and services in an efficient manner.
According to Business Insider, more customers are ordering ahead by using restaurant payment systems with smartphone apps. While restaurant apps are developing and increasing sales for many QSRs, there are some drawbacks. Here is a look at some of the pros and cons for restaurant businesses and customers using mobile payment systems.
Pros of Restaurant Payment Systems
Tracking: Mobile updates like in-app push notifications or SMS text messages are offered through smartphone apps like the Domino’s Pizza app. Knowing how long the process will take gives the customer peace of mind after using the app to order their meal.
Order-Ahead: Paying via an in-app mobile payment system brings simplicity to a customer’s fingertips. Consumers are gravitating toward a more cashless method of paying for their goods so the convenience of not having to wait in line or reach for a wallet when picking up an order is a perk.
Loyalty: Rewards are a great reason to keep customers returning. Dunkin Donuts and Starbucks offer incentives like loyalty reward programs. Customers can use the mobile app to shop through services like the DD Perks program to gain points toward discounts and free drinks.
Cons of Restaurant Payment Systems
In-Store Traffic: Currently, pile-ups in lines at Starbucks stores are caused by heavy mobile orders resulting in delays and customer walkouts. Lisa Baertlein of Reuters writes that as Starbucks mobile payment systems ordering has increased, in-store traffic jams have as well. Mobile ordering has increased for Starbucks but in-store sales have decreased in the last quarter of 2016. Starbucks plans to appoint baristas for mobile ordering soon to avoid traffic jams in the stores.
Less Customer Service: Decreasing employee to customer relations with mobile ordering can increase the risk of dehumanizing a brand. Customers using a smartphone app to order-ahead will decrease the need for conversation which elevates the possibility of hindering genuine customer service skills in your employees.
Customers love to have more than one option to pay for goods and services in today’s fast-paced world. Work with a diverse payment processor like Payline to start accepting credit card payments for your business.
This piece was written by Charne Graham, content specialist for Payline.
