Localyser, a Middle East based online reputation management tool, has announced its partnership with retail conglomerate AZADEA Group for the latter’s F&B brands.
Among AZADEA Group’s F&B brands to be added to Localyser’s portfolio include Paul Bakery & Restaurant, Eataly, New Shanghai, Kosebasi and The Butcher Shop & Grill across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Jordan and Egypt.
“Our new partnership with AZADEA Group marks a momentous growth in our portfolio and I am extremely proud to be celebrating such a remarkable triumph. To cater to the needs of these multi-location brands, Localyser was established to offer an opportunity to aggregate their reviews at the location level to easily monitor, respond and analyse their reviews. With our industry knowledge and expertise, we are confident that we will work hand in hand with our new partner to further enhance their strategic customer engagement and experience across the region,” says Tarik Qahawish, founder and CEO of Localyser.
“Given our wide operations across the MENA region, we are constantly looking for opportunities to further elevate our customer experience. Within our extensive and growing F&B portfolio, this partnership represents a strategic transition for our online operations. While we continue to excel in first class customer experience on ground, we want to ensure the same level of standard is being met on our online platforms and Localyser presents this solution. Through our work together, we aim to further improve our online reputation, analyze the data for trends and feedback, and strategically augment our operations in all markets,” adds Mert Askin, president of food and beverage division at AZADEA Group.
In the region’s heavily saturated market, the significance of customer reviews and restaurant ratings is crucial for the success of a business. Consumers trust online reviews more than the company’s own description and self-promotion. A 2018 Businesses Consumer Review Survey reported that consumers read an average of 10 online reviews before being able to trust a business. In addition, a global study by Harvard Business School has found a positive correlation between a restaurant’s average rating and sales. It found that a one-star increase in rating leads to a 5-9% increase in revenue.
Founded in 2016, Localyser was established to address this pressing need for a more efficient method for multi-location brands to manage their online reputation. From one comprehensive platform, clients can quickly respond to reviews, analyse the performance of each location and brand, enhance their SEO marketing and digital presence and engage customers to generate more positive reviews, and ultimately sales. Localyser currently gathers reviews in all languages from a variety of platforms including Google, Facebook, TripAdvisor, Zomato, Talabat, Foursquare and Hunger Station.
Having aggregated 1.5 million reviews to date from both global and regional review sites, Localyser’s current portfolio includes an impressive database of 400 restaurant and entertainment clients across the MENA region with Meraas, Gourmet Gulf, McGettigans and Tarfeeh, to name a few. The most recent wins include Eathos, Saleh Bin Lahej and Global Catering Services.