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As 2021 comes to a close, the Paytronix team took a look at some of our favorite apps from restaurants and c-stores.

In its early days, order and delivery services were an indulgence, a treat for the occasional lazy night-in after a long workday. But during the pandemic, online delivery became a lifeline for people stuck at home, and a competitive edge for c-stores and restaurants. Now we’re entering the next phase with “ghost kitchens” and “dark stores” rising out of vacated storefronts that were once home to traditional mom and pop businesses. These stores operate virtually, fielding orders digitally, fulfilling them behind closed doors, and dispatching couriers within minutes. 

Today, mobile apps have become front and center for all brands, which means that restaurants and c-stores are transforming their apps to seamlessly integrate all of their services into a single touch-and-go hub. These services include:

• Loyalty programs
• NFC and in-app payments
• Multi-channel messaging
• Geo-tracking
• Customizations such as product favorites and re-order capabilities

Experience is everything. A successful app captures the essence of your brand and delivers your services to customers in seamless and exciting ways.

Our favorite apps from c-stores and restaurants

OUR FAVORITE APPS
FROM C-STORES AND RESTAURANTS

Beginning this fall, Paytronix will be using a new SMS provider and eliminating the shared 73757 short code. Paytronix clients can expect to be migrated off the shared short code and onto the new SMS messaging method of their choosing beginning in November. Below, find answers to frequently asked questions about this shift.

Why is Paytronix eliminating the shared short code?

Paytronix is eliminating its shared short code in compliance with new telecom carrier rules that prohibit shared short codes. This change, which is affecting the entire messaging industry, has already begun at the carrier level. This means that soon, delivery rates for messages sent via shared short code will begin to fall as various carriers block messages sent via this channel. Already, all carriers have blocked the approval of new shared short codes.

This change will affect the number used for the following features: text to check-in, text to join, and campaign messaging. […]

Every year the competition is on: which house is going to give out the best stuff at Halloween? Not everyone can be the legendary one that gives out full-sized candy bars. And then there are the folks that go all out with decorations, creating a haunted experience that rivals Disney. And let’s face it, you’re not going to be the Red Sox catcher who gave out autographs when facing an empty candy bowl. […]

A big congratulations to Peet’s Coffee, which just launched its new loyalty program on the Paytronix Platform. Peet’s is a longtime Paytronix client and we prize our collaborative and creative relationship that helps push the boundaries of guest engagement programs.

The latest version of Peetnik Rewards is about giving customers more flexibility in how they earn and spend their rewards, as well as getting customers rewards faster. While Peet’s based its previous rewards on visits, this new program focuses instead on automatic and bankable points based on spend. When you add to that the ability for the customer to choose how and when they want to receive their reward, you have a program that lets customers tailor the benefits of the loyalty program to their personal purchasing behavior.

This kind of project doesn’t happen without a number of technologies working closely together, which is why we’re so proud that Peet’s approached Paytronix from the very start. Loyalty is one pillar of a comprehensive system that includes a custom-designed mobile app, online ordering system and POS. It’s the loyalty program that makes it possible for a person to earn points through an online order, and then spend those by redeeming points for alternative milks or espresso shots to lattes, or ordering signature breakfast items, beverages or beans.

Bankable points programs continue to increase in popularity in part because they’re so easy to understand. In our annual Loyalty Report, we found that while bankable points programs account for just 31% of all core programs, they grew tremendously in 2020, largely because of the flexibility the programs offer to customers.

We’re eager to see how this program grows over the coming months and years and look forward to our continued relationship with such an iconic coffee brand. Download the Peet’s app here.