Image may be NSFW.
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A cup of coffee can be a luxury to be savored or simply a necessity in order to function properly during the workday. Whether you have time to sit at the counter and listen to the Starbucks’ Coffee Masters explain how your coffee is being prepared, or not, Starbucks has you covered. Time-starved and digitally savvy individuals can use the Mobile Order & Pay feature in the Starbucks app and beat the queue. While you’re on the train, for instance, you can order, customize and pay for a drink that you can pick up at the Starbucks outlet near the train station you’re alighting at.
I got to try the ‘Holiday French Vanilla’ available only during this holiday season:
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The beautiful pastel blue color is said to be inspired by Frozen II. Image may be NSFW.
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*Psst: Spend a minimum of $10 using the Starbucks card and you will receive a free reusable cold cup with a cute teddy bear print. Just claimed mine yesterday! Image may be NSFW.
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Image may be NSFW.
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Coffee Master Shafiqah sharing a lighthearted moment with Minister Ng Chee Meng, who had joked that the drink he’d just customized via the Starbucks app looks like stout when handed to him.
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Minister Ng Chee Meng in his attempt at latte art, guided by Coffee Master Siew Hui, as the General Manager of Starbucks Singapore, Mr Patrick Kwok, looks on.
I think that this Mobile Order & Pay feature is not just useful for folks who want to grab-and-go. I think it might even be beneficial to people who are having their drink (and even food) in-store. Here’s why I think so:
If I’ve got my laptop and stuff all laid out on one of the tables at Starbucks, but I need another drink or some light bites, I would be hesitant to keep everything and bring them with me to the counter (‘cos the table might be occupied by someone else the minute I leave) or just leave them there while I go place my order (because something might get stolen – low crime doesn’t mean no crime, ya?). But with the app, I can order while still at my seat, pay, and only collect when my drink or food is ready.
Similarly, when salespeople (such as insurance agents) are meeting their clients or prospects at Starbucks, it would be helpful if they could spend those precious minutes chatting instead of queuing to place the order and then waiting (even longer) for the food and drinks to be prepared.
So I have to say that this mobile ordering and payment system is something I expect most customers will appreciate. I guess the only time you’d really not want to use the app is when someone cute is manning the counter and you would really prefer to chat instead of placing an order via the app. Image may be NSFW.
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Also, I might be wrong but when I was using the app for the first time yesterday, I could not seem to locate the special ‘off-the-menu’ drinks. I’d wanted to get the Cotton Candy Frappuccino but couldn’t seem to find it. So I placed my order at the counter instead. If you’re getting one of the regular drinks, then yes, I think you’d certainly have no trouble ordering via mobile app.
App aside, Starbucks has also partnered the Employment and Employability Institute (e2i) to equip at least 2,000 Starbucks employees – store managers, district managers and baristas – with a suite of new adaptive, technical and technological skills by the end of 2020. Companies looking at preparing their employees to be Worker 4.0 should, likewise, enlist the help of e2i.