US restaurant chain Chilis has revealed plans to introduce a new loyalty program powered by its in-branch tablets, as well as enabling customers to be alerted by text when reserved tables are ready.

Parent company Brinker International detailed plans to introduce the loyalty program, My Chilis Reward, during its third quarter earnings call, outlining the fully digital loyalty experience where guests can sign up using their mobile, online or through the brands instore Ziosk tablets, which can also be used to redeem points once they have been earned.

“Our focus is to drive incremental business, so we leverage guest feedback to craft a program that delivers what matters most to them,” said Wyman Roberts, CEO and President of Brinker International. “First, there are multiple ways to earn points. Second, the guest can choose any food item on the menu within their point balance rather than a limited set of options we choose for them. Third, they can split their check down to the item level and finally, their points dont expire as long as they dine with us at least once every four months.”

In addition, the company is adding a new feature to its existing app enabling guests to add their name to the wait list at their chosen branch and track their place in line, with notifications alerting them when their table is ready.

“With these investments in technology, we are building an infrastructure that enables us to gather meaningful data at every guest interaction from the host stand to Ziosk to our GEM surveys and we are leveraging that data to build a more personalised guest relationship and shift even more of our marketing spend towards a digital direct-to-consumer strategy,” said Roberts.