UAE-based hospitality tech startup Opaala launches its smart app to aid social distancing at venues with digitize dine-in experience

With the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting lockdowns delivering hard blows to the hospitality and food & beverage industries across the United Arab Emirates (UAE), lack of staff is evident within a variety of venues as businesses struggle to rake in sales, resulting in an endless cycle of no staff, bad customer service, and low sales on repeat. While the dine-in operations have resumed in UAE, many diners are still skittish about venturing out into the world amid a pandemic. Reducing this problem for both diners and operators, hospitality-tech startup Opaala has launched to help digitize much of the dine-in experience.

Opaala comes in as a solution to tackle the hospitality industry pitfalls following the COVID-19 outbreak with its innovative smart service system that is now integrated into multiple venues across the UAE with the objective to boost sales and provide contactless interactions. The highly in-demand technology provides a seamless solution to allow hotels, restaurants, nightlife spots, and beach clubs to navigate a new, promising era of hospitality.

With Opaala’s smart service platform integrated into Point-of-Sales (POS) systems, venues can be assured to see a noticeable boost in revenue with its simple ‘tap’ of a Quick Response (QR) code technology that enables a ‘self-ordering’ system designed to streamline the dine-in process. Opaala’s smart service platform can be integrated into most POS systems and has already greatly improved sales from venues that have suffered during the COVID-19 period, and boasts partnerships with great brands such as Nikki Beach Club, Lah Lah Restaurant, Riva Beach Club, Anantara and more.

Opaala changes the traditional ‘8-step service model’ by reducing staff costs, eliminating service wait times, and increasing revenue through a contactless, app-free, mobile-powered solution. With Opaala, customers can simply scan a QR code, browse through high-design, interactive menus where they can place orders, enter dietary requirements, request for the assistance of a waiter, and call for the bill all through their mobile browsers. Opaala’s solution is browser-based, eliminating the need to download a mobile application, can seamlessly integrate into the venue’s POS system and can be customized for branding needs. Further simplifying the ‘going-out’ experience, Opaala offers automatic bill splitting, making it easier for guests and venues to clear the cheque, customers can also complete their order via safe checkout using Apple Pay, Debit, and Credit Cards. Meanwhile, venues can host daily and hourly specials on their interactive menus, and schedule them for future events. These deals allow venues to organically market their offerings at the time of ordering.

Opaala can be used across the hospitality industry, including restaurants, cinemas, hospitals, food courts, in-room and within lounges and beach cabanas at hotels, stadiums and events arenas.

Speaking about the about, Opaala Co.Founder, Marwan Saab, noted that Opaala was born out of necessity. “It is easy for customers to be overlooked when venues are managing high footfall. We wish to enhance the diner’s experience whilst assisting restaurants with managing their ever-increasing costs”.