Wilmington-based Untappd has partnered with SevenRooms to bring more tools to the hospitality industry as a means to boost business and sales in light of the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

With the partnership, Untappd, through its Untappd for Business segment, will open up avenues for customer discounts to SevenRooms' guest management platform to enable tech solutions -- from reservations and waitlists to digital menus and contactless payment -- to help with customer and staff safety, according to a news release.

"While this will not result in any immediate hires, this partnership is a part of our larger effort to better serve our audience," said Trace Smith, CEO of Untappd, in an email. "As our user base and platform grows, we expect our Wilmington team to grow as well."

With access to Untappd's and SevenRooms' platforms, restaurant and bar owners will be able to provide technology to customers for a "tailored experience that prioritizes health and safety," stated the release.

Untappd for Business provides software for restaurants, bars and breweries to increase their reach and visibility and engage with customers digitally, stated the release. Next Glass Inc. is the parent company of Untappd, which is headquartered downtown. Untappd is a social app for beer drinkers.

"Like most industries, the food and beverage industry is facing new challenges today that have not been faced before, which is putting a massive strain on operations," Smith said in the release. "At Untappd, we believe in the power of technology to provide solutions to even the most difficult obstacles, which is what our partnership with SevenRooms is all about. We are excited to complete this partnership to be part of the solution for restaurants and bars everywhere."

Many restaurants and bars have operated their reservation systems manually. But the COVID-19 pandemic prompted a growing need for the industry to bring more digital solutions for customers, stated the release.

"In this new era for hospitality, restaurants, bars and breweries should look to technology to help them navigate changing regulations, updated operational procedures and shifting business priorities," Joel Montaniel, CEO and co-founder of SevenRooms, said in the release.

"Using SevenRooms, Untappd clients will have access to a wide array of tools that will help them address the new needs of their guests, from online reservations and virtual waitlists, to events and experiences -- both in-person and online," Montaniel added.