Want to pay for your drinks at the bar without paying for your drinks at the bar? Introducing Coaster, an iOS and Android app that allows you to pay from your phone through a linked account and which sends you an update when you drink is ready. PYMNTS.com spoke with Kevin Callaghan, Coaster’s COO and co-founder, to discuss how Coaster works, why it’s attractive to both users and merchants, and why he thinks it’s a bartender’s best friend.
There are no shortages of items or services you can buy from your mobile phone these days. Now, those in the San Francisco area can add drinks to the list.
Introducing Coaster, a new app for iOS and Android devices that aims to let you order your drinks at the bar without waiting in line or competing for a bartender’s attention. PYMNTS.com spoke with Kevin Callaghan, co-founder and chief operating officer at Coaster, to discuss how the app works, why bartenders should love it and the inspiration behind the timesaving idea.
“It’s nothing groundbreaking, it’s just one of those moments where you’re frustrated with an experience, in this case being out with friends at bars, where you spend half your time trying to get a drink when really you’re just there to make conversation and spend time with your friends,” Callaghan said. “And you think to yourself, ‘there’s got to be a better way,’ and in this case, there’s an opportunity for technology to provide that better path.”
Callaghan says the process is pretty straightforward. The customer orders a drink on his or her mobile phone, which is then relayed to the bartender through an iPad. When the bartender finishes making the drink, he can push a notification to the customer through his iPad. The consumer’s phone gets a notification with a unique three-character code, which the consumer then shows at the bar to verify his drink order. Once the bartender acknowledges the code, the drink is the consumer’s for the taking.
It’s that simple. No money is exchanged, no signature is needed and there’s no tap, swipe or scan.
It’s obvious as to why consumers would be interested in such an app, but why should bartenders care?
Callaghan contended that a bartender’s typical job contains three roles: taking orders, which have a high error rate thanks to noise and consumer indecision; conducting transactions, which are difficult to keep track of; and finally actually making and delivering the drinks.
“We’re really trying to make those first two steps as easy as possible. So taking the order is something that can be done seamlessly, without an error, through the use of our technology, and the payment process too is much, much quicker,” Callaghan explained. “So this is a way for bars and bartenders to become much more efficient with their time.
And another reason bartenders should warm up to what Coaster has to offer?
“We mandate tipping in our app. We want bartenders to be our biggest fans,” Callaghan said. “And customers know that this is a value-added service, so they’re willing to tip a little more.”
Coaster’s potential isn’t limited to its transactional functions, though. Callaghan says he envisions Coaster growing into a sort of informative app for all night-life, with deals offers, bar locations and listings and event updates as well. That, he claims, should make Coaster marketable to bars and other nightlife venues as the app’s adoption increases. Coaster is currently available in 14 bars in the San Francisco location, but Callaghan cited Chicago and New York as two obvious markets for adoption as well.
“Going forward too this because a marketing tool for bars, and a discovery tool for users,” Callaghan said. “Coaster becomes your nightlife portal, where you can view all the bars, see what’s going on, you can see, ‘are there certain specials or events or activities that might be appealing to me?’
It allows the bars an avenue to reach out to their customers and to engage them and get them coming in and get them coming back.
To listen to more Callaghan on Coaster’s plans, listen to the full podcast below.
Kevin Callaghan
Chief Operating Officer and Co-Founder, Coaster
Kevin Callaghan is the Chief Operating Officer and Co-Founder of Coaster.
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