Greggs goes hi-tech

After spending most of my life in the IT industry I couldn’t resist signing up for the new Greggs Rewards scheme after it came to my attention yesterday.

It is an interesting approach to both store loyalty cards and methods of payment. Unlike other stores you download a smartphone app rather than apply for a card and to encourage you they are also offering some introductory freebies.

Having signed up and put some money on my account I decided, in the interests of my fellow Worcester Park shoppers, to head down to Greggs in Central Road to buy some lunch.

When you go to the till you press the ‘spend’ button in the app on your phone which generates a quick response (QR) code and a unique number. In theory the staff can just scan the QR code to take the payment but Worcester Park branch haven’t received their scanner yet so just typed the unique number into the till to take my payment.

Sandwich purchased, no cash exchanged, and a quick look at the app instantly showed my account had been debited the cost of my baguette.

An interesting idea which seems easy to use, would you use it to buy YOUR lunch?