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Cluj-Napoca-based start-up develops unique app helping waiters work remotely
An IT company in Cluj-Napoca has developed a unique application that allows registered waiters to work, regardless of where they are, and it will be 100% operational from the beginning of next year.
According to a press release from the developer, in just four months since the idea was launched on the Romanian market, more than 600 waiters eager to work remotely have registered in the "Ospatar la Distanta" (Remote Waiter) application.
"As a result of the post-pandemic context, more and more restaurant managers or owners have integrated digital solutions in the management of customer orders. Scanning the QR code is the solution commonly used in restaurants, but there are also different alternatives when viewing the menu and placing the order. The QR code is a simple variant to use, but completely eliminates the human experience. In the HoReCa industry, service makes up 50% of the tourist experience. In other words, it's not just the taste, smell and the way a dish looks that is relevant to a customer's well-being, but also the way they are received by restaurant staff. Restaurants benefit significantly when a smiling waiter can make suggestions to customers based on the dishes they order," the source notes.
"Ospatar la Distanta" is a platform that allows waiters registered in this network to offer services from a distance, and in exchange for their services they receive a commission of the total bill for each customer from whom they have taken an order. Registration and use is free of charge for this platform.
"Traditionally, waiters in restaurants start serving a customer when they bring the menu to the table, then continue by writing down the order and placing it with the bar and kitchen. The waiter's services end by bringing the order to the customer's table and collecting payment for the dishes and drinks ordered by the restaurant guest. If a restaurant chooses to collaborate with "Ospatar la Distanta" and benefit from the services of professional waiters who have registered on this platform, it will have to pay a commission to the platform administrator from the value of the bill. In other words, even for restaurants, registration on this network is free of charge, and costs will be charged on an as-needed basis (only when using the services of a remote waiter). Basically, the remote waiter's job involves all the interaction with the customer that a classic waiter normally has, the only exception being the fact that restaurant waiters will have to take the order to the customer's table," explain the app developers.
The unique solution is aimed at waiters with locomotor impairments, but also at those looking for a new additional earning opportunity.
"The hosts in our network are experienced, vetted and trained professionals. Most are foreign language speakers and have gained considerable experience in top restaurants abroad. Our team of waiters can take orders from international guests in their native language. We are the only player in the country and the world to offer this facility to restaurants. Furthermore, through strategic partnerships, our waiters will benefit from training courses to help them develop continuously and keep up with new market demands. We will have courses on how to serve wine, but also courses on etiquette and manners," founder of "Ospatar la Distanta" Ciprian Costea said.
The application, the only one of its kind in the world, has already been tested in a few restaurants in Romania, and has been confirmed by the invitation received by Remote Butler SRL to participate in a competition dedicated to start-ups.
In this context, the "Ospatar la Distanta" developer company will participate on 13 November 2023 at the Web Summit, which will take place in Lisbon, Portugal, one of the most important events in the world dedicated to technology and innovation.
AGERPRES
