We've all fallen victim to that period between finishing a meal and trying to flag down a harried and distracted waiter for the check. And some of us have also fallen victim to the estimated 70% of credit card skimming that happens at restaurants each year since it's one of the few transactions in which our cards leave our sight.
Viableware, a Seattle-based company of tech and restaurant veterans, is trying to make the experience as easy and secure as possible. Viableware makes a nondescript device called the RAIL, which is about the size and shape of the regular black book you'd normally get at the end of your meal. But the RAIL is powered by a mini-computer that lets guests at establishments pay for their food right at the table, at their leisure, without having to hand over a credit card to the waiter. It also supports different payment methods, including credit or debit cards, gift cards, and NFC mobile payments.
The RAILs, which are currently being piloted by establishments such as the Joie de Vivre Hotels in San Francisco and P.F. Chang's in Seattle, also come with useful features to make your dining experience more convenient. There's an auto-tip calculator that lets restaurants set percentages but also lets you leave a custom tip amount. There's a bill-splitting feature that lets you split the check up to nine different ways, either equally or by item (college kids, rejoice). And you can choose to get a copy of your receipt either via email or on paper.
Restaurants also have the option to load a host of different apps to their RAILs, just like you would to a smartphone. Some of the apps offered let you hail a cab to the restaurant; alert the valet service to bring your car around; Like the restaurant on Facebook; and use loyalty program points. They can even set a one-question "Rate your experience" survey to flash up after you've paid. If you answer below a certain satisfaction level, the RAIL will text the restaurant manager, who can then come and check...
[Source: Fast Company]
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