Starbucks' customers can finally calm their jittery nerves, the coffee chain's redesigned iOS app went live today, one day late, enabling digital tipping and an easier way to pay for your order at the counter.
The upgraded app was introduced to the world a week ago, but it is now appearing in the Apple App Store for download. The news that it was up and running was made during the company's annual shareholder meeting. No reason was given for the one-day delay.
The revamp includes an improved user interface and in addition to being able to tip a barista without handing over any money coffee lovers can now quickly bring up their reward card bar code through a shake of their hand to easily pay for their order.
The new and improved app is only for iPhones, Android users will have to keep a few extra dollars on hand to tip until their app is released later this year, the company said.
Tipping is very simple using the app. The person is prompted and given the option of leaving a $.50, $1 or $2 tip. Starbucks' workers should expect to receive a healthy number of tips as digital tipping was one of the most often received suggestions the coffee house chain has received to improve its app. Digital tipping is only for U.S.-based workers.
The company said adding the tipping function made sense as leaving your cash at home and paying digital is catching on. About 11 percent of Starbuck's customers use their smartphone to pay for an order each week, and overall, about 10 million people are using the mobile app.
The new look itself lets reward card holders see the their points, the Starbucks Pick of the Week, along with a list of your recent transactions. And since nothing is truly updated unless it interacts with social media, the app now lets the user release their reward levels to their own personal Internet followers.
The app's other features were not altered. People can still pay with their phone, check their rewards history, dig for promotions, reload their Starbuck's Card, find stores and send virtual gift cards to friends. 7,000 Starbucks locations around the United States are configured to take smartphone payments.
