Chick-fil-A Announces Mobile Payment Option

Last week, Chick-fil-A announced its mobile app that gives customers the option to make payments by ordering their food ahead of time and paying with their smartphones, according to USA Today. It goes on to say that last year the chain launched its current app, which is free to download from iTunes or Google play, but the mobile payment option wasn’t added until last Monday.

According to the report, Chick-fil-A leader of ordering strategy Khalilah Cooper says, “Customers really love using their mobile devices, and we really want to give our guests the opportunity to order what they want, when they want, and how they want.”

It goes on to say that customers must first register for an account before entering their debit or credit card number, giving the restaurant permission to charge them via their device. It is similar to the way that Starbucks uses a “virtual Starbucks Card.”

Nationwide users may now use the updated app’s payment option function to purchase their meal at the register by scanning their phones.

Ms. Cooper goes on to say that although the mobile payment option is available nationwide, mobile ordering has only been rolled out to 130 Chick-fil-A restaurants in Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Orlando, and Washington, D.C.

According to the Orange County Register, the app allows customers to “customize their order and save favorite meals.” It goes on to say that orders made with the app have the option of being picked-up in the dining room or have the food delivered to your car. It went on to say that according to Khalilah Cooper, the locations were chosen to “provide a good snapshot across the chain of how mobile ordering works” by analyzing different customer demographics and restaurant concepts.

The report says that “cashless and wallet-free purchases are gaining momentum in the restaurant industry.” It says that, according to a Mintel restaurant study, “out-of-store ordering and payment has increased by 11 percent compared with last year and is especially popular among millennials.” Other companies are testing or introducing mobile ordering systems, including Starbucks, Panda Express, Chipotle Mexican Grill, and Domino’s Pizza.

The restaurant chain was in the news recently for another reason. The Inquisitr reported last Friday that Chick-fil-A has been embroiled in a lawsuit over Bo Muller-Moore wanting to use “Eat More Kale.” Chick-fil-A contested that it infringed upon their “Eat Mor Chickin” trademark. The court ruled in Muller-Moore’s favor.

In addition to its mobile payment option, Chick-fil-A plans on making mobile ordering available nationwide in 2016.

[Image via National Organization for Marriage]