With recent renovations of the University Commons and Hawk’s Nest in 2014, and the additions of Subway and Starbucks in 2015, the University of Hartford continues to strive to enhance the dining options on campus. Now, UHart Dining Services is taking it one step further by bringing food ordering into the future with the Tapingo food-ordering mobile app.
Available for download on iOS and Android mobile devices, Tapingo allows users to order food at select campus dining locations to be picked up without having to wait in line.
This means that students now might be able to fit food into their busy schedules when they’re in a rush.
They can order food a few minutes before leaving their dorms or before arriving on campus, and then grab it on the way to class. They could also place an order a few minutes before their class ends so that they don’t have to try to beat the lunch rush and can avoid having to wait in long lines.
It is currently available for use at Einstein Bros. Bagels, Burger Studio and Extreme Pita in the Gengras Student Union, Starbucks in Mortensen Library, Hawk’s Nest below the University Commons, and Subway in the Konover Campus Center.
Often times, the line at Starbucks will be backed up to the entrance of Mortensen Library, and many students will decide that it’s not worth the time to wait in line.
“I’m usually a patient person, but if the line is too long and I have to go somewhere, then I probably won’t wait,” junior Natalie Ewashkow said, who is a resident on campus.
When signing up for a Tapingo account to use the app, users will be asked to input their University of Hartford email address, their ID Card number and phone number. Dining Dollars are available to be used as payment through the app. There is also an option to input credit card information.
Ordering food with Tapingo is as simple as the click of a button — or in this case, the touch of a screen. It simply takes opening the app, choosing the dining location and inputting an order. The order will be sent over and a wait time will be given back to the customer. Once their order is ready, the customer will receive a text message notification and they can simply walk over and grab their items without having to wait in line.
“If [other students] have classes that they’re going to, and just want to get a cup of coffee right before class, it might be more convenient for them,“ Ewashkow said. “I know people that try to wait it out in line and maybe walk in late to class because they just really need that cup of coffee.”
Tapingo was launched in 2012 at five campuses and has now grown to serve more than 100 college campuses across the U.S. and Canada. In Oct. 2015, it was announced that Tapingo would expand its services through partnership with the Aramark Corporation, who serves as the University of Hartford food services contractor.
Representatives from Tapingo will be on campus next week to give an official launch at the University of Hartford. They will be set up with tables in the Gengras Student Union Tuesday–Thursday, and will be giving away free goodies for those who have signed up.