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As schools determine what fall will look like on campus, technologies like mobile ordering will prove key as they enable a safe and distanced return

Why mobile ordering plays a key role in campus leaders’ fall 2021 plans


As schools determine what fall will look like on campus, technologies like mobile ordering will prove key as they enable a safe and distanced return

Across the nation, higher-ed institutions are announcing their plans to resume full or close-to-full on-campus operations in the fall, with many requiring all faculty, staff, and students to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 before returning to campus.

Aside from pared-down sports venues and distanced workstations in campus libraries, administrators are working overtime to identify all areas where contactless solutions and smartphone apps can reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19.

Campus dining facilities are one of the largest and most consistent spots where students gather, and many schools have adapted their dining services to accommodate COVID-19 precautions.

Institutions including the University of Wyoming and Austin Peay State University are incorporating mobile ordering capabilities for enhanced health and safety precautions.

“In today’s environment, health and safety are paramount, and everyone is looking for efficient and safe ways to serve customers,” says Stephanie Lownds, marketing and campus relations coordinator for the University of Wyoming’s Residence Life and Dining Services. “We are confident that [mobile ordering] will be a viable way of providing our community with reduced risk, and contactless and convenient access to campus dining options.”

The flexibility that comes with on-campus technologies like mobile ordering is in increasingly high demand. A recent Barnes and Noble Education survey demonstrates that while in-person learning will always maintain its value, technology will allow the future of higher education to become more accessible, and more desirable, to students. In fact, 69 percent of students in that survey said more flexibility was a key need.

As institutions announce plans to welcome students back to campus in the fall, looking for unique ways to serve students while adhering to social distancing requirements and continue to facilitate the need to limit person-to-person interaction is everyone’s goal.

Join a virtual town hall discussion to learn from a panel of campus leaders who are using mobile ordering to serve students and faculty while maintaining social distancing.

Topics include:
• Key considerations before implementing and adopting a mobile ordering operation
• Best practices and key strategies for implementing mobile ordering on your campus
• Unique uses of mobile ordering beyond campus dining operations

Register now for the May 11 discussion: Preparing for Back to School with Transact Mobile Ordering – A Powerful Tool to Enforce Social Distancing.

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Laura Ascione
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