An interesting new concept .. a drive-through supercenter ... the article discusses some of the technical and logistics aspects of the offering.
For background, consider ... in 1916 Albert Einstein published the General Theory of Relativity, and in the same year Clarence Saunders invented the American self-service grocery store, a Piggly-Wiggly in Memphis Tennessee. Before that time, stores had clerks who chose products for the consumer. That choice was minimal. Shoppers were effectively insulated from their choices. Saunders opened up the floor, giving access to aisle and package to everyone, changing the way shoppers interacted with package goods. Both Einstein and Saunders had profound effects on the world as we know it. And both of their approaches are continually being re-examined.
Even Clarence Saunders prototyped an automated store concept in 1937, which he called the Keedozzle, and another called the Foodelectric, but they were far ahead of any technology to support them effectively. Concept like the below start to address the automation concept without the difficult delivery scheduling logistics and cost.
For this new try at store automation FKI Logistex is providing the technology, which looks like an order-picking method. Another article. First Drive-through Supercenters Planned for Late 2005
DECEMBER 20, 2004 -- LAS CRUCES, N.M. - AutoCart, LLC, based here, said it plans to roll out the world's first "drive-through supercenter" format, a 130,000-square-foot facility equipped to deliver more than 25,000 SKUs directly to consumers in their cars. The first of the supercenters, designed with 60 ordering/pickup stations, are projected to open in December 2005 in Albuquerque, N.M. and Tucson, Ariz., according to AutoCart ... Store features will include interactive drop-down touchscreens at all order/pickup stations, allowing customers to place orders and communicate with retailer representatives on-site; the ability to order off-site by phone, fax, PC, laptop, or PDA; and the delivery of orders in a shuttle/lift, which will open up next to the car so that shoppers can take out their bags and drive away in a matter of minutes ...
This concept will revolutionize retailing as we know it today in my opinion. Imagine going to one interactive drive-thru supercenter for all of your dailly errands. It has 60 ordering/pickup stations? Consolidating 17 companies products and services - all in one... This is amazing. Can anyone tell me when CA will have one of these facilities? I have been in the retail business for 25 years and this concept is the most exciting concept, I have seen in the business.
Posted by: John Sharpe | December 30, 2004 at 10:48 AM
Agree, this could be quite big. I am actively looking for more information on this concept, and their future plans. To my knowledge the stores mentioned are the only ones being planned. I have been given some possible contacts which I will likely exercise soon, but if anone else has more details, I would love to hear from them, comment here or contact me privately. Thanks.
Posted by: Franz | December 30, 2004 at 11:29 AM
Would this be the Steve Beardsley of the Bountiful Baking Company of Las Cruces? His autocart.biz email address shows up here, as part of that business listing:
http://www.lascrucesnewcomersconnection.com/BusinessesIndex/categories/Rcat/restaurants.html
Posted by: Anonymous | January 03, 2005 at 04:48 PM