Local

Product Introduction

1. Definition: Local is a comprehensive, cloud-based Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) platform designed for the hospitality and healthcare sectors in the GCC region. It is a unified system that combines QR code and NFC payment processing, guest ordering, customer loyalty program management, and venue analytics.
2. Core Value Proposition: Local exists to replace inefficient, fragmented point-of-sale (POS) and customer management systems in restaurants, hotels, and hospitals. Its primary value is enabling a frictionless guest payment experience through QR technology, which simultaneously automates customer data collection and loyalty program enrollment, leading to faster table turns, increased operational intelligence, and higher revenue.

Main Features

1. Pay-at-Table QR/NFC Payments: This feature replaces traditional card terminals with unique, venue-generated QR codes placed on tables or materials. Guests scan the code with their smartphone camera, which opens a secure payment page directly in their mobile browser (no app download required). The system supports QR code payments and NFC-based digital wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay. It integrates with regional payment gateways such as BenefitPay and major card networks. The transaction is completed in seconds, allowing guests to pay and leave without staff intervention.
2. Automated Customer Data & CRM: Every transaction processed through Local automatically generates a detailed, anonymized or identified customer profile. The system captures guest identity (when provided), visit history, spend patterns, item-level purchase data, and visit frequency. This data is structured and exported in a CRM-ready format, building a first-party database owned by the venue without requiring manual data entry from staff or guests.
3. Frictionless Loyalty Program: The loyalty engine is triggered automatically at the payment checkpoint. Guests are auto-enrolled and earn points, cashback, or perks based on customizable rules set by the venue operator (e.g., points per currency spent). There is no need for physical cards or separate loyalty apps. The system provides real ROI tracking, showing the direct revenue impact of the loyalty program through repeat visit metrics and redemption rates.
4. Operational Intelligence Dashboard: This analytics suite provides real-time and historical insights into venue performance. Key metrics include table turnover rate, identification of service bottlenecks, staff performance tracking (e.g., orders served), and live revenue monitoring. It goes beyond basic reporting by delivering actionable alerts (e.g., for slow tables or declining sales trends) to managers' devices.
5. Flexible Payment & Ordering Flows: The platform is not a one-size-fits-all POS but a flexible layer on top of existing operations. It supports multiple use flows: full "order & pay at table" functionality, simple "pay-only" checkout for settling bills, and remote payment links for handling deposits, bookings, or takeaway orders. This makes it adaptable for diverse industries like restaurant dine-in, hotel F&B, and hospital cafeteria services.

Problems Solved

1. Pain Point: Slow, inefficient payment processes that degrade guest experience. This includes long waits for card machines, awkward bill splitting, and staff being taken off the floor to process payments, leading to slower table turns and lost revenue.
2. Pain Point: Lack of actionable customer data. Traditional cash or card payments provide zero insight into guest behavior, making personalized marketing, loyalty, and inventory planning difficult and manual.
3. Target Audience: F&B Directors and Restaurant Owners in the GCC seeking to increase operational efficiency and guest lifetime value. Hotel Operations Managers needing streamlined payment solutions for restaurants, pools, and events. Hospital Administrators or Heads of Patient Services responsible for modernizing cafeteria and retail payment systems for staff and visitors.
4. Use Cases: A busy fine-dining restaurant implementing QR pay-at-table to reduce payment time from 10 minutes to 30 seconds, increasing nightly table turns. A multi-chain cafe group launching an automated loyalty program to combat customer churn and incentivize repeat visits without app development costs. A hospital rolling out a contactless payment system across its cafeterias to improve hygiene, reduce queue times, and gather spend data.

Unique Advantages

1. Differentiation: Unlike standalone payment terminals or basic QR generators, Local is a unified platform that bundles payment processing, loyalty, and analytics specifically for GCC operators. Compared to traditional loyalty programs, it requires no guest app download or physical cards, leading to near-100% enrollment at checkout. It works as a standalone system or integrates with existing POS, avoiding a costly "rip-and-replace" scenario.
2. Key Innovation: The platform's core innovation is the automatic transformation of a payment event into a multi-dimensional data and marketing event. A single QR code scan initiates payment, captures rich customer data, enrolls the guest in loyalty, and can prompt for a review—all without staff input. This seamless, behind-the-scenes automation is built for the regional payment methods and operational workflows of the GCC market.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Do guests need to download an app to use Local? No. Local uses a native smartphone QR code scanner (camera app) or NFC tap to open a secure web page for payment. This app-free QR payment system ensures maximum guest adoption with zero friction.
2. How does the Local loyalty program work technically? After payment authorization, the system's backend automatically credits the guest's profile (linked to their phone number or email) with points based on the venue's rules. On their next visit, scanning the QR code will identify their profile and display their point balance, allowing for instant redemption. It is a fully customizable, automated loyalty program.
3. What payment methods does Local support in the GCC? Local supports all major international credit/debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, etc.), regional digital wallets like BenefitPay in Bahrain, and global NFC standards like Apple Pay and Google Pay. It is configured for the specific payment gateways and regulatory environment of Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain, and neighboring countries.
4. Can Local integrate with my existing restaurant POS system? Yes, Local offers POS integration capabilities with widely used systems in the region. The platform can function in a hybrid mode, handling the front-end guest payment and loyalty while syncing transaction data to the back-end POS for kitchen printing and sales reporting. Compatibility for specific POS brands should be confirmed with their team.
5. Is Local suitable for a hotel or hospital, not just a restaurant? Absolutely. Local is designed as a multi-venue payment and operations platform. In hotels, it can be used for restaurant bills, poolside service, and event payments. In hospitals, it facilitates fast, hygienic payments in cafeterias and shops for staff, patients, and visitors, often requiring minimal staff training for rollout.