Just Eat, the world’s leading marketplace for online food delivery, and Starship Technologies have changed the face of home delivery by making the world’s first online food delivery using a self-driving robot in Greenwich, South East London.
When local resident Simone ordered a takeaway from local Turkish restaurant, Taksim Meze, using the Just Eat app, little did she know she was going to be the first person in the world to receive a takeaway food delivery using the technology.
Just Eat and Starship Technologies, who have designed and manufactured the six-wheel pavement droid, announced in July they were working together on the first of its kind pilot program. After five months of exhaustive testing in the area, the first live delivery signals the next step in this revolutionary pilot program which will see local Just Eat customers receive automated robot deliveries in Greenwich. There are plans to expand the program across London in 2017.
When Simone’s order was received by Taksim Meze, restaurant manager Ana Maria Stingaciu requested that a robot make the delivery - a local robot travelled to the restaurant while the meal was being prepared. Freshly cooked, Taksim Meze placed Simone’s order securely in the robot’s cargo hold and Simone then received a text message to let her know that her order was on route, with the robot. Ten minutes later, Simone received a text message with a unique link to open the cargo hold of the robot that was waiting at her door.
Simone, a regular Just Eat Customer, said: I couldn’t believe my eyes when I opened the door to find a robot waiting to greet me – it was like something out of a movie. It is really incredible to think that this kind of technology and service is now available. It was very efficient and actually texted me when it pulled up. The only thing I wasn’t sure of is whether or not to tip!”
Manager of Takzim Meze, Ana Maria Stingaciu said: “I am really proud Taksim Meze is the first restaurant to make a takeaway delivery using robot technology. Providing first –rate customer service is our top priority and with this added set of hands, or wheels I should say, we can focus our manpower in the kitchen. I am looking forward to utilising the technology during the busy festive season to help keep up with demand.”
Graham Corfield, UK Managing Director at Just Eat commented: “We are delighted to add robot home delivery to the Just Eat service. We have been working closely with Starship Technologies for many months to ensure that we can seamlessly integrate this exciting technology with our restaurants partners, customers and online booking service. Now that we are live in Greenwich, we’re working towards a larger rollout of the pilot program across London in the New Year.”
Henry Harris-Burland, Marketing and Communications Manager at Starship Technologies commented: “Our pilot program with Just Eat has now entered a new phase of development. We’re happy the local residents and businesses of Greenwich can start enjoying the benefits of robotic delivery, whilst learning together with Just Eat how to further improve the service moving forward.”
While customers will not yet be able to elect for robot delivery, Greenwich residents who order a takeaway online through Just Eat will increasingly be serviced by the technology as the service continues to roll out.
