US Bank’s Elavon Offers Payment Tools to California Restaurants

Payment processor Elavon has formed a partnership with the California Restaurant Association.

The U.S. Bank-owned company announced Wednesday (April 20) that the partnership will offer payment tools to the association’s 22,000 members.

“The California Restaurant Association needed a payments partner that could help add affinity partners, offer additional value and service options, and maintain and grow memberships,” Elavon CEO Jamie Walker said in a press release. “We plan to deliver on those needs through marketing support, state-wide support and our full suite of banking and payment services.”

The company says its research shows that 70% of restaurateurs say that customers’ ability to quickly order and pay can help decide whether they eat at that restaurant.

And research from PYMNTS shows that consumers increasingly want to order and pay digitally. The latest installment of PYMNTS’ ConnectedEconomy series, “ConnectedEconomy Monthly Report: The Evolving Digital Daily Edition,” found that digital restaurant engagement has risen 11% in the last year, meaning 14 million more consumers ordered food online.

As PYMNTS wrote last month, eateries have been working hard to make their offerings more digitally accessible.

For example, fast-food giant McDonald’s has begun using geofencing to reduce wait times in an effort to boost pickup adoption. The chain is updating its mobile order and pay capabilities to let back-of-house staff know when mobile order-ahead customers are near the store, so the kitchen can prepare the order to be warm and ready as the diner arrives.

“We’re committed to consistently delivering a fast and more seamless experience for fans using the McDonald’s app,” McDonald’s USA stated in an email. “We’ve rolled out app updates that will improve the mobile-order experience making it fast and convenient for those ordering ahead through the McDonald’s app for curbside, table service or in-store pickup.”

Meanwhile, restaurants have an increasing need to keep their existing customers happy, as many of them are facing tough financial circumstances.

Recent research by PYMNTS finds that 55% of businesses in the hospitality sector don’t have access to financing to help them withstand a shortfall of cash.

“Certainly, small independents are in a bind if even the largest restaurant companies in the world are struggling,” PYMNTS wrote recently.

“For instance, quick-service restaurant giant Subway is looking to sell off the company following a decade of challenges. Plus, earlier this month, it was reported that McDonald’s was closing its U.S. offices, gearing up for remote layoffs.”