Taylor University has many background services that do not get much attention until something changes. One of those small things would be the dining app.
Several weeks ago Taylor Dining Services changed the app where students can look at their meal plan from Eatable to Tap & Eat.
Interim General Manager of Parkhurst Dining Services Stephanie Lang said that the app change is mostly for legal reasons. The Eatable app was developed by Creative Dining Services through a company called Nōwn. However, last semester, Taylor switched partners to work with Parkhurst instead of Creative Dining, which meant they had to find a new app, as Eatable was Creative Dining’s intellectual property.
Lang said that for the most part, the app transition went well, although some students had trouble if they used the wrong email when trying to sign in.
Student reactions to the change are mixed. Some, like sophomore Kate Mikels, have not had any problems with the app and appreciate some of the small changes like the faster load time and new color scheme.
Others have had a more frustrating time.
“I’m angry that we changed, because Tap & Eat won’t let me log in and use my email card number,” freshman Danielle Lilly said. “I think it was an unnecessary change.”
Lang said that the app is designed to look like the old one so that it will not be a big transition for students. She is still hopeful about the future of the app and the possibility of it providing more opportunities.
More communication is one of the goals of the app.
“I would love for the app to be able to have push notifications,” Lang said.
Something Lang wants the app to be able to do is update students about changes, like if the Dining Commons (DC) has to close unexpectedly, as it did a few weeks ago for repairs. She would also like the app to make the food experience at Taylor more accessible — letting students find out about specials at the Jumping Bean, or becoming a place students can leave comments about their food.
Mobile ordering is another potential option Lang was hoping for, but like most of these changes, it will not be happening in the next few weeks, but possibly the next few semesters.
