Exploring the Contactless Revolution in Wales

From the introduction of advanced AI to an expansion of working-from-home prospects, the 2020s have been off to a strong start in shaking up established norms. While the old ways will always hold strong, newer approaches are continuing to make their mark, and rarely is this as visible as it is with new experiences in contactless shopping.

In just a few years, this new approach has offered an alternative that many prefer, representing some interesting possibilities for the future.

The Contactless Experience

For an illustration of how a contactless approach can work today, we’re going to borrow from some recent experiences dining in Cardiff. As one of Wales’s most technologically developed cities, it makes sense that Cardiff was one of the most welcoming in this regard, as we challenged ourselves to see just how far we could take contactless methods.

Starting with entering an establishment, there’s no getting around physically sitting at a table if you want to dine in. Of course, as long as the restaurant adheres to modern cleaning codes, this isn’t an issue, especially if you choose to wear a mask and sit in a booth.

From here, you’d usually be given a menu. With a contactless approach, you could instead be given a printout with a QR code to scan with your phone. This links to a digital menu via a webpage where you can browse the menu, make changes as necessary, and place an order, all without having to touch a single menu.

During the meal, going to the bathroom and cleaning your hands afterwards can also be touchless. Modern soap dispensers are automated, only requiring the user to place their hands in front of the sensor to activate it. These systems can even be battery-powered to work in mobile locations, and filled with a variety of antibacterial and sanitisers to fill specific needs. With similarly automated water supplies, customers can move on to payment.

With QR webpage systems or more established payWave solutions, payment can then be placed without having to fumble with cash or manage a heavily used keypad. In total, of all the components of dining, only sitting and eating need to include physical contact.

Beyond Safety

It’s not just for health-conscious reasons that contactless systems can help, they can also aid in increasing efficiency and reducing waste. With QR ordering, staff can be freed up to work the kitchen or manage other customers, while automated soap dispensing systems can prevent visitors from taking far more than is useful. Even remote contactless ordering systems like Grab can be helpful in this regard, cutting down emissions with a scooter delivery to a home rather than an entire family taking a car.

Grab Clobbered Uber in SE Asia” (Public Domain) by Dennis S. Hurd

As we press further into the 2020s, we have a prime opportunity to try new approaches and challenge the old ways. Going contactless might not be for everyone, and that’s fine, but for the right people, the potential of this new approach could open up possibilities not available before For widening our horizons, that’s a very good thing.

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Header image credit: Digital menu for smartphones with QR-cod” (CC BY 2.0) by verchmarco