We all need our privacy. And in the hospitality industry, customers demand it in numerous ways. Most obviously, diners don’t want to be interrupted during a private and you can do all this without registeringconversation, and certainly don’t want to feel like waiting staff are eavesdropping in an attempt to second-guess when they’re ready to order.
But in this new era of digital technology, there’s another privacy issue: personal data. As smartphone apps become one of the most common ways for customers to deal with retailers, there are inevitably fears that people are unwittingly handing over personal and credit card details to a third party.
At getWaiter!, we take privacy very seriously. That’s why we never ask users for any personal information when they register our app to call the waiter, get more drinks or ask for the bill.
We believe app developers must respect users’ privacy, and that’s a view echoed by the Information Commissioner’s Office that today announced new guidance around the Data Protection Act. The IOC – which reports directly to Parliament – says that app developers must ensure they do not misuse customers’ data.
On a recent piece that ran on the BBC, the regulatory body also gave the fascinating statistic that half of app users decided not to download an app because of privacy fears. We can understand people’s concerns, so we’ve taken that fear away completely. With getWaiter!, you also don’t actually pay for the bill through your phone. We felt users may feel vulnerable doing that, so instead, when they press the button for the bill, the waiter brings it over and they pay as normal.
And don’t forget that getWaiter! is designed to help waiters provide a first class, unobtrusive and efficient service, because they can instantly respond to customer requests without the need to hover near the tables. The moment a diner needs something, waiters get a notification on their tablet and can head straight to the table, as and when they are needed.
So either way – whether it’s data privacy or an undisturbed private meal – getWaiter! is the perfect restaurant companion. The app is available free on iOS and Android and can be downloaded from www.getwaiter.com/consumer/download
And you can do all this without registering!
You can read more about the features here.
