Mastercard Expands OpenRice Partnership, Enabling Adoption of Tap on Own Device and Tap on Phone Capabilities

Launch of new payment options comes with offers to further boost cardholders’ culinary experiences

Mastercard today announced the expansion of its partnership with OpenRice, the largest locally based food and beverage (F&B) platform providing comprehensive dining guide and restaurant services including online table reservation, in multiple Asian markets. Through the extended collaboration, OpenRice is now the first master merchant in Asia Pacific to adopt in its mobile app the Tap on Own Device feature enabled by Mastercard Gateway card-present capability, as well as the first in Hong Kong to leverage the same Mastercard Gateway capability to implement the Tap on Phone solution. While the former solution caters to consumers, the latter facilitates restaurant operations by helping restaurant owners collect contactless Mastercard and other card payments through their NFC-enabled Android mobile phones.

Up to date with Hong Kong’s alternative payment trend

Research recently conducted by Mastercard¹ indicated that Hong Kong locals have now started using alternative payment methods (person-to-merchant). In the coming two to three years, they are expected to pay considerably more via scanning a QR code or barcode, as well as saving payment information for future payments.

In view of this payment trend, Mastercard is partnering with OpenRice to offer new card-present payment solutions on the OpenRice App, providing alternative options for cardholders to enjoy a seamless dining and payment experience. Mastercard cardholders paying via OpenRice App can enjoy the same robust and multi-layered security protections that come with paying via the existing Mastercard payment solution.

The OpenRice mobile app currently allows cardholders to pay via Mastercard and other payment cards linked to their OpenRice accounts or digital wallets. Supported by the Card-on-File solution, the payment process can be activated through scanning a payment QR code initiated by restaurants. Customers can redeem cash vouchers, as well as earn and use loyalty points instantly, reinforcing seamless everyday spending usage with loyalty benefits.

Starting today, upon scanning the QR codes presented in partnered restaurants with OpenRice Pay in the enhanced OpenRice mobile app, cardholders will also be able to pay for their restaurant bills all on their own by tapping their physical contactless Mastercard cards against their own Android devices.

Benefits for cardholders and business owners 

Tap on Own Device comes in handy especially for cardholders who have not linked credit cards in their OpenRice accounts. Through the new feature, they can simply tap their Mastercard cards on their mobile phone via the OpenRice mobile app. One more instance where the new feature shines is when restaurant owners, especially those running a small business, have no payment terminals that accept contactless cards equipped in their restaurants. Using OpenRice payment QR code, in this case, would prove to be perfectly capable of collecting contactless card payments, further expanding card-present acceptance by integrating with merchants’ point-of-sale systems or operating independently.

Leveraging Mastercard Gateway as the card-present payment gateway, OpenRice will be able to deliver a speed-to-market softPOS solution, with which its various partners in the F&B sector can utilize Tap on Phone technology for card-present transactions and contactless transactions, enabling order and pay-at-table features with their Android devices to drive business volume with an agile approach.

Helena Chen, Managing Director, Hong Kong & Macau, Mastercard, said, “In line with our commitment to re-establishing Hong Kong as one of Asia’s premier culinary destinations, Mastercard is delighted to see OpenRice use Mastercard Gateway and become the first master merchant in the Asia Pacific region to adopt the Tap on Own Device feature in its mobile app, as well as the first to take onboard the Mastercard Gateway’ card-present capability to implement the Tap on Phone solution in Hong Kong. The partnership reflects how Mastercard emphasizes its attachment to the culinary pillar as a touch and passion point, truly making Mastercard’s brand identity to be recognizable across all senses.”

Joe Yau, Chief Technology Officer & Chief Executive Officer, OpenRice Group, said, “OpenRice extends its gratitude to Mastercard as it has reinforced a long-term partnership, enabling OpenRice to achieve a couple of firsts by adopting the Tap on Own Device and Tap on Phone features, enabled by Mastercard Gateway, paving our roadmap to realize pay-at-table with earning loyalty. This extended partnership gives cardholders a new payment option and boosts their dining experience, while also supporting restaurants of different scales and sizes.”

To celebrate the landmark launch of the Tap on Own Device feature on the OpenRice app, Mastercard cardholders can earn extra Rice Dollars and enjoy a weekly special offer of up to HK$100 per week until December 31, comprising:

• Extra Rice$80 upon spending HK$400 or more with their Mastercard cards via Tap on Own Device using OpenRice Pay at selected restaurants;
• Up to HK$100 off on OpenRice Voucher and Takeaway Services.

Also starting from November 7, Mastercard cardholders can enjoy an instant discount of HK$80 (World & World Elite Mastercard cardholders) or HK$50 (all other Mastercard cardholders) upon spending HK$400 or above on OpenRice Pay.

Terms and conditions apply to the promotions above.