App for cashless payment at Koufu food court gets mixed response

SINGAPORE — A new app that helps customers cut down on time spent waiting in line at a food court has received a mixed response, with some saying it is convenient to use and others still preferring to interact face-to-face with hawkers when placing orders.

The app, called Koufu – Beat The Q, is powered and launched by DBS FasTrack, a digital payment platform run by DBS Bank. It allows users to order and pay for their food and drink items, and it sends a notification when the items are ready for collection, so they do not have to queue.

It is being used at Koufu’s food court at 100 AM mall in Tanjong Pagar, and Koufu plans to expand the use of the app across its outlets, starting with some 100 stalls islandwide.

Other businesses such as Boon Tong Kee, Tiong Bahru Bakery, Wolf Burgers, Qi Ji and Aloha Poke will also start using the app by the third quarter of this year.

Crystal Goh, 17, a student who bought watermelon juice via the app, did not have to wait in line at the stall at Koufu’s outlet in 100 AM. “I think it’s very convenient, except for one thing — I had to enter my card details after I order the drink. Even though it’s a one-time thing (when you first use it), I did not ‘save’ my card details (when prompted). So it means I have to re-enter (my details) next time I order.”

She felt that it would be better if users were able to set up their card details at home when downloading the app, for example, and not only at the point of order.

The one-time set-up is done by entering the particulars of the user’s DBS or POSB credit or debit card, or with the DBS PayLah! mobile app.

Jimmy Shin, 21, a student intern, offered some food for thought when told about the app: “I think it is good and practical because lunch-hour rushes are always quite crazy. But I feel like there is more or less a culture of interacting with stallholders at food courts and hawker centres (and this might dilute that experience).”

When asked if she would use the app, housewife Jessie Cha, 49, said, “I’m not as tech-savvy as young people these days, so I think I’ll stick to waiting in line.”

Separately, a spokesperson from Koufu said that it had received “positive customer feedback” that users found the app convenient, and it is looking to offer regular users a discount when they order through the app.

Mr Kenneth Low, senior manager of business development at food chain Qi Ji, which is set to use the app as a payment option, anticipates that it would help “streamline processes” and allow the crew to be more efficient when serving customers.

A spokesperson from chicken rice specialist Boon Tong Kee agreed: “Customers who call in for takeaways may place orders and make payment (with the app). This reduces the possibility of wrong orders (which then result) in food wastage and customer service issues. Staff members can then focus on providing good service.”