Dive Brief:
- Hy-Vee has partnered with food tech company Deliverect to simplify grab-and-go, curbside pickup and delivery ordering at the grocer’s Fast & Fresh convenience stores, the companies announced on Tuesday.
- Deliverect’s solution automates the ordering process by taking customer input from kiosks and digital platforms and sending it directly to that store’s point of sale system. Deliverect has also built a customer curbside notification solution for Fast & Fresh, according to the announcement.
- West Des Moines, Iowa-based Hy-Vee joins a growing list of retailers streamlining their food ordering technology stack as labor challenges persist and fresh options become a priority.
Dive Insight:
With automated ordering, workers at Fast & Fresh can focus their time and attention on creating food rather than taking orders. Deliverect’s solution also provides automated order status updates and lets menus update from a central location, further saving work hours.
“Convenience stores are at an exciting juncture as they begin to play alongside restaurants in the food delivery arena, and technology is necessary to make this shift successful,” said Noah Hayes, Americas vice president at Deliverect.
Hy-Vee and Deliverect began their partnership with a three-month pilot program in January. Deliverect’s software ties directly into Fast & Fresh’s Market Grille Express foodservice stations, which are found at around 70 of Hy-Vee’s 190 convenience stores, as well as its mobile app.
Fast & Fresh also uses Deliverect’s analytics to make data-driven decisions about its menu.
The retailer is already seeing an impact. Jennifer Lambert, senior VP of IT strategy and planning for Hy-Vee, said these integrations “have dramatically increased the speed of our curbside pickup service while providing us with key insights to keep our operations running smoothly and our customers happy.”
Belgian tech company Deliverect works with more than 50,000 establishments in 52 countries and has partnered with brands like Burger King and Little Caesars.