Automated Curbside Pickup

Curbside pickup has become a standard and expected customer convenience for grocers and many retailers. The most common pattern requires customers to text the store when they arrive, causing small delays and potential confusion as to which customer is parked where. This experience can be improved.

The traditional curbside pickup model, which requires arriving customers to text the store, presents several challenges:

1. Communication Delays: Text messages can be delayed due to network issues, leading to longer wait times for customers.
2. Locational Confusion: Store associates may struggle to identify which car belongs to which order, especially during peak hours or when multiple customers arrive simultaneously.
3. Manual Processes: The reliance on manual communication can lead to inefficiencies and errors, increasing the workload for store employees and impacting the speed and accuracy of order fulfillment.

To address these challenges, a major grocery chain, "FreshMart," decided to implement an enhanced curbside pickup solution leveraging advanced geofencing technology and an integrated mobile application.

Key Features of the Solution:

1. License Plate Reading AI: The customer's car is recognised as soon as it enters the parking area. This technology leverages Interplay's Computer Vision Suite
2. Automated Arrival Notifications: Instead of requiring a text, the system sends an automatic notification to the store when the customer arrives, indicating their exact location and minimizing wait times.
3. Detailed Vehicle Information: The system provides vehicle details such as make, model, and color at the time of order placement, allowing store associates to quickly and accurately identify the correct car.
4. Real-Time Updates: Customers are notified of the current status of their order and approximate delivery queue.

For our customer, a global retail chain, the automated curbside pickup has reduced waiting times for orders, increased total order value, and most importantly, increased customer loyalty.  Customers enjoy the simplicity and ‘smart’ factor that comes with the automation.