The Journey of Dalina
Located in the heart of Vancouver’s Chinatown—with a second café in Kits on West Broadway—Dalina has become a community staple.
At Dalina, every guest is treated like a VIP. Whether someone is grabbing a quick latte or settling in for a slow brunch, the team prides itself on making each customer feel seen, valued, and welcomed.
The Challenge: Meeting New Guest Expectations
Like a lot of cafés, Dalina started noticing a shift in how guests wanted to order. More people were short on time, contactless ordering mattered more, and expectations around convenience were higher than ever.
Stephanie Kayser, Dalina’s Director of Operations, knew it was time to evolve—without losing that warm, personal touch Dalina is known for.
“I wanted to make sure I was using technology that felt relevant and was evolving.”
– Stephanie Kayser, Director of Operations at Dalina
Around the same time, Dalina made a big operational move by switching to Square POS. That opened the door to the next question: how do we add mobile ordering in a way that actually fits our brand and our standards?
Finding the Right Fit
Stephanie looked at a few options, but the goal was always the same: make ordering faster and easier for guests, while still feeling very Dalina.
They wanted their own app, not a third-party experience, and they wanted a partner they could actually talk to.
That’s where Craver came in.
“We knew we wanted our own mobile ordering app. We chose Craver and they’ve been a great partner.”
– Stephanie Kayser, Director of Operations at Dalina
Between the smooth Square integration, brand customization, and a hands-on support team, the choice felt easy.
Bringing the App to Life
Craver worked closely with Dalina to build a mobile app that looked and felt like an extension of the café itself.
For guests in a rush (especially commuters heading downtown), the app made ordering ahead simple and stress-free.
“Any time that a customer who’s in a rush can make an order while they’re on the bus, we can get on top of it and have it ready when they walk in.”
– Stephanie Kayser, Director of Operations at Dalina
Behind the counter, Dalina’s team found the tools just as easy to work with:
- An easy-to-use backend
- Smooth menu and price updates
- A customer-friendly loyalty tracker
- Fast, accessible support anytime they need it
“What’s different about Craver is they’re always accessible… there’s always a person I can reach out to.”
– Stephanie Kayser, Director of Operations at Dalina
The Results
Since launching their Craver-powered app, Dalina has seen real benefits across service, operations, and profitability.
A major win has been moving customers away from third-party delivery platforms.
“We’ve seen big gains in converting our third-party delivery to our white-label Craver app. Any customer that we’re able to service through Craver is a win.”
– Stephanie Kayser, Director of Operations at Dalina
That means lower fees, stronger customer relationships, and more control over the guest experience, all while keeping service smooth during busy rushes.
Looking Ahead
For Dalina, Craver has become more than just a mobile app provider—they’re a long-term partner.
“The nice thing about Craver is if you have an issue or a new menu rolling out, you know you can reach somebody… you do have a partner that’s going to help you through that process. That is invaluable.”
– Stephanie Kayser, Director of Operations at Dalina
By combining strong community roots with modern technology, Dalina continues to raise the bar for what a café experience can be.
Craver remains central to that mission—helping Dalina serve customers better, faster, and more profitably.
