Joseph Layne was tired of waiting. Seated at a busy restaurant, he stirred the mental ingredients for DashNow, a mobile-based service allowing diners to pay-and-go without waiting on a server to swipe a credit card or make change.
DashNow
“I realized I had been sitting there 10 minutes [waiting for the bill], while there was a whole bunch of people waiting for a table,” said Layne, president and founder of DashNow. “These people could have already been sitting down, having a drink, and putting in their order. That’s when the lightbulb went off.”
The new technology not only speeds business up, but also is an easy solution, Layne emphasized.
“This is the best part: there is no equipment required [for the diner]. A piece of software is installed on the point of sale [at the restaurant],” he said. “There is nothing to purchase, no hardware purchase or setup cost.”
To partner with DashNow and set your restaurant up with the equipment, click here.
“When the server brings the ticket, there is a QR code … It shows you your receipt,” said Layne, explaining the three-step process. “You can either pay the entire bill or you can split it with your friends … Your friends can scan the QR code as well and pay for their items. You select a tip amount and then you can submit the payment.”
The reports have been gratifying, reported Layne.
“The feedback has been absolutely tremendous,” he said. “Right now, we are seeing an average of about 16 percent utilization and that is only two weeks into it.”
DashNow’s team
The swiftness of the process is not the only benefit that restaurants are experiencing, he added.
“The servers are seeing higher tips … Our analysis is showing that the tip averages are going up pretty significantly,” said Layne. “That will really help drive adoption when servers realize that they can make more money by using DashNow to pay.”
The service has officially launched its first restaurant, Sombrero’s Mexican Cantina, and followed with Saints Pub.
The startup’s team is prioritizing the company’s long-term plan, noted Layne.
“Every decision that we are making is focused on the scalability of the business,” he said. “We are working on taking it slow and taking one restaurant at a time. [We want] to make sure to button up the loose ends.”
Click here for more information on DashNow and how to download their app.
