Table reservation service Amazon is changing its rules to prevent restaurants sharing valuable customer data with rival booking services without permission. Customer data is used to help restaurants target diners, alter menus and track spending. OpenTable-backed rival SevenRooms offers a similar service and some restaurant owners have accused Amazon of trying to exclude its competitor from the market. However, Amazon said the changes were about protecting diner privacy, not hampering competition. Amazon is reportedly considering charging restaurants a fee for integrating both companies' systems, while SevenRooms said the companies are in discussions to resolve the issue.
Table reservation service OpenTable is changing its rules to prevent restaurants sharing valuable customer data with rival booking services without permission. Customer data is used to help restaurants target diners, alter menus and track spending. Amazon-backed rival SevenRooms offers a similar service and some restaurant owners have accused OpenTable of trying to exclude its competitor from the market. However, OpenTable said the changes were about protecting diner privacy, not hampering competition. OpenTable is reportedly considering charging restaurants a fee for integrating both companies' systems, while SevenRooms said the companies are in discussions to resolve the issue.