Customers of Kitchen United will have more robust pick-up options thanks to a new partnership with Apex Order Pickup Solutions.
Apex, the provider of contactless cubby-based pickup lockers with 5,000 outlets, will expand its partnership with the shared-kitchen provider. Kitchen United announced plans to have self-serve automated food lockers in two locations: Garden City, New York, and Torrance, California.
The lockers are positioned to amplify the Grab Go Eat concept. Pickup has been a special proclivity for Kitchen United since its first location in Pasadena, California. The lockers will be inside the lobby where customers can order, wait and eat.
Apex CEO Mike Wills said the lockers measure the whole experience via ApexIQ software that brings more analytics to the process.
“The innovative technology that is the heart of our Apex smart food lockers allows Kitchen United to track their orders from creation to pick up, increase efficiency based on real-time data insights and ensure busy customers can pick up their food orders quickly and safely,” said Wills.
There are plenty of efficiencies for customers and Kitchen United staff as well. According to an announcement, “Customers order from the Kitchen United Mix app, website or kiosks and select the time they want to pick up their food from the locker location that is most convenient for them. Once the order is ready, Kitchen United employees simply scan a code to load the order into the locker. Customers, in turn, receive a unique pickup QR code to scan at the locker, take their order, and go on their way.”
The expanded option for consumers is what has Kitchen United most excited, and COO Joy Lai said she’s eager to make pick-up even more efficient.
“Placing Apex smart lockers in high-traffic or centrally located sites allows us to bring even more convenience to our customers by offering them not only the ability to order from multiple restaurants via a single platform, but also the option of picking up their food in a simple and quick manner,” said Lai.
The partnership is yet another example of deepening partnerships across the space as all the technologies, methods and great ideas converge.