Are apps the way forward for the 'new normal' in Hospitality?

Last month, the Prime Minister announced another easing in the lockdown measures and the hospitality sector reopened on 4th July. This is great news given its importance in making everyday lives more enjoyable and also because it represents a very sizeable UK employer.

Payments also have a vital role to play in helping businesses in this sector to trade safely and efficiently.

What was the guidance?

Guidance issued from Her Majesty's Government (HMG),elaborates on the point made by the Prime Minister when he said: "All hospitality indoors will be limited to table-service, and our guidance will encourage minimal staff and customer contact. We will ask businesses to help NHS Test and Trace respond to any local outbreaks by collecting contact details from customers, as happens in other countries, and we will work with the sector to make this manageable."

There is reference in the document to encouraging contactless payments of course, but we'd argue that they've overlooked the potential of app-based commerce as being part of the solution.  

The benefits of App Commerce

Not only do apps enable ordering ahead or at the table, they importantly allow the customer to pay at table as well. This is essential in minimising face-to-face interactions between staff and customers. We’ve even seen Apple support the move towards an app-based in-store experience with their recent launch of App Clips.

Apps also provide the perfect way for businesses to contact customers who have visited the establishment previously should they need to, as mentioned in Boris Johnson’s announcement. This is where apps and e-wallets have the real advantage over normal card-based transactions, and of course over anonymous and potentially germ ridden cash.

The Young's pub app from leading app developer Pepper HQ or the many other cafe and restaurant applications that Judopay also enables payments for (such as the Caffè Nero app), are leading examples of how to put apps to work for your business.

Judopay is playing its part in the new normal

With hospitality reopening up and down the country, we're expecting app-based transactions to really skyrocket. It's great that we're seeing more and more interest from a range of different businesses.

There is a better and safer way to engage with customers through payment integrated apps and we’re proud to be playing our part in defining the ‘new normal’.

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