A Cell Phone App for Diners in a Rush

Snapfinger, a web and mobile app provider for chain-restaurant takeout orders, will expand its service to independent restaurants soon. Investors will add $7 million to Snapfinger and hope to serve more restaurants and more diners in a rush.

Snapfinger is free for diners. With this mobile app, people can search a restaurant nearby. Then, order and pay with their cell phones. Tools for group ordering, ordering favorite items, and getting location-based coupons are also available. Because Snapfinger “prompts people to add more items,” such as sides or disserts, people using this app spend about 25% more than those who order from a menu.

Snapfinger charges restaurants 3 - 10% of each bill for the service. Profits for Snapfinger could be huge. Think about it, there are 400,000 chain restaurants in the U.S., and the takeout business reaches $50 billion a year.

Cell phone apps and technology have changed consumer behavior significantly. If we cannot change the way how consumers do business with us, we have no options but to change ourselves and meet their needs.

Interested in more discussion about cell phone apps? Within this blog, search “app” under “Search Posts” (a tool on the right) and read more.

References:
The New York Times: http://tinyurl.com/linchikwok05312010
Picture (Snapfinger Androit app) was downloaded from: http://tinyurl.com/linchikwok05312010P

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