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2019 may very well become known as the year of <a href="https://1851franchise.com/qsr-magazine-mobile-ordering-races-to-a-38-billion-future-2704150">mobile ordering</a> in the QSR and fast casual segments. While brands in the industry continue to develop new ways for customers to order their food online—whether it be <a href="https://1851franchise.com/third-party-delivery-apps-continue-to-take-over-the-game-2710464">third-party delivery</a>, <a href="https://1851franchise.com/pizza-hut-to-test-cubbie-system-pick-up-location-in-los-angeles-2710559">cubbie pick up</a>,<a href="https://1851franchise.com/domino-s-plans-on-using-self-driving-delivery-vehicles-in-houston-2710273"> self-driving cars</a> or <a href="https://1851franchise.com/look-up-your-next-meal-may-be-arriving-via-drone-2710797">even drones</a>—it seems that the newest trend might be <a href="https://www.restaurantdive.com/news/chick-fil-a-diners-can-now-order-from-their-table/565229/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=who-needs-a-server-the-dine-in-mobile-ordering-trend-is-picking-up-steam-2711340" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">ordering not from your phone...but from the table.</a>Chick-fil-A launched dine-in mobile ordering Thursday, which allows guests to order from a table instead of waiting in line, <a href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/chick-fil-a-announces-dine-in-mobile-ordering-300940827.html?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=who-needs-a-server-the-dine-in-mobile-ordering-trend-is-picking-up-steam-2711340" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">according to a press release</a>. Guests place a dine-in order via the Chick-fil-A app, scan a smartphone to a table number and a team member will deliver the order to the table using the table number. Customers can also use the feature to order additional items following their meals without having to walk to the counter.Chick-fil-A isn’t the first to test out this convenient, yet somewhat anti-social, ordering method. In 2014, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/panera-bread-is-making-4-important-changes-to-restaurants-2014-10?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=who-needs-a-server-the-dine-in-mobile-ordering-trend-is-picking-up-steam-2711340" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Panera started offering table delivery</a> as part of its Panera 2.0 release, seeking to <a href="https://1851franchise.com/top-25-brands-to-watch-in-fast-casual-8228">create a more polished version of fast casual</a> service by allowing customers to simply walk into the restaurant, take a seat and wait for their order.&nbsp;Earlier this year, <a href="https://www.foodnewsfeed.com/content/bjs-restaurants-test-dine-pre-ordering-allset?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=who-needs-a-server-the-dine-in-mobile-ordering-trend-is-picking-up-steam-2711340" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">BJ's Restaurant tested a dine-in pre-ordering technology</a> with <a href="https://allsetnow.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=who-needs-a-server-the-dine-in-mobile-ordering-trend-is-picking-up-steam-2711340" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Allset</a> that allowed customers to reserve a table, order ahead and pay the check before even getting to the restaurant. This technology represents a strategy for making fast casual even faster, finding the middle ground for busy consumers who still want to go out to eat. As digital ordering becomes the norm, order-ahead options allow for increased <a href="https://1851franchise.com/on-the-go-business-travelers-prove-to-be-an-important-demographic-for-qsr-and-fast-casual-franchises-2710927#stories">dine-in business among on-the-go mobile customers</a>.Other major fast casual players, including Dine Brands—parent company of IHOP and Applebee’s—<a href="https://nypost.com/2018/06/10/applebees-tests-way-to-order-on-the-run-and-eat-in/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=who-needs-a-server-the-dine-in-mobile-ordering-trend-is-picking-up-steam-2711340" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">started experimenting with this type of technology last summer.</a> In fact, the CEO of Applebee’s claimed that the mobile dine-in approach could be like “converting casual dining to fast food.”Although at first glance the mobile, order-ahead trend sounds like it could create less human-to-human contact, the capability could prove to streamline operations and therefore give employees more time to focus on customer service.

Who Needs a Server? The Dine-In Mobile Ordering Trend Is Picking Up Steam

1851 Franchise

Chick-fil-A is launching a new service that will let customers order online from within the store, but the chain isn’t the only one.

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Layne's Chicken Fingers

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 Layne’s Chicken Fingers Crosses Mid-Year Mark With 11 New Restaurants Opened, Including the First Time the Brand has Seen Two Openings on the Same Day on July 14

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HomeTeam Inspection Service

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HomeTeam Inspection Service Franchise Owners Diversify Income With Multi-Service Model

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Right at Home

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Right at Home Franchise Owner Jennifer Selden To Share Franchise Journey, Sparked by Personal Care Experiences

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Paris Baguette Canada

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What Paris Baguette Franchisees Have To Say About Their Experiences

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Gregory Brewer To Share 20-Year Franchise Journey With Right at Home in Upcoming Webinar

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Who Needs a Server? The Dine-In Mobile Ordering Trend Is Picking Up Steam

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