In its newest step toward becoming a fully "digitally-enabled cafe," Panera Bread has announced an upcoming contactless dine-in feature for select consumers. This feature will combine the experience of ordering takeout in advance on a mobile device with the novelty of eating at a restaurant table.
Select customers will be able to order while on their way to the restaurant, or while sitting at a seat in the restaurant. When the order is ready, the customer will receive an in-app or text notification telling them to come to the counter. The food will then be plated for a dine-in order, meaning it will be hot, fresh, and on ceramic dishes instead of paper bags and takeout boxes. Panera Bread has stated that, even during the current pandemic, there is a high demand for in-restaurant dining at its locations, and this motion will help to promote social distancing while allowing customers to dine in.
Contactless Dine-In Features
Panera Bread Has Announced A New Digital Dining Feature
Trend Themes
1. Contactless Dine-in - The trend of combining takeout ordering with in-store dining experiences through contactless digital features presents disruptive innovation opportunities for quick-service restaurants to cater to customers' dining preferences and safety needs during and beyond the pandemic.
2. Digitally-enabled Cafe - The trend of being a digitally-enabled cafe provides a new way for restaurants to cater to customers' needs, which require contactless, safe, and convenient digital services that raise in-store dining's value proposition and improve customer experience.
3. In-app Food Ordering - The trend of offering in-app ordering and notifications presents disruptive innovation opportunities for restaurants to streamline ordering, fulfillment, and payment processes, reduce wait times, and improve order accuracy and customization options.
Industry Implications
1. Restaurant Industry - The restaurant industry can leverage contactless dine-in features, digitally-enabled cafes, and in-app food ordering to adapt to the new normal of post-pandemic dining, increase sales, and enhance customer experience and loyalty.
2. Mobile App Industry - The mobile app industry can benefit from partnering with restaurants to design and develop customized apps that cater to their unique menu, ordering, and logistics needs, as well as integrate with customer data, loyalty programs, and payments to provide a seamless and personalized dining experience.
3. Food Packaging Industry - The food packaging industry can innovate new types of hot-food packaging materials that not only preserve the freshness and taste of the food but also provide the eco-friendly, reusable, and aesthetically-pleasing features of ceramic dishes, thus reducing waste and enhancing the dining experience at home and in-store.