Subway Refreshing Store Designs With Self-Order Kiosks That Support Apple Pay

Monday July 17, 2017 7:37 AM PDT by Mitchel Broussard
Subway today unveiled an all-new "fresh forward" redesign coming to 12 pilot locations at its restaurants throughout the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, which includes self-order kiosks in select locations that support checking out via Apple Pay and Samsung Pay. Subway has long supported Apple Pay as a payments option during the traditional check-out process in its restaurants.

The new kiosks will allow customers to browse Subway's full menu, craft their sandwich order, and then check out with a credit card, debit card, Apple Pay, or Samsung Pay.


There will be a designated food preparation and pick-up area for orders made through the new kiosks, on the Subway mobile app, and with Facebook Messenger's Subway chatbot. The company said that this will help speed up food preparation time for both digital orders and for customers waiting in the basic check-out line.
Digital: Self-order kiosks in select locations, digital menu boards and, as always, Apple and Samsung Pay options. Guests enjoy a speedy Subway® experience with a separate food preparation area and a designated pre-order pick-up location for kiosk, mobile app, delivery, catering and bot for Messenger orders.
The Subway redesign will also include dining areas with USB charging ports so customers can fuel up their smartphones and tablets while they eat, as well as complimentary Wi-Fi, menu changes, and new decor.

The "fresh forward" Subway design is launching today at the following locations: Tamarac, FL; Orlando, FL (2 locations); Winter Park, FL; Chula Vista, CA; Knoxville, TN; Palmview, TX; Hillsboro, OR; Vancouver, WA; Beauport, QC; Granby, QC; and Manchester, U.K.

Subway said that, "Many elements of the new brand identity will be worldwide by the end of 2017."

Related Roundup: Apple Pay
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PinkyMacGodess
23 months ago
I was yelled at at the grocery by a checkout girl who said that I could 'save time' by going through the self pay. I said that I'd rather 'save her job' by bothering her and making her actually do something other than stand there (obviously paraphrased). The look on her face was priceless. How stupid do people have to get? I was shocked...
Rating: 22 Votes
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KPOM
23 months ago

I was yelled at at the grocery by a checkout girl who said that I could 'save time' by going through the self pay. I said that I'd rather 'save her job' by bothering her and making her actually do something other than stand there (obviously paraphrased). The look on her face was priceless. How stupid do people have to get? I was shocked...

Long term the trend is inevitable. 100 years ago 40% of jobs were in agriculture. Now 2% are.

This time around even skilled jobs are at risk of automation. Computers are getting good at reading documents and analyzing data. Humans will adapt but it will hurt some people and help others along the way.
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Regardless of the minimum wage, screens and robots will displace all these jobs. Over the lifespan of a kiosk or an intelligent barista-robot, it will work out to something miniscule like $0.01/hour.

It accelerates the process, though.

The WSJ had an op-ed today that suggested that schools prioritize teaching coding over other subjects such as foreign languages.
Rating: 7 Votes
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adm58
23 months ago
Regardless of the minimum wage, screens and robots will displace all these jobs. Over the lifespan of a kiosk or an intelligent barista-robot, it will work out to something miniscule like $0.01/hour.
Rating: 5 Votes
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filmantopia
23 months ago
Retail/cashier is only the most common job in the country. Surely this isn't something we should be concerned about at all.
Rating: 5 Votes
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Relentless Power
23 months ago

I don't understand what you are saying.

Last month: Apple Pay accepted in subway
Today: Apple Pay accepted in subway

The only difference is now you can use a non-apple-provided computer kiosk to order instead of talking to a "sandwich artist."

If subway gets new cash registers that still support Apple Pay is that also big Apple news?


Should that stop Macrumors from reporting other articles relating to vendors (KFC, Walgreens, Starbucks) or affiliations that update their Apple Pay system as well? Does this article negate it from being Apple related news because it doesn't fit your narrative of what should be reported? That's the point.


It's still Apple related news, being Subway is is a long supporter of Apple Pay, contrary to not being related directly to Apple products or insider information, but you already acknowledged it by stating :

"Take away the Apple Pay and this story is "mediocre sandwich chain does stuff unrelated to apple."

Again, if you didn't have an Apple Pay relation to Subway, then there be no point in this article is existence, but it's still related no matter how view it, you just don't agree with it.
Rating: 4 Votes
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spazzcat
23 months ago

Not to mention the fact that when I ask for cucumber on my foot long sandwich, at least I'm there to ask for more as they try to put only one or two on.


The subway I used to go to for lunch would charge you extra if you asked for more after they only put two on the sandwich. I stopped going to subway.
Rating: 3 Votes
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ArtOfWarfare
23 months ago
Now just have a robot that puts ingredients on the rolls and the only thing you'll need people for anymore is stocking and cleaning.

Not that those are particularly difficult jobs for robots, just I think existing stores will require more of a redesign for robots to perform those tasks.
Rating: 3 Votes
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dannyyankou
23 months ago
I just want to see them prepare my sandwich, it’s not really the most sanitary conditions back there.
Rating: 3 Votes
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cmaier
23 months ago
Not sure why this is "apple" news. Subway already supports Apple Pay. Been using it there for months. At least around here they do. Take away the Apple Pay and this story is "mediocre sandwich chain does stuff unrelated to apple."
Rating: 3 Votes
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BigMcGuire
23 months ago

You can already do all of this in Subway's app at all stores (not just a test market). ... Only bad part is I don't think their app actually takes in app ApplePay...you need to give them your real card info. ;-(


Yes, most of the restaurants I go to now have an app where you can order before hand. Jersey Mikes, El Pollo Loco, Subway, etc... I like it - saves the wait in line.

Self checkout is actually SLOWER than being checked out by a cashier. Self checkout is only beneficial if it's available or if the person in front of you actually know what they're doing.

The number of bodies has a larger effect on wait time than the number of items a person has. So pick the line with the least amount of bodies, whether that's self checkout or cashier.


This. I don't get these things. I used one yesterday and had to sit around waiting for several long minutes for one of the reps to come by and verify I bagged everything correctly because the machine sensed extra weight in the bagging area. She didn't even verify anything, just put in her key, typed in a code, and ran off to the other misbehaving self checkouts.

What sucks is ... Target now has even FEWER manned checkout lanes than they used to thanks to these self checkouts. Out of their 20+ checkouts only one or two has a person at it.

I don't like this trend but I can see how it is inevitable.
Rating: 3 Votes
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