Self-service technology is bringing us full-circle — the automat seems to be making a comeback around the world. The automat, which readers may know only from its appearance in mid-century period series such as “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” and “Mad Men,” offered a speedy, convenient restaurant...
As the food service industry looks for ways to meet demand amid ongoing labor challenges, many companies are turning to automated channels to boost their capacity. Mini Melts, for its part, a beaded ice cream brand with locations in many nontraditional venues such as zoos,...
New forms of catering have emerged in response to the rise of hybrid working. In a system where everyone’s work hours are in a fixed and shared location, predictable catering solutions make a lot of sense. But in the more dynamic reality of 2023, it...
As computer vision enters the grocery industry, consumers may not be ready for the change. In an interview with PYMNTS, Jordan Fisher, CEO of autonomous retail technology company Standard AI, which this month announced the acquisition of self-checkout kiosk creator Skip, argued that changing shopper...
Drug store chain Walgreens is expanding a system of huge fulfillment centers — some as large as a city block — where robots package prescriptions for patients, The Wall Street Journal reported Sunday (Oct. 2). The system cuts the workload on pharmacists by about 25%...
There’s a difference between setting up a digital storefront and making it truly … work. There’s a difference between simply being “findable” online and existing as part of a fully-fledged ecosystem that brings retailers, marketplaces and brands together — and lures the consumers in droves....
With the coronavirus’ multi-faceted threats to health and funds for people everywhere, grocery stores have tried to mediate the former by introducing more robots in stores. By doing so, grocery stores can help reduce pressure on employees and also ensure that stores will be efficient,...
High-level market intelligence about the $18 billion expected to be invested over the next three years is a major focus of the March 2020 Automated Retail Tracker™ from PYMNTS, which serves as a bimonthly breakdown of developments in this rapidly growing business sector. Companies are earmarking...
Vending machines have increasingly moved beyond salty snacks to offering a variety of fresh food options, something that CEO Luke Saunders, of fresh meal vending solutions provider Farmer’s Fridge, tells PYMNTS represents special inventory challenges. In the Automated Retail Tracker, Saunders discusses how cloud-based tools...
