Look around you at any restaurant and you are bound to see some of the patrons with their heads bowed over their smartphones, but what if they aren’t checking in on Facebook, replying to a Tweet, or sending a Snapchat? The reality is that roughly 3 out of every 10 people use mobile apps to pay their restaurant bills, and that number is going up all the time as more restaurants, bars, and cafés look to tap into the growing mobile market. Over half of all consumers regularly use their mobile devices to access social media sites, and many restaurants hope to capitalize on this trend.
More and more establishments are offering convenient perks and incentives to turn smartphones into smart dining and keep diners coming back. They offer a range of coupons, free Wi-Fi, easy ordering options, and more. All it takes is a smartphone like the feature-rich iPhone 5C and a secure, reliable network like T-Mobile, and you are good to go. Some systems, like Apple Pay, will even let you pay your bill from the comfort of your table at the touch of a button, without waiting in line or for your server to bring the bill — and that is only the beginning. This saves both the restaurant and the guest considerable time. Customers don’t have to wait for their waiters to bring checks to the table or to return with a credit card and the receipt. When transactions occur via technology rather than paper, the environment benefits, as well.
Using your smartphone to communicate with restaurants and other vendors can enhance your experience as a consumer. Read on to find out more about the benefits and features that smartphones can bring to your next visit to a restaurant or other dining establishment.
