Punchh, a cloud-based technology platform that builds engagement, loyalty and superior, customized experiences in the restaurant industry, has announced that Apple Pay users visiting participating restaurants will soon be able to not only pay for their purchases, but earn and redeem rewards and loyalty points using Apple Wallet.

Punchh said in a press release that its Restaurant Marketing Cloud is the first platform that bridges the gap between restaurants and customers, empowering restaurants to shape personalized offers that attract and engage more meaningfully with loyal customers. Punchh's clients include more than 85 leading restaurant chains such as Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, El Pollo Loco, Moe's Southwest Grill, Pieology, Quiznos, and Smashburger.

"Consumers expect rich, digital experiences when they engage with the brands they love, and that includes being able to pay with their iPhone," Shyam Rao, Punchh CEO, said in the release. "By offering Apple Pay with Punchh-powered restaurant loyalty programs, we are not just facilitating a faster, easier and more secure method of payment to the industry, but enabling restaurants to tailor their experience in a way that drives increased visits and sales. It’s an industry game changer."

Brands including Smashburger, Quiznos, and MOD Pizza will be offering Apple Pay with the Punchh integrated solution starting later this year.

"By adding Apple Pay to our Punchh-powered mobile app, it will not only be easier for customers to pay with their iPhone, but join our loyalty and rewards program to start earning and redeeming points immediately," David Martinelli, senior director of marketing at Smashburger, in the release. "Since Apple Pay users will be prompted to join our loyalty program upon payment at the register, we believe that the opportunity to drive revenue growth through repeat visits and higher sales is enormous."