Huawei teams up with Safaricom to offer innovative solutions for restaurants

Safaricom and Huawei have announced the trial of the Scan & Order solution for restaurants to help digitize their menu and ordering systems. The solution was rolled out at the local restaurant Pete’s Cafe in Kenya.

Safaricom’s mobile payments solution M-PESA is the cornerstone of the project.

Scan & Order helps restaurants improve customer service, optimize menu and pricing strategies and leverage digital technology.

At the launch event attended by CEO M-PESA Africa and Safaricom Chief Officer Financial Services Sitoyo Lopokoiyit and Huawei Kenya CEO Will Meng, Pete’s Cafe CEO Pete Owiti, said: “We are happy to embrace technology and again to be the first restaurant in Kenya to launch the Scan & Order service together with Huawei and M-PESA. Pete is 100 percent owned by locals for locals with a global touch. Together we are chasing a digital world.”

The technology will help restaurants develop loyalty schemes and build relationships with customers by enabling bonus point management. The service will facilitate the use of digital technology in the lives of Kenyans, as they engage technology in the acquisition of basic needs such as food. Both merchants and consumers will benefit from the digital economy, which will generate revenue for the government. The innovation will further deepen Safaricom’s role as a critical player in Kenya’s digital economy.

Last year, the digital economy’s 7.7-percent contribution to the national GDP in Kenya was the highest on the continent, Kenyan Wall Street reported. Morocco and South Africa followed at 6.82 percent and 6.51 percent, respectively. Kenya’s online industry was projected to contribute Ksh 810 billion ($7.48 billion) to the GDP in 2020. Its digital economy is expected to add Ksh 1.4 trillion ( $129.33 billion) to the GDP, or to account for 9.24 percent by 2025.

“Building on this cooperation, Huawei will continue to work with Safaricom to continuously invest in innovation and support Pete’s Cafe’s digital business development,” Meng said. “We will create more innovative services and richer digital life for all Kenyans. Further bringing the digital world to every person, home and organization in Kenya.”

M-PESA is Africa’s leading payment method at online checkouts for international and domestic merchants. It was launched in 2007 by Vodafone Group and Safaricom.