When you look around, you realize that the world sometimes spends a lot on paper in a digital era. Restaurant menus are one such example. This, of course, is damaging to the environment. Now, thanks to Safaricom and Huawei, the “Scan and Order” digital solution has been launched and is gaining popularity among restaurants. This solution helps restaurants digitize their menu and ordering systems enabling them to provide better customer service, optimize their menu and pricing strategies, and leverage the power of big data.
At a time when the country is dealing with COVID-19, this invention is a game-changer in the restaurant industry. If there is anything we have learnt from the pandemic, it’s the importance of contactless ordering in restaurants to reduce the risk of further infections. Thanks to this new innovation by Safaricom and Huawei, we can now comfortably access menus from our smartphones and thereby eliminating physical contact with paper menus.
“I want to thank Huawei, their R&D team, and everybody behind Huawei for bringing this solution to life. Thank you Pete’s for being the 1st restaurant to have Scan & Order,” said Sitoyo Lopokoiyit, Managing Director of M-PESA Africa and Acting Chief Financial Services Officer.
To add to this, the tool allows for customers to develop loyalty schemes and build long-term relationships between users and merchants by enabling bonus point management. By using this new service to order food, merchants and consumers can benefit from this digital ecosystem. This will bring continuous service improvement and improve the digitization level of the Kenyan catering industry.
The “Scan and Order” tool was started at Pete’s Café in Kilimani, Nairobi. The CEO, Pete Owiti said. “We are happy to embrace technology and again to be the first restaurant in Kenya to launch the Scan & Order service together with Huawei and M-PESA. Pete is 100% owned by locals for locals with a global touch. Together we are chasing a digital world!”
It is expected to improve service efficiency. The Scan and order tool will also help restaurants optimize their product offerings and their pricing strategies, integrating with M-PESA for easy payments. This tool can give restaurant owners a platform to plan for their fresh produce purchases and supply chains. By enabling real-time feedback mechanisms, merchants can quickly and cost-effectively respond to consumers’ requirements in the restaurant. This feedback can then be used to improve the services and levels of efficiency.
Meng Wei, CEO of Huawei Kenya stated that, “Building on this cooperation, Huawei will continue to work with Safaricom to continuously invest in innovation and support Pete’s Cafe’s digital business development. We will create more innovative services and richer digital life for all Kenyans. Further bringing the digital world to every person, home and organization in Kenya.”
We can only hope that this and other innovations will continue to change the hospitality industry, making it easier to gain quick feedback, develop loyalty schemes, and overall better customer service.
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