KFC serves up plan to drive mobile payments in-stores
KFC customers can now purchase food from their smartphones without having to touch, tap or scan at the counter in the restaurant’s latest attempt to blend mobile into its in-store experience.
The business is integrating the feature, developed by Judo Payments, into its mobile app in the hope customers see it as an easier way to pick up a completed order by automatically paying from the same mobile device that they ordered from.
While KFC has already handed customers a click-and-collect service, the latest addition to its mobile offering is being touted as having more of an impact in-stores.
For example, a customer walks into a store with their app open, purchases their food directly from it without having to wait in a queue or pay using cash or card. Functionality includes auto top-up - similar to Oyster cards - so a customer’s balance is kept refreshed and payments remain more or less a one-click experience.
Chris Matthews, applications development manager at KFC, said: “KFC’s payment experience simplifies card data entry and speeds up the end-to-end process, significantly reducing the average time to pay. By reducing the friction at the point of payment, KFC expects to enjoy higher transaction completion and increased loyal customer satisfaction.”
KFC is joined by rival McDonald’s and Starbucks in betting on the ubiquity of mobile to boost in-store sales. The aim is to harness technology to improve customer convenience and quicken service times to help entice lapsed consumers back into stores.
The fast food chain's push comes as Judo receives a £6m cash injection from investors to expand its business and products in Europe.