In a world where convenience reigns supreme, a new app is redefining the coffee experience for aficionados across the UAE and beyond. The innovative mobile app ‘BEANZ’ serves as a personalized hub, enabling users to discover top specialty coffee shops, place orders in advance, bypass long lines, and access exclusive rewards—all from a single, user-friendly platform.

Key Takeaways

  • Personalized Coffee Experience: Users can select everything from coffee beans to milk and toppings.
  • Convenience: Order ahead and skip long lines at coffee shops.
  • Loyalty Rewards: Access a global loyalty program connecting users to local coffee shops.
  • Future Expansion: Plans to expand beyond the UAE to other GCC countries.

The birth of BEANZ came from a mix of frustration and love. Co-founder Ali S. shared, "It was fueled by both my own love for specialty coffee combined with the frustrations I faced as a customer sometimes while getting held up at the shop’s traffic." This inspired him to create a solution that not only made ordering and picking up coffee easier and faster but also provided a global loyalty program connecting people to great local coffee shops.

Initially launched in 2021, BEANZ emerged from a desire to enhance coffee culture in the UAE while streamlining the ordering process. Recognizing the region’s distinct coffee culture, where people often gather in coffee shops with friends and family, BEANZ was designed to offer a convenient alternative that stands out from the crowded delivery market.

Originally introduced in Al Ain, the app is now operating throughout the UAE, Oman, and Qatar, with plans for further expansion across the GCC.

Features of BEANZ

  • Customizable Orders: Users can craft their coffee experience from start to finish.
  • Order Management System: Automates the process, enabling quick order placements and minimizing wait times.
  • Curbside Pickup: Customers can pick up their orders without leaving their vehicles.
  • Dine-In Convenience: Scanning a QR code allows customers to browse menus, place orders, and collect loyalty stamps seamlessly.

Ali explains, "It bridges the gap between coffee shops and coffee lovers by not only making it the most convenient app to pick up your coffee with but also a popular gifting app that lets you gift your besties their favorite drinks or menu items from their favorite coffee shops." He emphasizes that coffee is not just a drink; it is a big part of socializing that brings people together.

Once an order is placed through the app, customers can pick it up curbside while remaining in their vehicles or collect it inside the store, skipping long waits. For dine-in customers, scanning a QR code allows them to browse the menu, place orders, make payments, and collect loyalty stamps—all in one seamless experience.

Looking Ahead

The app’s unique digital stamp card for free coffees and gifting features is designed to enhance customer engagement, making it a delight for coffee aficionados. Looking towards the future, Ali expresses a bold vision for the app: “Our aim is not only to make our app accessible to all the coffee lovers in the region but also to take it global. Everyone should have an easier, faster, and more fruitful experience when ordering their coffee, and we’re striving to provide everybody with that same standard.”

By partnering with a carefully curated selection of coffee shops in the UAE, the venture aims to provide a platform for independent local brands to reach a broader audience.

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