News
Deliverect Rolls Out Self-Order Kiosks Across MENA
The restaurant tech firm is bringing its in-store ordering kiosks to the Middle East as operators look to cut queues and push higher-value orders.
Deliverect has launched its self-service ordering kiosks in the Middle East and North Africa, extending its footprint in a region where an expanding food and beverage sector means that restaurants are under pressure to move faster with fewer staff.
The product, Deliverect Kiosk, allows customers to browse menus, place orders and pay directly at in-store screens, without any staff involvement. For operators, the pitch is straightforward: shorter queues, faster throughput and higher average spend.
Deliverect says the kiosk is tightly integrated into its broader ordering platform, syncing menus and availability across locations in real time. Built-in upselling and bundling features are designed to nudge customers toward higher-value baskets without adding friction at the counter.
Data from Europe shows the potential gains that the system can achieve: Restaurants using its kiosks in Germany, Spain, Italy, Switzerland, Belgium and the UK have cut average order times by 17%. Half of all kiosk orders included an upsell, while ticket sizes were around 30% higher than traditional ordering flows, according to the company.
Naji Haddad, Vice President of EMEA at Deliverect, said the regional launch reflects growing demand for automation among restaurant operators. “The launch of Deliverect Kiosk represents another important milestone for the company, where restaurants can reap the benefits and accelerate their business revenues even more while also enhancing customer experiences,” he said.
Haddad also pointed to the system’s adoption by international brands as a signal of its maturity. “Not only is Deliverect Kiosk a catalyst when it comes to boosting productivity and sales, but this user-friendly innovative tech system is widely used by some of the popular brands in the world today,” the VP added.
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The kiosks are offered in multiple formats, including floor-standing, wall-mounted and countertop models, making them suitable for quick-service, counter-service and dine-in restaurants. Stock levels are synchronized with point-of-sale systems so customers only see what is actually available.
As competition intensifies across the region’s dining hubs, tools that increase order speed and spending without adding headcount are becoming less of a nice-to-have. Deliverect is betting that kiosks will be part of that shift.
News
Lebanon Ministers Meet Visa Over National Digital Payment Platform
Finance and technology ministers say a comparative study and roadmap will follow before any decision on adopting a model.
Lebanon’s finance and technology ministers met representatives from Visa last week to discuss a proposed unified national digital payment platform for government services, according to a readout from the Ministry of Finance.
The meeting brought together Finance Minister Yassin Jaber, Minister of State for Technology and Artificial Intelligence Kamal Shehadeh, a Visa delegation, and experts from both ministries. Discussion focused on whether Lebanon could establish a single platform through which citizens and institutions would pay taxes, fees, fines and other official transactions electronically, using mobile phones and other digital channels.
The Visa delegation presented examples from countries that have adopted unified government payment platforms, including the United Arab Emirates, Singapore, Estonia and Jordan. According to the readout, the examples were presented as having increased collection rates and expanded financial inclusion.
Talks covered settlement mechanisms, direct transfer to the treasury account, financial reconciliation, risk management, cybersecurity, fees, and an operational model that would involve the private sector. The parties agreed to continue technical and institutional consultations, prepare a comparative study, and develop an implementation roadmap before any decision on adopting a model for Lebanon.
Jaber said the Ministry of Finance had already enabled citizens to pay using credit cards and e-wallets through transfer companies, but described the proposed platform as a further step. He framed the development of electronic payment and collection systems as a priority within the ministry’s modernization plan.
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Shehadeh outlined the citizen-facing concept as a single mobile application through which users could settle obligations to ministries, government institutions and other bodies.
“The idea, in short, is that any citizen downloads an application on their mobile phone, through which they can pay all service obligations for all ministries, government institutions, or those owned by the Lebanese state, and others as well, as the platform is not limited only to state institutions,” he said.
Shehadeh added that the platform would not displace banks and money transfer companies that currently provide collection services to the state, calling it complementary to their work.
