Tablets To Take Food Orders At The Airport

Food vendors E la Carte And HMSHost partner to launch tablets in airport restaurants around the world.

Boonsri Dickinson, Associate Editor of BYTE

August 2, 2012

1 Min Read
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Automating jobs with touch screens is a trend I've been seeing lately, especially on planes. I raised my hand to ask for a drink, and the stewardess told me that I should order from the screen instead.

HMSHost, owner and operator of airport restaurants, announced a partnership with E la Carte to put Presto tablets in airport restaurants, Pandodaily reports.

Tablets might be the answer to faster airport dining--even if it means ordering food from a machine instead of an actual human. According to HMSHost, customers like taking control of the pace of their meal. Proof of that? The customers give 15% more in tips and there's a 10% increase in sales.

The first tablets made their appearance in Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. But more tablets will soon roll out in various airports where HMSHost is. Using the technology, customers could look through menus filled with pictures, get menu recommendations, place orders, and pay for the bill.

Alternatively, couldn't they just have built an app for that?

About the Author

Boonsri Dickinson

Associate Editor of BYTE

Boonsri Dickinson is the Associate Editor of BYTE

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