Burger chain Larkburger is providing customers with a fast, convenient way to pay their tabs by using their smartphones while earning rewards at the same time. 

All seven Larkburger locations in Colorado are now accepting mobile payments via the LevelUp app. Not only can customers pay for their purchases but they will also receive a $10 credit for every $100 they spend at Larkburger using the app.  

“At Larkburger we pride ourselves on delivering an exceptional dining experience, and much of that is based around the register,” said Adam Baker, president of Larkburger, Denver, CO.

“When we can complete orders quickly and easily, that streamlines our payment process while letting guests relax and enjoy their meal,” he said. “And, because mobile phones have quickly become the go-to for everyday functions, we wanted to provide a solution that would be an easy transition.”

Direct mail promotion
Larkburger is making consumers aware of the new mobile payments capabilities through several initiatives. In-store, there is point-of-sale signage next to the small camera that captures the LevelUp QR code.

The chain will also be pushing mobile payments via its social media outlets and in a direct mail piece that is going to specific addresses surrounding each location. The direct mail piece is printed with a QR code that recipients can scan to receive $5 that can be spent at all Larkburger locations.

To use the free app, consumers a debit or credit card to the app, which generates a unique 2D bar code that can be scanned at the point-of-sale and the charge appears on the user’s credit or debit card account.

The Larkburger direct mail piece.

Users instantly receive an email receipt showing for each transaction.

LevelUp lets users pay for their purchases using a smartphone at more than 3,000 restaurants and shops. It was launched last year by SCVNGR, the mobile in-store gaming app.

The app is available for the iPhone and Android phones.

Loyalty tracking
Restaurants, retail stores and other merchants are increasingly adopting mobile payments as way to enhance the customer experience.

Starbucks is a leader here, having launched its own mobile payments app in early January and recently reporting that it has processed 42 million transactions via the app.

More recently, fast food giant Burger King launched a mobile payments pilot program that lets consumers pay for their meals using their mobile device (see story).

Additionally, merchants including Macy’s, Foot Locker and Jamba Juice are some of the retailers that will be accepting the Isis mobile wallet when it launches this summer (see story).

With a lot of different entries in the mobile payments space – including Google, Isis, PayPal, Dwolla, LevelUp and others – these services are increasingly looking for ways to bring retailers on board with their solution. For example, LevelUp recently eliminated interchange fees, which is what retailers typically pay each time a credit card transaction is processed.

“What made us take a hard look at LevelUp’s platform was the smooth integration and automatic loyalty tracking,” Mr. Baker said. “It’s an all-in-one program that makes our systems easier and ties to any credit card.”

Final Take
Chantal Tode is associate editor on Mobile Commerce Daily, New York