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The Green Sheet Online Edition

September 14, 2020 • Issue 20:09:01

New Products

Safety, convenience for contactless dining

Product: NCR Aloha
Company: NCR Corp.

Leading technology provider NCR Corp. added a contactless ordering and dine-in solution to its NCR Aloha platform. Designed to drive confidence and convenience by enabling diners to order and pay from mobile devices, the solution leverages the current contactless trend and popular NCR Aloha platform, according to NCR representatives.

"Restaurants are reshaping the guest experience to offer both contactless, curbside pickup and contactless dine-in to meet customer expectations," said Dirk Izzo, senior vice president and general manager at NCR Hospitality.

"The NCR Aloha platform enables restaurants to accelerate digital transformation and constantly adapt to changes in the market so they can focus on what they do best: great food and customer experience." Izzo noted that NCR Aloha is well-known in the hospitality industry for its leading edge POS solutions and restaurant management capabilities. As consumers change their dining habits during the COVID-19 pandemic, NCR Aloha is well-positioned to deliver a safe, contactless dining experience, he added.

Exceed expectations

NCR Aloha's popularity, brand recognition and ability to meet growing demand for contactless solutions is driving adoption of end-to-end contactless ordering and dine-in solutions, Izzo noted. He added that the solution instills peace of mind by eliminating the need for restaurant staff and guests to handle physical credit cards, pens and menus.

Following are additional benefits of NCR Aloha:

  • Promote safety: Improve the in-house experience by limiting interaction with physical items.
  • Improve satisfaction: Enhance the customer experience by enabling guests to view entire menus from their mobile devices without the need for physical menus.
  • Streamline ordering: Accelerate time to table by sending orders directly from consumer devices to the kitchen for preparation.
  • Improve customer experience: Attract next-gen digital diners who are accustomed to scanning QR codes and controlling the personal dining experience from order to instant receipt.

Simple, secure

NCR Aloha's contactless restaurant solution routes incoming orders directly to the kitchen for prompt scheduling and fulfillment, which can increase tips by an average of 2 to 3 percent, the company stated, adding that the solution also provides valuable customer data to restaurateurs from guest transaction data derived from orders, payments and loyalty programs, which can help restaurants drive loyalty and engagement.

JP Coupal, co-founder of the Coupa Café restaurant chain, rolled out NCR Aloha contactless dine-in ordering at five California locations. He described the solution as easy to access and use. Participating customers can simply scan a bar code on their mobile devices to access a restaurant's menu; then they can place orders, pay servers and access loyalty accounts from the convenience and safety of their mobile devices, he noted. "Customers are able to scan the QR code at our socially distanced outdoor tables, view the menu and place their order right from their phones," Coupal said. "Customers enjoy this experience, as it minimizes contact in every possible way."

Build loyalty and trust

As he reflected on hospitality industry trends, Izzo observed that the coronavirus pandemic has accelerated digital transformation in hotel, food service and restaurant sectors, which in turn has given consumers more ways to order food, earn rewards and patronize favorite establishments. He noted that linking loyalty programs with ordering and dine-in solutions can help restaurant owners and managers identify customers and cater to their preferences.

NCR also recommends moving to digital displays and menus to mitigate the spread of germs. QR codes that load menus onto digital devices are a clean, cost-effective alternative to physical menus that have to be disinfected after each use, the company stated, adding that contactless mobile ordering and checkout solutions limit physical interaction between servers and guests.

Restaurant solutions that replace physical card exchanges, such as waving a phone or NFC-enabled card over a POS device or directly paying from a mobile phone, are easy to implement; plus, they can improve the customer experience while protecting guests and staff, NCR noted. end of article

Website: www.ncr.com Contact: hospitality.information@ncr.com

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