The epidemic has ravaged Hong Kong for nearly two years, and the government still restricts the dining hours of restaurants and the maximum number of people per table.
In the face of the cold winter, the catering industry is struggling to survive, so it can only offer takeaway discounts.
At the same time, the epidemic also brought incentives for the government to launch electronic consumer coupons to encourage the revitalization of the local economy and promote electronic payments to reduce the chance of contact with paper money.
OpenRice Chief Executive and Acting Chief Technology Officer Qiu Guixiong believes that electronic consumer vouchers have indeed brought about economic revitalization, and the offline business volume has increased by 3 to 4 times in the first two weeks after the distribution.
The number of restaurants opened has gradually risen to the pre-epidemic level since June this year. However, the location of small restaurants is more cautious than before, and most of them are located in shopping malls in the Minsheng District.
He believes that it is the well-being of diners, "We are all happy to have a good opinion of this situation, which is an ecological balance."
OpenRice also participated in the Central Market Redevelopment Project earlier, providing digital food ordering and electronic payment services to the food court.
Qiu pointed out that diners only need to scan the QR code on the table to place an order. Electronic payment can reduce the number of people at the cashier, meet the requirements of social distancing, and save the manpower for collection and reconciliation.
Openrice Chief Executive and Acting Chief Technology Officer Qiu Guixiong pointed out that the number of restaurants opened in Hong Kong has gradually risen to the pre-epidemic level since June this year. (Photo by Zhang Haowei)
Two weeks after the distribution of vouchers, the restaurant's retail business increased by 3 to 4 times
The government issued electronic consumer vouchers in August earlier. According to data from OpenRice, Qiu Guixiong revealed that in the first two weeks of the distribution, the offline business of restaurants increased significantly by 3 to 4 times.
The indirect consumption model also recorded an increase, including OpenRice's dining coupons and website visits, among which the number of booking services increased by 30 to 35%.
Qiu believes that electronic consumer vouchers have indeed brought about the effect of revitalizing the economy, especially the recovery of the catering industry has continued so far. It is estimated that the overall business in the fourth quarter may increase by 30 to 40%, and there will be optimism next year.
"You have all seen the government's trend towards electronic consumption. This kind of incentive has made many of our operators welcome the opportunity, and they will consider many different solutions that meet the needs of the public."
The number of newly opened restaurants will gradually return to pre-epidemic levels starting in June
The epidemic has also brought about earth-shaking changes to the catering industry in Hong Kong. Qiu Guixiong said that after the epidemic, small shops have risen, and the number of light food restaurants and non-continuous fast food restaurants has continued to increase.
According to OpenRice data, the ratio of restaurant openings and closures in the past was close, with approximately 300 to 400 restaurants each month. However, the number of closed closures increased after the epidemic. It was not until the epidemic eased in June this year that the number of openings returned to the level before the epidemic. , There are about 400 in a month, and the number has increased to 700 in some months.
Related reading: Winter in restaurants?
Big data reveals that the number of newly opened restaurants is 1.5 times more than that of Zhili, Zeppelin hotdogs buck the market and increase by 8 stores
+2
Under the epidemic, one High Tea for 4 people replaces hot pot as the new favorite of the citizens
Qiu Guixiong observed that the location of restaurants is more cautious than in the past, and more of them are located in shopping malls in the livelihood area.
He estimated that since the shopping malls under the control of large developers before the epidemic only accepted chain restaurant brands, after the epidemic, shopping malls in the Minsheng District were also willing to invite local small stores to enter.
He believes that the new normal will bring more choices and tastes, and competition among restaurants will improve the quality of service and benefit the well-being of diners. "We are all happy to have an opinion about this situation, which is an ecological balance. Small merchants do it."
As for the government's regulation of a maximum of 4 people, it has also changed the eating habits of the public. For example, "High Tea", which is suitable for gatherings of 2 to 3 people, is the most common dining voucher for OpenRice.
On the contrary, the business of restaurants that focus on parties and wedding banquets has been greatly affected.
Qiu Guixiong pointed out that Hong Kong people love side stoves and buffets, and the search volume in OpenRice is very high, but after the epidemic, it has dropped significantly.
Among them, hot pot restaurants are struggling to survive, so they can only transform to launch take-out hot pot, but they cannot be compared with dine-in food because of the lack of alcohol and additional income.
Related Reading: New Crown Pneumonia | The Banquet Hot Pot Restaurant in the Evening Market Turns to Takeaway "Zero Breakthrough": A Friend List
In recent years, OpenRice launched the "OpenRice Pay" mobile payment function, through which users can pay with mobile wallets such as AlipayHK or credit cards.
(OpenRice picture)
OpenRice cross-border development of ordering meal scan code payment
The operating model of the food court has also changed. OpenRice has participated in the Central Market Redevelopment Project earlier to provide developers with digital ordering and electronic payment services.
Qiu Guixiong pointed out that electronic payment can reduce the number of people at the cashier, and diners only need to scan the QR code on the table to place an order, which meets the requirements of social distancing, and can also save manpower for collection and reconciliation.
In addition, diners don’t have to go to different restaurants to order. “One order can eat food from four, five or six restaurants. You can try the taste of siu-mei rice and beer.”
In the post-new crown era, citizens have gradually adapted to replace cash with electronic payments.
Qiu Guixiong said that he was shocked when he heard seniors discussing App's e-coupons in fast food restaurants.
In order to cater to the trend of electronic payment, OpenRice has launched electronic catering coupons in recent years to provide users with discounts and developed the "OpenRice Pay" mobile payment service.
After booking a seat in OpenRice, users can pay by mobile wallet such as AlipayHK, credit card, Google Pay or Apple Pay.
Qiu Guixiong also revealed that PayMe will be introduced next.
Will cooperate with more bank-related institutions to realize multi-platform point exchange
Even though OpenRice has been reborn from a few years ago, Qiu Guixiong is not satisfied with the status quo and revealed that he will actively cooperate with more banks to provide more points for redemption.
At present, OpenRice has connected apps with points such as Asia Miles and Cash Dollars to exchange them for cash payment, and you can earn miles with each payment.
In addition, OpenRice launched the "Multiple Rewards" function, which integrates dining coupons, restaurant discounts, and many discounts on the payment platform, allowing users to choose the most prestigious payment method.
Qiu also believes that electronic payment will gradually become popular in Hong Kong. "People's behavior will change with social progress. As a practitioner in the industry, I will lag behind. I can't lag behind my peers. It's all a rhetoric, Hong Kong people are definitely flexible. It's easy to be flexible, and I believe (electronic payment) is not too difficult."
OpenRice responded to last month's "Food Review Disturbance" and reiterated that it will not charge restaurant fees and change its ranking. Cathay Pacific partner OpenRice launches "miles plus cash" payment method OpenRice mobile app supports BoC Pay. OpenRice can use Cash Dollars [Wuhan pneumonia] OpenRice: Fully exempted takeaway service commissions to reduce restaurant costs
01News
