If you are a fan of Wendy’s burgers and fries, you might be in for a surprise the next time you order online and pick up your food at the restaurant. Wendy’s has announced that it is partnering with Pipedream, a company that specializes in underground autonomous delivery systems, to test a new way of bringing food from the kitchen to your car.
So, how does it work? According to Wendy’s, Pipedream’s technology uses robots that move through tunnels below the parking lot to deliver food to kiosks next to designated parking spaces. When you place your order online, you will be assigned a parking spot and a portal number. When you arrive at the spot, you will see a screen with your order details and a button to confirm your arrival. Then, a robot will bring your food from the kitchen to your portal in seconds. You will be able to retrieve your food from a temperature-controlled compartment that keeps it hot and fresh.
Wendy’s says that this system will improve the speed and accuracy of mobile order pick-ups, as well as reduce labor costs and free up staff for other tasks. The company also claims that it is the first quick service restaurant to use such a technique.
“We know that serving orders quickly and accurately leads to increased customer satisfaction,” Wendy’s COO Deepak Ajmani said in a press release. “Pipedream’s Instant Pickup system has the potential to unlock greater mobile order speed of service and accuracy, enabling us to consistently deliver hot and fresh Wendy’s products to our fans.”
Wendy’s announced that customers can stay in their cars and get their food, which will help the restaurant workers be more efficient.
“We’re proud to partner with an iconic, innovative brand like Wendy’s to bring the future of mobile order pick-up to the quick service industry,” Pipedream CEO Garrett McCurrach said in the release. “By solving order handoff, the final leg of the digital experience, our Instant Pickup technology allows Wendy’s restaurant team members to focus on what matters: serving delicious, high-quality food and connecting with customers in this digital-first world.”
Wendy’s plans to launch Pipedream’s technology at one of its restaurants in the second half of 2023, after evaluating several locations with high digital order volume. The company has not revealed which restaurant will be chosen for the pilot program.
