I cannot overstate this enough: I’m passionate about food! As a Cordon Bleu chef who has spent many happy years in restaurants as a chef, I can confidently say that I am immersed in and enjoy all things culinary-related.

Now that we’ve passed the one-year mark of the global pandemic, supporting the economy is top-of-mind for a lot of people. Undoubtedly, the restaurant sector has been hit especially hard during this challenging time. As such, we are seeing the general population rallying to support their favorite establishments.

Just a few short years ago, the term “contactless shopping” didn’t exist in common vernacular. Now we’re more than a year into a global pandemic and the term is not only commonplace—contactless shopping has also kept many businesses alive during these trying times.

Today, many people cannot survive a day, let alone an hour, without their mobile phone. And no wonder: mobile devices have become so much more than a basic communications tool. They’re also our email inboxes, cameras, alarm clocks, research tools, virtual shopping malls, and so much more.

I’m just going to come right out and say it: the business world is too caught up in being “business-y” and not focussing enough on meaningful relationships. Does that make sense? If not, it will—let me explain.

In our industry, it’s no surprise we continuously get questions and requests from restaurants and grocers about loyalty programs, and whether our platform and solutions deliver them.

The idea of the so-called “loyalty” program is an extremely odd paradigm, is it not? The concept is predicated on the idea that the more money the customer spends, the better they should feel about the relationship.

Okay, there is obviously something positive happening in the world—perhaps a global sentiment that things are cautiously, yet optimistically, shifting back to some sort of normalcy.

As we continue to engage with grocers and restauranteurs, a common theme seems to be emerging: the question of “How do I make my customers feel valued?” Now, if this was any other time in history, the answer would be clear.

I love that old saying, “A way to someone’s heart is through their data.” Wait, that can’t be right. Or is it?
In 2021 and beyond, the idea of connecting with customers has to be far more than when they walk through the door—the connections have to be constant, meaningful, personalized, and valued.

From lockdowns to travel restrictions to curfews—Canada has witnessed its fair share of business-oriented hardships throughout 2020 and into 2021. More so, the impact on restaurants and grocery stores in particular has been especially difficult.