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NexDine will offer technology designed to improve customer experience, including real time customer feedback. |
A new food services provider, NexDine, will begin operating UMass Medical School’s Albert Sherman Center Café next month, with a grand opening scheduled for March 4.
“NexDine is a young, tech-driven company,” said Bill Tsaknopoulos, director of auxiliary services for UMMS. “Its goal is to provide high-quality food and great customer service.”
NexDine will also take over management of UMMS food services at Biotech Two and South Street and will provide catering services to the UMMS community at all three locations.
Now in its tenth year, NexDine is based in Mansfield. The company focuses on fresh ingredients, quality and local sourcing.
“Unlike many other companies, we do not use cycle menus that repeat themselves every four to six weeks,” said David Chechik, vice president at NexDine. “Our chefs create menus based on the preferences of the guests we serve in each location. What we feature at the Worcester campus may be inherently different that what we offer at South Street.”
Technology designed to improve customer experience will be added after the initial opening. NexDine will launch an online mobile ordering service so that food is ready for pickup when customers arrive. On-site pre-ordering kiosks and self-checkout are meant to shorten lines. Also, customers will be able to access a live-feed camera of the café from their desks or smart phones to see how busy it may be at peak times.
Guests will also have the ability to provide feedback through NexDine’s mobile survey program. “This provides us with real-time data and the opportunity to respond immediately to customer comments, suggestions and concerns” said Chechik.
The café will be closed for minor renovations from Wednesday, Feb. 27, through Friday, March 1. During that time, local restaurants will set up food carts on the first floor of the Sherman Center. Food service in the hospital’s cafeteria, the Remillard Pavilion and the Ambulatory Care Center will continue under current management.
