TGI Fridays fans across the country are now able to place an order or make a reservation using just their voice.
Dallas-based TGI Fridays has announced that users will now be able to place and complete online orders, or schedule a reservation, through Amazon Alexa with Amazon Pay. Fridays is the first restaurant dining chain to offer this ability.
Starting Thursday, Nov. 30, the ability will be available at participating Fridays restaurants, and will be available across the country by 2018.
According to a news release, Fridays take-out sales have grown by 30 percent since launching online ordering in 2016. With the launch of the new Alexa skill, users can place and pay for their Fridays order using Amazon Pay on their Alexa-enabled devices, including the Amazon Echo and Echo Dot.
According to the release, Fridays has incorporated this new option in an aim to bring ease and convenience to the ordering experience. Ordering through Amazon Alexa, guests can choose anything off the full menu in addition to exclusive online offers.
“The launch of online ordering and our commitment to digital innovation has resulted in significant growth in our To-Go business, with more than 70 percent of those orders coming from new Fridays customers.” said Stephanie Perdue, Chief Marketing Officer at TGI Fridays, in the release.
“As we continue to innovate, we’re focused on creating digital programs with industry leaders like Amazon that make the Fridays experience more convenient for guests to recreate at home,” Perdue said.
Here’s how using Amazon Alexa for TGI Fridays works:
— Enable the Fridays skill by searching for the skill in the Alexa app or Alexa skills store and selecting the “Enable Skill” option.
— When you’re ready to place an order or make a reservation, say “Alexa, open Fridays.”
— Once in the Fridays skill, the user can say, “place order” to place a Fridays To-Go order or “reserve a table” to make a reservation at their local restaurant. The user will then be prompted through the process of placing an order or making a reservation.
If a guest is indecisive about their order, Alexa can recommend three side options for each entrée based on food pairings decided by Fridays executive chefs.
In addition to the new capabilities through Amazon, Fridays also offers ordering via “chatbot” on Facebook and Twitter messenger, or by using the “order now” button on Facebook.
“From the launch of our Fridays mobile app, to our order ahead feature on the Amazon app and our social media chatbots powered by Conversable, Fridays has committed to delivering a great guest experience both inside and outside of the restaurant” said Sherif Mityas, chief information officer at TGI Fridays, in the release.
“Working with Amazon has allowed us to continue elevating our digital offerings, making enjoying Fridays even more expandable for our guests,” Mityas said.
For more information: http://www.fridays.com. To see the Amazon Alexa skill demonstration: https://youtu.be/RkzglA1uY58.