Fast food chain to use underground robots for parking lot order delivery.

Wendy’s to Test Robotic System for Delivering Orders

Revolutionizing the Food Services Sector

Wendy’s is taking a bold step towards automation by partnering with hyperlogistics company Pipedream to test a robotic system for delivering orders from its kitchens to specific parking spots outside its restaurants. The move comes as the food services sector turns towards automation in response to labor shortages.

The technology, which will be implemented in an existing location later this year, will connect to the kitchen and transport orders underground with a robot to portals in the parking lot outside of the restaurant. Customers will not have to leave their cars to receive their food, significantly increasing efficiency for restaurant workers.

Unlocking Greater Mobile Order Speed of Service and Accuracy

Wendy’s COO Deepak Ajmani said in a press release, “We know that serving orders quickly and accurately leads to increased customer satisfaction. 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.”

Pipedream CEO Garrett McCurrach added, “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.”

AI and Automation in the Quick Service Industry

Other quick service restaurants have also turned towards artificial intelligence to increase operational efficiency in light of worker shortages. Fast food chains Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s announced earlier this month that they would use an AI voice ordering platform developed by OpenCity in their drive-thru systems at select locations across the country.

McDonald’s has partnered with IBM to automate drive-thrus and unveiled voice-ordering technology at multiple Chicago restaurants two years ago after purchasing several AI startups. Chipotle introduced a robotic chip machine in California after state lawmakers passed a bill to create a council with authority to raise fast food minimum wages.

The Broader Debate over AI and Automation

The broader debate over AI and automation largely centers on the potential labor market impacts from the nascent technology. Even as some analysts forecast that the sector could eliminate as many as 7% of positions in the United States, others note that the systems render individual workers considerably more productive, implying avenues for economic growth and more opportunities for creative work as rote elements within many professions are automated.