Long lines, wait times: students react to Dunkin’s new mobile ordering
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Syracuse University students can now order Dunkin’ ahead from their phones, but the first few days with the university’s new system didn’t exactly shorten the line snaking around Schine Student Center.
Monday marked the first day students were able to use the mobile ordering app at Dunkin’, and despite the new option, the long line of students on the first floor of Schine still remained.
For some students, it was the wait time displayed on the app that dissuaded them from using the new system.
“I just didn’t think of it today,” SU student Harrison Quinn said. “I think I’ll probably use it in the future. The last time I looked at it though, the wait time was like a half an hour so (I) just thought it’d be quicker to wait in line.”
SU’s Senior Vice President and Chief Operations Officer John Papazoglou first announced the plans for a mobile ordering system at a Student Government Association meeting on April 2o. The system uses the Transact Mobile Ordering app, allowing students to place orders online from anywhere on campus rather than waiting to order in person.
“We are excited to bring this technology to the Syracuse campus,” Papazoglou said in a statement to The Daily Orange. “We are continually looking for ways to enhance the dining experience for our campus community, and we believe mobile ordering will make it quicker and easier to access our retail locations.”
Director of Information Technology Mark Romano, who aided Papazoglou in the beta testing process, did not immediately respond to The D.O.’s request for comment.
While some students avoided the app because of its wait times, others simply hadn’t learned how to use it yet. Junior Jaxen Pniewski said she didn’t know how to place a mobile order with the Transact Mobile ordering app and wanted to avoid the wait time, so she decided to join the regular line instead.
A representative from the university was helping people in line learn how to use the mobile ordering app, Quinn said, but not all students were approached or received instructions.
“I don’t know how to, so I just didn’t,” Pniewski said. “I’ve heard people try to mobile order and it took a long time…so you might as well just wait in the line.”
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Syracuse University dining rolls out mobile ordering, starting at Dunkin’
Syracuse University launched mobile ordering capabilities for on-campus dining locations on Monday. It’s set to start at Dunkin’ in Schine Student Center with plans for expansion later in the semester.
For some students, mobile ordering has improved their daily routines.
Sophomore Nicole Lei said she used the app and found the ordering process to be easy. However, she also said the wait time for her order was listed as 40 minutes, but she was able to pick up her drink much sooner.
Junior Julia Morrissette said she’s used mobile ordering twice since its launch and has been able to order before leaving class and have it ready by the time she arrives at Schine. Morrissette noted that the app limits users’ ability to add certain customizations like flavors and syrups.
“(Mobile ordering) makes it easier and saves a lot of time, especially if you’re grabbing (an order) before class. It can be ready when you get there,” Morrissette said. “But I think if you want certain things you might have to wait in line.”
In addition to the mobile ordering, Dunkin’ has new, more modern ordering kiosks with larger screens that display pictures of food and drink items. Some students complained the new tablets made the lines longer as customers weren’t sure how to use them yet.
“I don’t mind it, but it’s obvious the line is going slower than it was in previous years,” senior Avery Zavod said of the new tablets. “I think there was no reason to switch it. It was kind of fine the way it was.”
The new development at Dunkin’ coincides with the opening of a Starbucks at Bird Library, along with several other new commercial dining installations across campus, including Einstein Bros. Bagels and Beyond Boba.
The close proximity of the Bird Library Starbucks to Schine’s Dunkin’ will push students to make the choice between which coffee shop line they’re willing to endure.
SU student Kierra Baxter found that the Starbucks line moved “quicker than expected,” while Lei said she plans to stick with Dunkin’ because it’s cheaper.
“I just personally think (Starbucks’) coffee is better. They give me the same coffee every single day,” Baxter said.
Assistant Digital Editor Owen Smith contributed reporting to this story.
