Social Distancing/Compliance app launches for hospitality sector
“Interest has been huge. Even more than we envisaged,” said Ordee Co-Founder Anthony Cronin.
Cloud-based GPS app Ordee gives customers the means to see where is safe to go in real time and gives hospitality businesses an easy way to monitor and comply with social distancing guidelines, while engaging in a positive way with new and returning customers.
The innovative technology, the first of its kind in the Irish marketplace, allows business owners to easily document and broadcast their venues’ compliance standards alongside the availability of space on their premises, to their customer base. This enables patrons to make informed, real-time decisions about where they can go to socialise safely.
In its first week, 200 businesses signed-up to arrange a software demo and it’s expected that take-up of the GPS-based app is likely to soar in the coming months as Ireland gears up for a phased re-opening.
“Publicans, restaurateurs and so many other business owners throughout the country are chomping at the bit to get back to work” said Anthony Cronin, Chief Executive and Co-Founder along with Criostóir O’Codlatáin Lachtna of the new Ordee app, “but they’re struggling to see how they can maintain compliance standards and still operate their business while keeping costs down.
“With Ordee we have basically taken these key obstacles that businesses are facing, developed solutions to address them and centralised the solutions in one easy-to-use app. It’s critical that venues can re-engage with their customer base – and Ordee will allow them to do this efficiently, cost-effectively and safely.
“People are cognisant of the fact that they don’t want their behaviour, or the behaviour of others, to put themselves or others in jeopardy,” he continued, “The Ordee app is designed to go some way to alleviating these concerns.
“Ordee allows publicans, restaurateurs and other service providers and retailers to put their energy into their core business while ensuring that their venue is compliant with ‘Return to Work Safely’ guidelines”.
On signing-up to the program the business is listed as a venue on the app and shown on the live map to users. Businesses can segregate online bookings for space and for walk-ins.
The user downloads the app and can check a list of venues in real time to see which currently have available space. They can book based on availability and join a queue.
Once users choose a venue and arrive at the location they receive a notification to confirm they’re there together with the number of people in their party. The cloud-based GPS app then updates the venue’s status accordingly. If the patron does not have the app on their person, the venue itself can “clock a person/persons in” manually through the admin section of the programme and the user can also use the app to order and pay for drinks, food etc.
Financial Support
Ordee’s developers say that because the app is deemed an e-commerce solution, businesses that want to sign-up might be able to avail of the LEO Trading Online Voucher – provided they meet the criteria.
“Cashflow is tight, to say the least, for most businesses at the moment and compliance with Covid-protocols is going to incur additional costs,” commented Anthony Cronin, “To offset these, the Government have put in place supports – one of which is the Local Enterprise Trading Online grant and businesses can use it to sign-up for Ordee. If your application is accepted, LEO will fund 90% of the cost of the platform for your business. There are a few terms & conditions but the process is very simple and effective.
“Interest has been huge,” said Anthony Cronin, “Even more than we envisaged. Our team are working round-the-clock to ensure that we get to everyone who has requested a demo as quickly as possible”.
“Interest has been huge. Even more than we envisaged,” said Ordee Co-Founder Anthony Cronin.
