wagamama makes frictionless payments move

wagamama has launched wagamamago, an iOS and Android app that it describes as ‘Uber for diners’, allowing customers to walk in, order, eat and, for the first time ever, go. This has been created in partnership with Mastercard and integrates with the restaurant chain’s existing Oracle Hospitality restaurant management platform.

wagamama was the first restaurant to use Mastercard Labs’ Qkr! pay-at-table platform in 2015. While it will continue to do so, it also wanted to create a dedicated own-brand option for frequent customers and so has tapped into the Qkr APIs which Mastercard is opening up. By connecting to a Masterpass digital wallet, payment can be taken automatically from the app without the need to hit a pay button.

The new app is available across wagamama restaurants nationwide and also allows customers to order more items from their phone, split the bill and order takeaway. wagamama CIO, Richard Tallboy, says: “We wanted to bring truly frictionless payment to restaurants as we know waiting for the bill is frustrating, why shouldn’t you be able to get up and go when you are ready: well, now you can. No more waving your hand in the air, trying to catch the waiter’s eye, once you’re ready you just go, and customers are automatically charged with the receipt emailed directly. Getting the bill is the last thing a customer experiences and it was important that this be quick and stress free for our customers. We’ve been able to implement this while retaining the best elements of their interaction of the waiter.”