Wendy's announces plans for underground autonomous robots to deliver food orders to vehicles
Wendy's plans to integrate the new system at one of its current restaurants later this year
More restaurants turning to robot servers in response to food industry worker shortage
More restaurants are turning to robot servers in response to the national shortage of food industry workers. This goes back to employees leaving the workforce during the pandemic.
Wendy’s fast-food customers may soon get their food delivered by underground robots, to help speed up the handoff from the restaurant to those who order from their phones.
The fast-food chain announced a new partnership with Pipedream, a company that developed an underground autonomous robot system that can be used to deliver digital food orders from the kitchen to parking spaces within seconds.
The Wendy's Company announced a new partnership with Pipedream to pilot its underground autonomous robot system with the goal of delivering digital food orders from the kitchen to designated parking spots in seconds, for faster and more convenient pi (The Wendy's Company / Fox News)
The goal, Wendy’s said in a press release, is to provide faster and more convenient pick-up experiences.
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"We know that serving orders quickly and accurate leads to increased customer satisfaction," Wendy’s Company U.S. Chief Operations Officer Deepak Ajmani said. "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."
| Ticker | Security | Last | Change | Change % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WEN | THE WENDY'S CO. | 18.53 | +0.14 | +0.76% |
Wendy’s will be the first quick-service restaurant to pilot Pipedream’s technology, which the tech company says is designed to make digital order pick-up fast, dependable and invisible.
A Wendy's restaurant in Rutherford, N.J. Wendy's Company says it plans to use an underground autonomous robot system that will deliver food to the vehicle of customers who place digital pick-up orders via their cellphone. (Kena Betancur/VIEWpress, File / Getty Images)
Once installed, the kitchen at your local Wendy’s will be directly connected to a portal outside the restaurant.
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After placing a mobile order, the customer will then pull up to a portal and have the food delivered by what Pipedream calls "autonomous robots" that carry the food underground and to the portal.
Customers will not have to leave their vehicles to receive their order.
A sign advertising breakfast items seen at a Wendy's fast food restaurant. (Paul Weaver/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images, File / Getty Images)
Wendy’s also says the technology will allow the restaurants to increase efficiencies with crew members by streamlining digital orders.
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"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," Garrett McCurrach, CEO of Pipedream, said. "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 said it plans to integrate the underground delivery system into an existing restaurant later this year.
Pipedream was created in 2021 and is based in Austin, Texas.
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The company said its fully electric underground system can be used to move food, packages, groceries and more in seconds.
It is designed to help cities, developers, merchants and more get ready for increasing delivery needs while removing emissions and congestion.