Robot roll-outs prove digital retail technology evolution is here to stay
While these are challenging times for digital centric retailers, given inflationary and inventory pressures, and with the comps no longer available from the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, investment in technology to enhance consumer experiences is alive and well.
That’s the view of Celia Van Wickel, Senior Director, Digital Commerce at Kantar.
In a LinkedIn post, she said: “Last week we saw that drones are still actively being tested by Walmart, whether you love them or hate them. Now robots are back on the scene.”
Uber has revived its Serve Robotics delivery pilots. And now Chick-Fil-A is working on an autonomous robot pilot in Austin, Texas with Refraction AI.
The commercial pilot will begin in late June.
"Autonomous delivery using Refraction's robots creates an exciting new opportunity to extend the Chick-fil-A experience to a growing number of delivery guests," says Luke Steigmeyer of Chick-fil-A.
"The platform will allow us to provide fast, high quality, and cost-effective meal delivery within a mile radius of our restaurant all while helping to keep the community we serve environmentally clean and safe."
Dominos, meanwhile, has tested out Nuro autonomous vehicles in the US.
“This is important with its current labour issues,” Van Wickel said. “Dominos is trying out a delivery robot in Berlin, Germany as what may be part of their autonomous future. The little bots are roaming around Berlin making deliveries while intriguing and startling people in their path.”
“Their bots can see and detect people and objects and are mostly autonomous.”
“However, Berlin's city obliges companies using delivery robots to ensure that a human being is always present, able to take over via remote control. This adds costs to the solution, these particular robots cost around $54,000 each.”
She concluded: “Robots keep coming on and off the road. They have gotten more mature and autonomous, but their long-term use is still being tested.”
“I do believe autonomous delivery is on the horizon and will see continued testing in the next five to ten years. I’m looking forward to seeing a bot deliver my pizza in the future. They are so darn cute!”
