With the Summer season here and, demand for outside spaces at a premium, your mobile app is a great way for customers to order more food and drink without leaving their precious sunny seats!
To help you navigate this busy period smoothly, and make sure you’re getting the most out of your app, we’ve outlined ten features you could be missing out on if it’s not kept up-to-date.
Why update the app?
To benefit from the best new features of our White Label App, it’s important that we have the ability to automatically update your app to the most up-to-date version. For the app to be automatically updated, certain requirements must be met.
Some of these requirements may have already been completed during the build of the app, but others need to be renewed or reviewed periodically due to Apple or Google policy changes. These include:
Apple admin access: Zonal require admin access to the developer account to build and publish the app.
Apple agreement: Apple periodically update their terms and conditions and these need to be accepted in the Apple Developer Account.
Google admin: Zonal require admin access to the Developer Account to build and publish the app.
Google API key: This is required to have the app deployed successfully to the Google Play Store.
Licensed fonts: Only licenced Google fonts may be used in the app design. Any unlicensed fonts may result in the app being removed from app stores.
Privacy policy: The privacy policy is displayed in app stores and must be a URL.
*Without having all of these up to date and correct, you may be at risk of your app being taken down.
What new features could you miss out on if you don’t keep your app up to date?
1. Menu layout changes
You can now choose from three menu layouts, to best suit your personal branding and display available menus to your guests.
Banner - Provide the same visual priority and prominence to all menus.
Hero – Promote the first menu (for example a daily special menu or core offering).
Grid - Increase the number of visible menus displayed without scrolling.
2. iZone Gift Card redemption
iZone gift card balances can now be redeemed for Order & Pay, Click & Collect and Delivery to Location purchases. Reducing the need for staff to redeem through the POS and speeding up the payment process for the guest.
3. In-line basket tipping
With the changes in legislation set to land in 2024, there is a surge in platforms dedicated to capturing and distributing tips. With this feature, tips can be added directly from the checkout screen with pre-set percentages of 5%, 10%, 15% or 20% or a custom tip value. Having this feature not only makes it clearer and more visible, but it also brings in more tips!
4. Discretionary and mandatory service charges
Service charge can now automatically apply to any orders made and customers can have the option to remove it. A reason for the service charge can also be added.
5. Unified ordering
Want a seamless guest experience between ordering via your website and ordering via your app? Unified Ordering will allow for a single URL/QR code to be used on a table that, when scanned, will open either your app or Web Ordering via your website, depending on what the guest has installed on their device.
Deep linking also allows a QR code scan to take a guest to the site, order mode or table number, making the customer journey quicker and more convenient.
6. Guest checkout
Quick lunch? Speed up the ordering process for your guests. Guest checkout allows customers to place orders without the need to sign up or sign into an account, and still receive an emailed receipt.
7. Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal
Apple or Android? Guests can pay their way with Apple Pay, Google Pay and PayPal all supported.
8. Enhanced upsell groups
Further increase average spend per transaction through the use of Enhanced Upsell Groups, without slowing down the speed of service on the POS.
This gives venues the opportunity to upsell items and recommend products when guests are using an app or web ordering. It can drive awareness of promotional activity as well as allowing businesses to build their ordering workflows in the way they want, giving it the personal touch.
9. Delivery to location
Hotel, holiday park or theatre? Delivery to location is a new ordering mode which makes it easy for customers to order to their location, whether it be their room, seat or lodge!
10. Allergen handling
The mobile app has a pop-up prompt asking the guest if there are any allergens in their party. Click ‘yes’ and they are directed to speak to a member of staff to follow your company allergen procedures.
For help with implementing any of the above or for further information, please get in touch with the Customer Success Team and we will be happy to help!
By Alan Garner
Products and Solutions Consultant at Zonal
Alan is a Products and Solutions Consultant at Zonal with 17 years’ experience working in the hospitality sector in multiple roles, from bartender to General Manager. He is responsible for helping our customers to get the best from our booking platforms, as well as our White Label App and Web Ordering products.
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