SAFARICOM AND HUAWEI LAUNCH THE TRIAL OF A DIGITISATION SOLUTION FOR RESTAURANTS

Safaricom and Huawei have launched the trial of an innovative solution for restaurants dubbed ‘Scan & Order.’  This solution helps restaurants digitize their menu and ordering systems hence providing better customer service, optimizing their menu and pricing strategies, and leveraging the power of big data.

Safaricom and Huawei have long worked together to build widespread connectivity infrastructure and payments systems. Mobile financial services such as M-Pesa are a critical enabler for digital services, facilitating easy transactions between people, businesses and government. In addition, they  facilitate the creation of   an ecosystem of innovative services. The next step is to develop new digital services that build on these in order to change lives.

The Scan & Order technology is a new innovation that will not only improve service efficiency, but it will also help restaurants optimize their product offerings and their pricing strategies, integrating with M-Pesa for easy payments. It can give them tools to plan 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.

It also enables them to develop loyalty schemes and build long-term relationships between users and merchants through bonus point management. By using the 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. With the Covid-19 pandemic still ongoing, it is  the ideal  time to further improve contactless ordering in restaurants reducing the risk of further infections.

The managing director of M-Pesa Africa and acting chief financial services officer, Sitoyo Lopokoiyit  launched  the solution at Pete’s Cafe in Kilimani.  “I want to thank Huawei’s research and development  team and everybody behind Huawei for bringing this solution to life,” said Lopokoiyit.  Speaking during the function, Pete Owiti, chief executive officer, Pete’s Café  observed :  “We are happy to embrace technology and  to be the first restaurant in Kenya to launch the Scan & Order service together with Huawei and M-Pesa.”