Staffing shortages and student expectations are pushing higher education institutions to rethink how they deliver retail and dining services. Students expect quick, tech-driven experiences on campus that match what they encounter off campus. Yet most campus convenience stores can only operate during staffed hours, missing the late-night and early-morning demand that defines student life.
In a recent OMNIA Partners webinar, “Transforming Retail Operations in Higher Ed,” panelists from the University of Dayton, Amazon, and OMNIA Partners shared how one campus converted its convenience store into a 24/7 retail operation and what happened next.
Panelists:
• Joan Bauman, Executive Director of Dining Services, University of Dayton
• Caleb Manning, Manager of the Emporium Just Walk Out Store, University of Dayton
• David Cobin, Head of Specialty Retail for North America, Amazon Just Walk Out Technology
• Brittany Enright, Regional Manager for Higher Education (Midwest), OMNIA Partners
• Drew Loxton (Moderator), Senior Editor Marketing, OMNIA Partners
Key Insights From the Webinar
1. The Labor and Access Problem Just Walk Out technology Solves:
- University of Dayton went from 12 full-time employees to 2 while maintaining the same revenue, freeing team members for higher-value roles across dining services
- The store now operates 24/7, serving students during hours that are hardest to staff
- 23% of all sales occur between 11 p.m. and 8 a.m., hours that were previously unserved
2. How the Technology Works on Campus:
- Students enter using a credit card, mobile wallet, or campus meal plan
- Computer vision, sensor fusion, and AI track item selections automatically
- Students grab what they need and walk out, charged only for what they took
- Average student visit lasts less than three minutes
3. Benefits Beyond Convenience:
- Loss prevention: The system captures nearly 99.9% of every transaction, virtually eliminating shrinkage
- Data-driven merchandising: Real-time insights on traffic patterns, purchasing trends, peak hours, and product performance enable weekly optimization
- Operational flexibility: The university can now close other dining units during breaks and direct students to the always-open Just Walk Out store
4. Scalability and Implementation:
- Currently deployed at 45+ institutions across the U.S., UK, Australia, and Canada
- Scales from 100 to 200 sq. ft. micro-markets up to 2,000+ sq. ft. stores
- Supports convenience stores, bookstores, merchandise/athletics retail, and coffee shops
- University of Dayton’s full remodel and implementation took approximately 18 months (including construction delays), with a May 2023 opening that allowed summer troubleshooting before fall student arrival
More From the Discussion
The panelists also explored how the technology integrates with existing campus meal plan systems, mobile locker solutions for deli orders, RFID technology for merchandise and athletics retail, the ease of training student workers on handheld devices, and how OMNIA Partners’ cooperative purchasing contract simplifies procurement for institutions.
“If you don’t have this technology, I would use it for the 24/7 option. We do 23% of our sales between 11 p.m. and 8 a.m. That’s the time people do not want to work most of the time. If you’re teetering on the fence, I’d pull the trigger on it.” - Caleb Manning, University of Dayton
Watch the full on-demand recording below to hear the complete discussion, then contact us to connect to discuss implementation options for your institution.
