Greater Manchester Business Week – December 05, 2018

(Brent) #1
DECEMBER 2018 Business 15

Spotlight


T


HE leisure sector is
constantly adapting to
ensure that it prospers.
And at the heart of this
evolution is the
relentless revolution
that currently lies at
the heart of the tech sector.
Certainly, more people than ever
before are being reached through these
developments and – even more
importantly – communicated with.
Indeed, it’s the use of ‘disruptive’
technology that has the potential to

bring the greatest bottom-line benefits
for companies operating in the leisure
sector.
These disruptors are defined as
potentially game-changing for the
traditional leisure business model
while enabling it to be “expanded,
copied, enhanced while
simultaneously giving the customer
p o w e r ”.
Of all the disruptors, Deliveroo is
thought to have had the most profound
impact on the leisure sector to date.
By offering fast and reliable food

delivery, which the customer can track
on their phone, Deliveroo has seen
revenue growth of over 650% year-on-
year. The company also states that
those restaurants that choose to
partner with them see their revenue
“increase by up to 30%”.
And any restaurant or bar that wants
to attract millennials overlooks the
usefulness of Facebook, Instagram,
Twitter, and Snapchat - both as a way
to interact with their customers and as
an alternative shop window for their
food, drink and special offers - at its

own peril. Certainly, Manchester’s
reputation for tech excellence within
the leisure sector is constantly gaining
momentum.
Over the past year, tech companies
based in Manchester have created a
spate of innovative apps to ensure the
potential of this city’s restaurants and
bars is maximised.
Last year, a new app called Viper was
launched across iPhone and Android to
enable bars to attract customers into
their premises. The app allows anyone

Hospitality in fast lane


Bars, restaurants and clubs are embracing new and emerging technologies to build the


best possible brand and customer experience, writes Ben Rooth


Deliveroo has had a
huge impact on the
restaurant sector


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