ST. LOUIS, MO
In order to help improve efficiency and order accuracy, Panera Bread is investing about $42 million in store kiosks and store re-designs. The kiosks are designed to allow consumers to punch in orders themselves while also encouraging more order customization.
The average restaurant will have about eight kiosks and one or two fewer registers, though Ron Shaich, Panera CEO, insists that the company is not cutting the number of workers, according to Bloomberg Businessweek. The stores will need associates to bring orders to tables and as extra help in the kitchen.
The new store re-designs will change how customers move through the stores. Instead of having to wait in line to order, customers can order by kiosk, take a handheld locator that identifies where they are sitting, and have their food brought to them. Customers ordering via mobile device can simply enter in the table number when they order from their seat. For those planning to pick up their food, they can order and pay before they arrive, and then retrieve their meal from a dedicated shelf without having to wait around, Bloomberg Businessweek reports.
“I can go in and out in less than 10 seconds,” said Shaich.
Will other restaurants like Panera adopt this technology as well?
Stay tuned to DeliMarket TV as we keep on the lookout for the latest technology in the industry.
