As part of their Re-Colonelization program (yes, that is apparently a thing!), KFC has announced that their US stores will be accepting mobile payments from platforms like Apple Pay, Android Pay and Samsung Pay. This is part of their commitment to bring better customer experience and going mobile and digital is a logical step in that plan. The system will start rolling out in selected stores but by the end of summer, they expect that the system-wide adaption will be complete.
Some KFC restaurants are already accepting payments made through customers’ smartphones, whether they are from Apple Pay, Android Pay, or Samsung Pay. Eventually, they will also be functional in the drive-thru windows as well. “Ease of use and functionality were our first priorities,” said Chris Caldwell, KFC U.S. Chief Information Officer.
The Re-Colonelization is a company wide reprogramming of sorts to have better customer service since they want to go back to making “the world’s most famous fried chicken the way the Colonel intended, with a Colonel Quality Guarantee.” This includes retraining of all employees as well as a redesign of 70% of their US restaurants which is already starting now. They are spending $80 million in equipment upgrades and got a $250 million financing program for the remodeling of the stores, which is expected to be finished by 2018.
The three mobile payment gateways are in a race to become the first choice of consumers by offering various incentives and offers. It’s also a race as to which territories they will become available in next, as well as which popular establishments like KFC will carry them. At least in this case, all three are winners.
SOURCE: KFC
Samsung Pay’s bank support is still a joke, and Android Pay is only slightly better. Unless you have an American Express card, and like giving your purchase history to Google and your credit card company, these services are worthless.