It's An Online World
By Kiarah M. Williams
Spectrum Staff Writer
Before smartphones and apps, the easiest form of getting outside food without doing too much work was going through a drive-thru or ordering delivery. Now in the 21st century, there are easier ways to order your food and groceries without having to leave your house or car.
It is rare to find a store that does not have an app that you can download because almost all grocery stores and restaurants have apps for the public to use. What stands out is what each app allows you to do each one has special qualities.
Target has an app that allows you to find items and where you can find them in the Target that is closest to you. Also, the Target app allows you to order your groceries online and choose whether you want them delivered to your house or you can drive up and an associate brings your stuff to your car.
Places without drive-thrus have used the app to create a way for customers to get food quickly without waiting in lines. For example, Chipotle their app allows you to order your food and pay for it through the app and decide what time you want to pick your food up. Therefore, when you get to chipotle you can bypass the line go to the pick-up shelf grab your food, and don’t have to wait in a long line. This process is similar to the Panera Bread app as well because they don’t have a drive-thru either.
On the other hand, drive-thrus are not the quickest way to get food either. Fast Food restaurants with drive-thrus have used apps to their advantage in this industry. Chick-fil-A does well with moving quickly through the line however it can still be a long wait. Their app allows you to order your food and when you arrive at Chick-fil-a you pull into a designated parking spot and they bring your food to your car. This process is similar to the McDonald’s app.
Delivery has even changed when it came to ordering food over the phone it wasn’t always super easy. Sometimes the person taking your order did not hear you correctly and the wrong thing gets sent to your house. Also, if you pay for your food with a card reading your number over the phone can be a lot of work. In these times, the delivery process has been simpler by just ordering and paying through an app. Some apps such as Dominos allows you to track the driver bringing your food.
With all these different apps for grocery stores and restaurants acquiring food should be extremely easy especially in these times where people do not want to be near others.