Operators generally employ payment apps to move toward "frictionless" checkout, but one college's new payment platform actually gives foodservice employees a bit more face time with customers. Southwestern College, a 1,300-student institution in Winfield, Kan., adopted "pay with your selfie" technology in late October. Its FreshX system, which uses Bluetooth beacon technology, eliminates the need for meal plan cards and encourages customer interaction, according to the school. As soon as students walk in the dining hall door, a selfie they've uploaded to their FreshX app pops up on the dining employees' POS, allowing the staff to greet students by name and make suggestions based on previous purchases. Students then approve charges from their smartphones.
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