Cafe Javas, a famous restaurant in Uganda introduced a new application (The Cafe Javas application) this year for its customers.
This was meant to help its clientele be able to order food online from the Cafe Javas restaurant while at any place of their convenience.
Before the Cafe Javas app, this famous restaurant with only 9 branches in Uganda (8 in Kampala and 1 in Entebbe) and 3 in Kenya was serving its online customers through the famous Jumia Food app and also through their website.
One would wonder why it now decided to make a standalone application even when it was already in the business of delivery through online platforms. (via the dominant and well-known Jumia Food and also their online website)
Even with the option of ordering through their website, a phone application is quite a handy and dedicated option. One other reason I personally would back is, it may have been the competition on Jumia Food with multiple restaurants.
Jumia Food has around 70 restaurants (or more), serving areas of both Kampala and Entebbe. Being that Cafe Javas has its unique target market, and wanted to directly reach them, this new Cafe Javas application was a nice way to do it.
Away from that Chit-Chat, I was able to download this new app by Cafe Javas, and here is what I can attest to after interacting with it.
Contents
The Cafe Javas App features
First, I commend Cafe Javas for making such a light app, only 10 MBs and you have it running on your phone.
The Signup/Login interface
After installing the application, the first interface is simple and direct. You are required to LOG IN into the application (if you had earlier registered) or REGISTER for the new users.
On Registering, you are prompted to input your details as you can see in the third interface above and thereafter, continue to verify your number as in the first interface below.
You are sent a one time pin, and then thereafter you can access the Home and Menu Listings as you can see above.
The Navigation bar has the Home, Order, Rewards and More other options available.
On the Home interface, when you click on the Start Order button, you are redirected to the Order Menu.
This Order Menu is well listed into 4 main segments (Breakfasts, Big Meals, Drinks and Desserts). This enables you to directly know where to navigate, depending on the order you want to make.
The Rewards interface displays for you your Reward Points, which you get from the Cafe Javas loyalty program each time you purchase a product.
Other More options
Beyond what you can see on the surface, there are other features of the Cafe Javas app hidden in the MORE options.
E-gift Card: This is a Cafe Javas branded E-card which you can have or award someone so that they can use it to purchase products from all their restaurants.
These can hold cash between UGX 10,000 – UGX 500,000 and can be reloaded with Cash using the MTN MoMo option, Visa and MasterCard. Airtel Money, weyayu?
With the Cafe Javas app, you can be able to create and award an E-gift card to someone. Read about the terms and conditions of using the Cafe Javas E-gift card here.
Track Order: After placing an order, you can view the progress from preparation, transportation, and delivery via the application.
Deals: These are special discount offers given on certain products on particular days or seasons by Cafe Javas. It could be on public holidays, special days or any Cafe Javas branded day.
How to make an order using the Cafe Javas App
Here are some simple steps to make your order on this new Cafe Javas application.
● After digging into the menus, you select your order and then you click the add to order button. The product you selected is immediately added to your Cart.
● Here is the nice part about the Ordering and Making your payment.
You can add your Redeemed Points, Promo Code or use your Gift Card. Any of these are great options that can reduce on your final payment or actually cover the whole bill (Depending on the amount of e-cash accorded to each option).
You can also add more items to your Cart before checking out to finally instantiate the payment.
● On Checkout, you can select your service type, this can either be delivery (brought to your doorstep) or a take-away (which you can pick).
When you select Take-away, you are prompted to select your nearest Cafe Javas branch and then the method of payment. You pick this order yourself at the branch selected.
When you select Delivery, your location is automatically added (if you allowed the app to access your location), and you can continue and include more details of your address. Your order is delivered at your door-step.
Download the Cafe Javas Application here
You can download the Cafe Javas application on both Android and iPhones. This is quite handy, and covers for a lot of its different clients.
Find it here for Android Phones and Apple Phones.
Our thoughts and Conclusion
After interacting with this application, I must say, it is handy and easy to navigate. But I believe, somethings can be done better, for easier usability and navigation.
This is what I think should be included:
- On registration, an option of registering with Facebook or Google Account should be included.
This should be so that one doesn’t have to input their details one after another, a bit of a hectic process that Facebook/Google can add automatically. - A search option. Currently, one has to navigate through all the different meals up to when they find that exact meal they want to order, a very tiring process.
If someone needed to get a specific product, this search option can make this easy by one just typing the word and a list of related products are displayed.
Other than that, I think it’s an application worth navigating, Kudos Cafe Javas for standing out. Let the eating begin.