Barclaycard will trial new ‘Transplater’ app to help restaurant-goers understand what they are eating
Barclaycard has created a new app to help restaurant-goers make light of unfamiliar dishes and ingredients on the menu after nine in ten Brits admitted they aren't always familiar with what they are ordering.
Research undertaken by the bank revealed that as many as 42 per cent of people admitted to being unlikely to return to a restaurant if the food was not as they expected – even if that was because they weren't sure about all of the ingredients they were ordering.
According to the research, just under two-fifths of people believe that fewer dishes would be sent back to the kitchen if menus included more explanation around ingredients and dishes, and so Barclaycard has developed a prototype app called 'Transplater' to help.
The app, which will initially be used on a trial basis, will allow diners to 'view before they chew' and see what the dishes and ingredients look like and are made from.
It comes after the 'Food for Thought' research project highlighted that diners want to understand what they are eating more without having to ask waiters or chefs.
The research brought to light that the majority of British restaurant-goers have never heard of Guajillo Chilli, Girolles or Kimchi, even though these foods are becoming popular additions to many restaurant dishes.
Cheese presented another difficulty for diners with its many forms and names. Around half of the public had never heard of Burrata, Manchego or Pecorino.
Kirsty Morris, Director at Barclaycard Payment Solutions, said: “We all love eating out but choosing the right meal can make or break the overall experience.
"It is telling that so many diners are calling for technology to sidestep the embarrassment of having to ask what ingredients are. This is why we have developed a prototype app that restaurants could adopt to help diners feel more confident in their menu choices.
“At Barclaycard, we are always looking for new ways to help both merchants and consumers, whether that’s allowing diners to skip the wait for the bill with Dine & Dash or shopping without visiting a checkout with grab+go. We hope that our research and Transplater will provide valuable insights to help restaurateurs create the best dining experience possible for their customers.”
The research also found that almost half of restaurant-goers were keen on the introduction of apps to pay for their food immediately without having to wait for the bill.