Delivery

Panera adds geofencing for frictionless pickup

Provided

May 18, 2020

Panera Bread is transforming its curbside experience with Panera Curbside, a geofence-enabled service that delivers orders to guests in their cars. Employees will receive automatic notification when guests, who have opted into the service, arrive.

"In these unprecedented times, people are missing life's small comforts, like going out for a meal with family.  While we prioritize safety and convenience, we hope that Panera Curbside can be a natural extension of the Panera Warmth inside our bakery-cafes," Panera CEO Niren Chaudhary said in a company press release.  "In the new world, as it emerges, we are focused on how we can best serve our customers and meet them where they are. Our latest technology and Wi-Fi capabilities, combined with enhanced protective measures at bakery-cafes, make Panera Curbside a frictionless way to continue to enjoy the Panera experience you know and love."

How it works:

1. Customers select Panera Curbside when ordering via website or app.
2. They must add the make, model and color of the vehicle to "Special Instructions."
3. Park in the parking lot and for those who opt-in, employees will bring the order out to the car upon arrival without any action needed. Those who don't opt-in to the service just need to tap ''I'm here'' in the MyPanera app or order confirmation email upon arrival.

Panera said it is taking safety precautions, including:

• Enhanced cleaning and handwashing procedures in all bakery-cafes.
• Ongoing plexiglass barrier installations in Panera cafes and drive-thrus.
• Masks distributed to and worn by all associates.
• Hand sanitizer available in all cafes at each entryway.
• Social distancing measures clearly articulated in each cafe with signage/floor decals.
• Thermometers at all cafes to enable thorough pre-shift wellness checks.
• Social distance enabled between ordering kiosks and adding anti-microbial screens.
• Contactless curbside pickup and delivery options for customers

Panera has 2,174 bakery-cafes in 48 states and in Ontario.