Roxanne Gasana, Campus Carrier staff writer

Berry Dining Services opened mobile ordering at Viking Court last fall, changing how students interact with one of the busiest spots on campus. This makes it possible for students to order food on their phones, reducing foot traffic and congestion, shortening wait times and elevating the dining experience for the campus.

The system operates through Grubhub, a digital service that allows users to view dining locations, scroll through menus, customize meals and submit requests directly from their phones. While Grubhub was initially created for non-college restaurants and delivery, it has gradually expanded into higher education, partnering with schools to adapt its technology for campus dining systems. 

Prior to Grubhub, students expressed concerns of long wait times during rush hours. 

“I think everyone has had that moment where you walk in, see the line and seriously consider leaving,” sophomore Allison Garrett said. “Sometimes, you don’t have the time to wait, especially when you have a short break in between classes.” 

Customization has been a popular feature on the Grubhub app, specifically for Chick-fil-A, Freshens and Subway. Students can adjust toppings and sides and even add their allergies and dietary limitations to their order. This makes it easier for food service employees to accommodate dietary restrictions.

“Before you place your order, at least for Chick-fil-A and Java City, there are special requests where you can put in anything extra, and if you let them know you have an allergy, like tomatoes for example, they’re willing to use separate utensils,” sophomore Java City employee Charleen Yazo said. “At Java City, if somebody tells us, ‘Hey, I’m lactose intolerant,’ we’ll use a different spoon to mix your drink. I think having the special requests is making it sort of aware for allergies.”

For students with food allergies, sensitivities or dietary restrictions, campus dining can be a daily source of stress. During peak hours, students may not have the chance to explain their dietary requirements despite their best efforts. 

Now, students can review their selections and submit precise instructions. This reduces the likelihood of miscommunication and gives students greater confidence in what they are receiving.

Overall, while early reactions have been largely positive, the transition has not been entirely seamless from an 
employee’s perspective.

“It has not seemed to sort of pick up as much because some students are using it, and then those students are sort of the most frequent users of it, compared to the wider demographic of people who either don’t know about it or don’t know how to set it up,” Yazo said. “So, they’re still relying on physically placing their order at the location.”

A concern students have pointed out is whether mobile ordering could eventually reduce face-to-face interactions with staff. 

“I don’t mind conversations with people who work at Viking Court,” freshman Addison Drinnon said. “I hope that doesn’t disappear.”

While mobile ordering is currently being pushed forward, in-person ordering options don’t seem to be going away either. This new system, while beneficial, might bring about both challenges and opportunity. On busy days, staff must balance both mobile orders and traditional in-person orders. 

“People will be in the middle of their flow, you know, doing their physical orders, and then all of a sudden, a Grubhub order will pop up, and it makes a really loud beeping noise,” Yazo said. “We make sure to acknowledge the fact that your Grubhub order has come in.”

In addition to making employees’ lives smoother, the mobile ordering seems to be a response to student concerns about wait times and accessibility to food on campus. This mirrors other food ordering corporations like DoorDash and Uber Eats, where convenience is the largest factor.

Mobile ordering is intended to solve time management frustrations. Through the app, students can take their time looking through menus, customize their meals and place orders in advance. Students say they have already noticed a difference since the launch.

“I used to plan my day around avoiding Viking Court during those peak hours,” Garrett said. “Now, I’ll order while I’m walking from class and just pick it up. It saves so much time.”