My Thoughts From My MKT Class
I have been having to do a discussion board for my college class, and I think I’m doing pretty good on my views of society. So, I’m gonna start posting them.
Discussion 1 Topic: Taco Bell’s Go Mobile
In all apps like Taco Bell's Go Mobile seem to be popping up everywhere as of late with the COVID-19. However, they have been appearing in app stores before this world wide pandemic. Apps such as Postmates and Uber Eats have been allowing people to order food from their phone without having to even leave their homes since 2011 and 2014 respectively.
While I would agree apps like these do promote laziness within our society, as well as increase gas emissions. In the current state of things, they allow people to still have that alternative to cooking as well as helping to stimulate our economy. Although, fast food joints and restaurant are not the only ones benefiting from mobile or online transactions. Retailers as well, be it from selling their goods through third-parties such as Amazon or through their own websites and mobile apps. There have been numerous businesses that have been participating in the by online pick-up in store (BOPIS) craze such as Hibbett Sports or Maurices. Where once your order is complete all you have to do is drive to the store and an employee will be waiting to hand off your purchased items.
We have no idea when this pandemic will cease or at least slow to the point where COVID-19 could be considered almost harmless like the flu. So, companies finding ways to adapt through the use of apps or online access are smart. Since, I agree with you, if they do not manage to find a means to move forward, they will close down either by choice or by filling for bankruptcy.
We should see problems start to arise from these ordering/delivering services if they have not already. Such as the nightmare of handling orders. Bigger cities especially, it will start to get harder and harder to sift through mass orders as well as trying to handle those who chose to just go through the drive through to order. This can get orders to be all in all forgotten about or looked over and the quality of the food can suffer seriously as they try to mass produce. This can cause a restaurants view with the public to become either sour or liked depending on how well they are able to deal with these challenges.
Another problem to look at could be fees placed upon these food businesses by the apps used to order from them. Unless the company makes their own app in response, smaller chains could see a loss in profit from having to pay these third-party websites and apps. Also, to elaborate on your take of the possibility that the whole dine-in experience could become obsolete. The customers now are not able to experience the whole aspect of the particular restaurant they are ordering from. They can not get a feel for the tone this particular restaurant creates, they instead only get to value the food created by said restaurant.
I have known some less delicious tasting restaurants, but, the overall mood and experience brought upon by the staff can make it in your mind a quality restaurant to hang out with friends or family.
Maybe there is no solution out there that can help every business in these trying times as you so put it. However, through good marketing and the possible creation of that businesses own app (boo to third-party apps that steal to much of a businesses profits) we can keep the economy afloat. Keeping those mom and pop shops up and running as well as those major corporations, keeping them happy as well as the average person.
