Tim Hortons announced new mobile payment options aimed at improving speed of service and enhancing guest experience in its restaurants throughout Canada and the U.S. As part of the company’s ongoing commitment to operational excellence and guest satisfaction, the strategy includes the adoption of technological innovations at both the restaurant level and through the company’s popular TimmyMe mobile application.

“We’re always looking to provide our Tim Hortons guests with the best overall customer experience, and mobile payment is one area that we feel can help streamline the average time spent at the order counter,” says David Clanachan, chief operating officer for Tim Hortons. “These new innovations offer secure, quick, and easy payment alternatives, allowing our guests more time enjoying their favorite food and beverages.”

Now available at participating restaurants throughout Canada and the U.S., guests using BlackBerry 10 smartphones will be able to register a Tim Card on the TimmyMe mobile app and use near field communication (NFC) tap-to-pay technology to complete their order. This is one of the first integrations of an NFC based stored value card solution with existing payment terminals. Future development plans will also see this platform expanded to Android 4.4 devices.

Tim Hortons also launched a barcode payment pilot program in the Niagara region in Canada and at select USA Tim Hortons Cafe & Bake Shop restaurants in Maine, Michigan, New York, and Ohio. The barcode technology, which provides a scan-to-pay option once a Tim Card has been registered on the TimmyMe app, supports Apple devices running OS 6.0 or later and Android devices running OS 4.0 or later.

“Tim Hortons is taking a customer-centric and technology-neutral approach while leveraging mobile payments to create unique customer value and experiences,” says Rick Oglesby, senior analyst, at the Aite Group. “It combines the benefits of the cloud with benefits of NFC into a single solution, making it one of the first of its kind in [quick-service restaurants] and something we should see a lot more of in the future.”

Guests looking for the fastest and easiest way to pay are encouraged to download the TimmyMe app on their mobile device and register a Tim Card to establish a payment balance in their personal account.

Tim Hortons partnered with First Data Corporation, a leader in payment processing and e-commerce solutions, to deliver tap and scan payments through their mobile gateway technology. First Data makes it possible for registered Tim Card users to securely make mobile payments and view their Tim Card balance and transaction history.