MPayMe, an international business technology company, today announced the successful launch of its mobile business platform ZNAP™ held at Chester Racecourse - one of the world’s most prestigious horse racing venues. MPayMe showcased the ZNAP™ application by powering the first ever QR-BAR – an exclusive invitation-only VIP event where all drink orders and payments were enabled through mobile phones.
The ZNAP™ app was accessed via Xperia handsets, sponsored by Sony™, and given to all invited guests from the business, media and celebrity world upon entering the QR-BAR. Attendees checked-in to the venue by using ZNAP™ to scan a QR-code on a welcome sign at the entrance, giving them access to view the QR-BAR drinks menu. To place orders, guests simply selected choices from the menu and added them to the virtual shopping cart in the app. They proceeded to check-out and entered their table number so that drinks could be delivered quickly to their table, thereby ensuring a queue-less experience. Sony Mobile, AB InBev (Stella Artois, Becks, Budweiser), Halewood International (Crabbie’s), Coca-Cola and Red Bull were among the brands involved in sponsoring this exclusive and innovative event.
Hooman Mazaheri, CEO Europe of MPayMe said: “The successful launch of ZNAP™ at QR-BAR to showcase our technology demonstrates how we offer customers a quick and easy way to order and pay - without the hassle of carrying money and credit cards, or waiting in long queues at the cash register. The ZNAP™ business platform also gives merchants a fantastic opportunity to understand customer preferences through aggregated purchasing data and to deliver the right types of incentives to selected segments to strengthen their loyalty. We are looking forward to working with retailers and brands across the UK and Europe to roll out our platform commercially to the mainstream public later this year. I would also like to personally thank the team at Chester Racecourse along with all of our sponsors for putting on such a great event.”
Emma Blackmore, Head of Commercial at Chester Racecourse said: “We are always looking to innovate and enhance the customer experience. The delivery of food and beverage is a key part of the customers' day when they are at the racecourse and how we provide this service is important. There is a move towards cashless and contactless in stadia throughout the UK, but none have used this technology through mobile phones, which is proven to be much more secure than contactless. The concept could work at any bar, stadium or entertainment facility to increase the customer experience.”
More than 640 drinks were ordered in the QR-BAR using the ZNAP™ mobile app over the course of the 6-hour event. Many of the guests commented on the app’s ease of use and the speed at which their drinks arrived directly to their table.
Gary Corbett, Chairman of Oxygen8 Group, one of the guests attending the event, said: "QR-BAR was a fantastic event and very well put together. I found the app both intuitive and easy to use from a consumer standpoint – and from a merchant standpoint, I can clearly see how this technology has the potential to increase revenues and drive customer loyalty.”
The launch event included a sponsored race – the ZNAP™ Maiden Stakes – which was the fifth race of the day at Chester. The prize was presented to the winning jockey, Graham Lee, by MPayMe Group CEO Alessandro Gadotti who was also on hand for the event. The winning horse, “Iptisam” is owned by Mr. Saeed Manana and trained by James Tate.
The ZNAP™ app is now available to download for free from the major app stores. Consumers will soon be able to use the app at merchants who accept ZNAP™ - to purchase and pay in-store, online, or straight off an advert by scanning a QR-code with their handset, selecting a pre-stored credit/ debit card, and entering a four-digit PIN to complete the transaction. Both buyer and seller receive instant confirmation once the payment is processed. Merchants can use the ZNAP™ business platform to grow their business and manage loyalty & coupons, providing increased opportunities for cross-sell and up-sell and allowing them to expand their business across multiple channels.
