Graphene – a two-dimensional material composed of a single layer of carbon atoms arranged in a hexagonal lattice – is among the most extensively studied materials in the world right now. It possesses many fantastic properties: it is the thinnest, lightest, and most robust material, and it is impermeable, flexible, extremely thermally conductive, and electrical.
All these properties make graphene well suited for next-gen Near-Field Communication (NFC) antennas – which allows two electronic devices to transfer data more securely. NFC is perfect for applications such as contactless payment systems, like Payper Technologies’ new product that provides the restaurant industry with its new pay-at-table technology.
The UK-based start-up was co-founded by Renate Kalnina, who has worked in digital tech sales and marketing for more than 13 years, and Dr. Thanasis Georgiou, a scientist in advanced materials. The product they developed (in collaboration with the University of Manchester) uses receipt paper that has graphene antennas printed onto it so that customers can pay their bill by simply tapping their smartphone on the receipt.
Thanasis said:
Payper’s antennas combine graphene with metals and other components to realize a near-field communication device that can be used as a direct swap for existing restaurant till rolls. By introducing just a small amount of graphene in the manufacturing process, we can translate its unique range of benefits into our ‘smart’ receipt rolls.
The process is contact-less (hygienic), quick (two clicks), and can be accomplished by using existing Google Pay or Apple Pay. The smartphone reads the data from the antenna triggers the bill, and the information shows up on display via the customer’s default browser. Then, Apple Pay or Android checkout is completed with two clicks. Done. Safe. Easy.
James Baker, CEO of Graphene@Manchester, said:
Payper isn’t just about convenience. the card machine is the one thing that all the waiting staff and at least one person from every table will touch over the course of a shift in a restaurant. If you can reduce those touchpoints with a truly contactless system, you have an elegant solution to reducing the risk of COVID transmission.
A pilot project to evaluate the device and system is underway at the River Restaurant of The Lowry Hotel in Salford.
Adrian Ellis, General Manager at The Lowry Hotel, said:
We are delighted to be the flagship hotel in the UK trialing this new enhanced safety payment method to our customers. The University of Manchester first isolated graphene, so it really is a privilege to be using a product that not only makes the customer journey safer and more convenient but is also supportive of the city in which the product was founded.
The intention of the trial is, first and foremost, to provide validation of the Payper pay-at-table solution and demonstrate how the technology works. However, the team hopes it will also reveal the many other potential benefits, such as reducing table-turn time, increasing customer lifetime value and staff tips, and repeat visits.
