One of the world’s most successful suppliers of hospitality software, NFS Hospitality, have responded to a study by the National Restaurant Association (NRA) suggesting that 70 percent of restaurants in the US are to take mobile payments in 2015.

The NRA reported earlier this month that smartphones are playing an increasing role in sales with 70 percent of regular customers said to use mobile phones when ordering delivery, paying for food and claiming rewards.

Their study also shows that younger consumers are much more likely to use their mobile devices when using restaurants. Of the 18-34 year olds polled, 90 percent said they use mobile devices; compared to 89 percent of 35-44 year olds. The findings, which also highlight that one in three will happily pay for food with smartphone apps as opposed to credit/debit cards, show the growing importance of mobile in hospitality.

Senior Vice President of Research for the NRA, Hudson Riehle, said: “While overall usage of restaurant technology options is still more common among diners in the Millennial generation compared with Baby Boomers, the age gap generally levels out when it comes to frequent users.

“As restaurants integrate more customer-facing technology, usage among consumers is growing. When done right, it can help a restaurant’s productivity and the customer experience.”

The findings were also welcomed by industry magazine, Hospitality Technology: “Mobile is at the heart of every restaurant’s CET strategy and is playing a vital role in how guests engage with their favourite restaurants. Customers want to be empowered, and mobile is their vehicle of choice because it offers convenience, connectivity, and easy access to information to assist with purchase decisions.”

NFS Hospitality, a recognised provider of hospitality software, closely follow relevant industry news. They believe the figures underline the growing prominence of mobile in the sector.

A representative for NFS Hospitality said: “The study tells us what we’ve known for a long time, that being that there has been a massive rise in mobile over the last decade and it is now a fantastic tool for driving revenue, improving customer service and achieving greater management controls. This has led to companies around the world, whether in the US or Europe, to embrace emerging mobile-friendly hospitality software solutions.

“At NFS Hospitality, we provide clients in the restaurant, hotel and meeting venue sector with industry leading software solutions, allowing them to capture more revenue with state of the art of mobile services.”

NFS Technology Group provides hospitality, facilities and leisure solutions. They have offices in the United Kingdom, United States, South Africa, Canada and New Zealand and have worked with thousands of clients in the hospitality sector. Visit their website at www.nfs-hospitality.com to learn more.