Technology has transformed the way we shop and make decisions. With a little bit of data, a transaction can be curated specifically to each customer. Drive-thru transactions are no exception to the trend, and food and beverage giants like McDonalds and Starbucks are investing heavily in customer personalization and decision technology for their drive-thru transactions.
The drive-thru experience has never been about creating personal connection. In response to In-and-Out’s popularization of the drive thru, Thibaud remarks ““It’s not In-and-lets-have-a-very-great-conversation-and-then-Out.” The drive-thru has always been about convenience. But, today’s drive-thru experience aims to change that. Thibaud asks “How can we build 1-to-1 relationship in the drive thru without compromising the speed of service?”
“Everyone is fighting for seconds of attention,” says Thibaud of our speedy, tech driven society. “If a customer is not happy it will not hesitate to go somewhere else,” he says, explaining why it is so crucial for new technology in the dining space to be implemented seamlessly, with no impact on the stream of service. “At Acrelec we try to bring technology that does not require the staff to change their habits…” says Thibaud. Often times, new technology designed to make production more efficient can be more of a boondoggle than a benefit.
Sometimes the biggest customer pain point can be the technology itself, but Acrelec’s innovations aim to eliminate the stumbles associated with rolling out new customer-personalized technology.