The Hindu Business Line : Café Coffee Day goes wi-fi to take orders

CAFE Coffee Day is all set to enhance customer service with its newly launched Leading Edge Retail Automation System (LERA). In all its outlets across the country, waiters will carry wi-fi-enabled hand-held order taking devices, which means that the waiter enters the order into the computerised device as soon as the customer gives it.

According to a release issued by the company, the device will ensure that the customer will receive his bill immediately. It also accepts credit cards so payments can be made on the spot without the bill travelling to the counter and back. "Each outlet will have two to eight portable automation devices depending on the size and requirement of the outlet," said Ms Sudipta Sen Gupta, Head - Marketing, Café Coffee Day, at a press briefing.

The system also keeps track of customer details, which takes its loyalty programme one step further. The loyalty programme, which Café Coffee Day launched in 2002, provided its frequent customers with a bar-coded discount card that the customers could use to get a discount on their purchases at any of its outlets. Now with LERA, a magnetic strip reader allows customers to know their accrued points immediately (points are awarded based on the expenditure at any of the outlets), according to the release.

"We currently have 238 cafes in 57 cities," said Ms Sen Gupta, "And we are aiming at having 350 outlets before the middle of next year, and 500 by the year 2007. And our mantra going forward is superior customer service through constant research-driven value added services."

Café Coffee Day has introduced 30 lounge cafés across the country, larger outlets with divans, sofas, and reclining chairs to allow the customer "to have a more leisurely coffee drinking experience," according to the release. This is only the latest addition to existing themes such as the jukebox café and book cafes.

Café Coffee Day is also starting a retail course, certified by City & Guilds and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). The course is five months in duration, has an enrolment fee of Rs 1,400 and is open to people between the ages of 18 and 23 who have a Standard 12 pass, according to the release.

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page

Stories in this Section
Youth magazine JAM to reach more cities

Red FM tunes into `common man'

Café Coffee Day goes wi-fi to take orders

TRAI `no' to misleading tariff plans — `Operators must come clean on zero rentals'

Elder Pharma to make Swiss co's arthritis drug

High fashion retail debates ways to sustain profits

Flemingo to set up duty-free shops in African countries

Fabindia plans more outlets in South

ONGC plans more retail prototypes

Tata Coffee plans tie-up with Uganda for new brand

Bid to fill Gap in fashion needs of 35-plus women

Philips Electronics launches new CT scanner in Pune

Philips unveils `ultra fast cardiac CT scanner' in AP hospital