From Engadget Feb 2021 — With an automated drive-through option coming in the near future. Excerpt: Back in 2019, Walmart started piloting its first local fulfillment center in Salem, which uses robots called the Alphabot to pick items from shelves. Now, the retail giant is turning more locations into automated fulfillment centers by converting a portion of the stores into warehouses or… Read More »
From Marketwatch an article referencing new study on Minimum Wage impacts — nice article from Marketwatch looking at the results from 2021 Princeton study on the effects of raising minimum wage. The usual most vocal critics are people like Andy Puzder back in the day that he ran Carl Jrs. Labor costs were very dear to his heart. It is… Read More »
Payment Trends and Insights Writeup by Appetize on the five payment trends to look for in 2021 There’s a silver lining to the unpredictability we experienced last year: 2020 accelerated the growth and advancement of the current payments landscape. In fact, the way operators set up their payment systems now will truly be a testament to how they… Read More »
Walmart Fintech Incursion From the Financial Brand Jan 2021 — The deal with Ribbit may reflect Walmart’s desire to get further into the actual guts of financial services, rather than being solely a distribution partner. At present, the fintech startup will be majority-owned by Walmart and some activities will be pursued via partnerships with other fintechs. Leadership will include… Read More »
Automated Retail UV Disinfection Robots Full article on ProgressiveGrocer Jan 2021 — Retail Business Services (RBS), the services company of grocery Ahold Delhaize USA, has launched a pilot of UV disinfection robots from Ava Robotics in two of its affiliated distribution centers to aid in enhanced cleaning procedures during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ahold Delhaize USA, a division of… Read More »
Drive-Thru Kiosks History Outdoor & Menuboards Worthwhile to take a look at the many iterations of drive-thru kiosk technology and general “Drive Thru” over the many years. They range from McDonalds to Walmart to PNC ATMs to Sonic for that matter. All outdoor self-service. Included are the many types of outdoor signage that have been used over the… Read More »
Automated Pickup Kiosks Albertsons From GroceryDive Jan2021 Dive Brief: Albertsons has installed an automated kiosk at a Jewel-Osco store in Chicago, the grocer announced Thursday, and plans to install another kiosk at a Safeway store in San Francisco in the near future. The kiosks, which are manufactured by Estonia-based Cleveron, hold products in two temperature zones — regular and… Read More »
Nations Restaurant News is pretty good at this sort thing. 2021 Predictions Excerpt: New prototypes, the emergence of consumer-packaged goods, the new food hall and more trends Nation’s Restaurant News’ editors predict for the new year Expect to see more technology supporting touch-free interactions, even more expansion of virtual brands and off-premise sales, consumer-packaged goods coming from more… Read More »
News link Jan2021 Excerpt: The prototype can carry packages weighing up to 30 kilograms, and travel at a speed of 6 kilometers per hour, slightly faster than walking pace. Built-in cameras and sensors enable the robot to wait at red lights and avoid pedestrians and cars. The ongoing trials aim to determine if the robot can be safely… Read More »
Applebee’s Drive-Thru Arrives NRN Weighs in on Applebee’s Testing New Drive-Thru Capability for Restaurants Excerpt: A Texas franchisee is evaluating how the addition of a drive-thru pickup window could impact off-premise service for the casual-dining brand — Mark Hamstra | Jan 04, 2021 “We look forward to assessing the performance of this installation, understanding feedback from our guests and operators,… Read More »
