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Contactless app Qtap could help bars reopen safely

The founders of Qtap, an app that allows contactless ordering and payments in bars and restaurants, believe the technology could help hospitality venues reopen safely following the Covid-19 closures.

Qtap offers contactless ordering and payment, eliminating the need to queue in bars or restaurants

Founded by Craig Pollock and David Downs, Qtap was originally launched in 2017 to allow users to skip the need to queue for food and drinks. The app also shows you venues near to your location.

Now, in light of the Covid-19 pandemic, Qtap has been relaunched in the hope that it could help ensure customers and staff can enjoy their visits to on-trade establishments while keeping a safe distance.

“Qtap was originally designed to skip queues because nobody wants to be three or four people deep at the bar on a busy night out,” Pollock, co-founder of Qtap, said. “Now, the app is ideally suited to avoid people standing at a bar – particularly given the social distancing measures because of coronavirus.

“Users can order from beer gardens, table service, or if no tables are available they can order to a collection point.

“Our app does real-time push notifications at each stage of the order, so customers are informed when the order is accepted, when it’s being

Qtap is compatible with both iPhones and android devices

prepared, when it’s ready to collect or on its way, with no need for people to keep asking waiters or bar staff where their drink is, or have they got the order. The app is fully communicative with the admin side.”

The app had been used by several venues in Newcastle, UK, but has received interest from “about 400 venues” in the last six weeks.

Venues including golf clubs and hotels have shown interest in the app in the wake of the pandemic.

Hospitality venues are hoping they will be given the green light to reopen on 4 July, as outlined in previous UK government Covid-19 updates.

“We’ve had a big uptick from golf clubs, which have tried to advise people to place their order at their 18th hole, and we’ve had quite a few hotels take the app to manage social distancing and room service, so people don’t have to touch forms inside their rooms,” Pollock added.

“At the moment, we’re trying to roll it out to as many venues as possible. Business owners and consumers are going to want to find a mutually beneficial way to enjoy themselves while they’re out, while keeping safe, and we think Qtap could really help bring everyone together.”

The app is currently being offered to venues for free and more information can be found online at q-tap.co.uk.

Qtap is compatible with iPhone and android phones, and can be downloaded from the Apple or Google Play stores. Once downloaded, consumers can browse menus, order food and drinks to a collection point, and pay securely through the app.

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