By RTN Staff - 5.22.2020
Bakery-café fast casual restaurant chain Panera Bread, which operates 2,174 bakery-cafes in 48 states and in Ontario, Canada, has deployed next-generation technologies to improve the curbside meal pickup experience. In particular, the company has launched Panera Curbside, a geofence-enabled service designed to allows guests to safely and easily get their meals served straight to their car.
Panera, which was one of the first major restaurant chains to offer free Wi-Fi, extended its Wi-Fi radius beyond the bakery-cafe doors and implemented geofencing technology as the company strives to provide guests with a better and faster curbside experience. With the addition of geofencing, for those who opt-in, the bakery-cafe will be notified automatically when the guest arrives.
“In these unprecedented times, people are missing life’s small comforts, like going out for a meal with family. While we prioritize safety and convenience, we hope that Panera Curbside can be a natural extension of the Panera Warmth inside our bakery-cafes,” said Niren Chaudhary, Panera CEO. “In the new world as it emerges, we are focused on how we can best serve our customers and meet them where they are. Our latest technology and Wi-Fi capabilities, combined with enhanced protective measures at bakery-cafes, make Panera Curbside a frictionless way to continue to enjoy the Panera experience you know and love.”
To order Panera Curbside from the Panera app or online:
- Step 1: Choose your meal and order for Panera Curbside
- Step 2: In the ”Special Instructions’,’ provide the make, model and color of the vehicle
- Step 3: Park in the parking lot and for those who opt-in, staff will bring the order to the car upon arrival without any action needed. Those who don’t opt-in to the service just need to tap ”I’m here” in the MyPanera app or order confirmation email upon arrival.
Over the past couple years, Panera Bread has expanded its operations into the digital marketplace offering advanced kiosk services and nationwide delivery. Last year, prior to the pandemic, Panera had more than 1.7 million digital orders placed each week. Digital sales accounted for more than 35% of the chain’s business. Last year, the company added breakfast to its menu with free delivery, leading digital sales to soar to more than $2 billion.
