5 tech things: Pitt to open Amazon Just Walk Out store on campus

In this special edition of its 5 Things series, Food Management highlights five recent technology-related developments affecting the foodservice world.

Here’s your list for today:

1.    Amazon Just Walk Out store to open on Pitt campus

The University of Pittsburgh (Pitt) will collaborate with Transact Campus and Chartwell’s Higher Education to bring Amazon’s Just Walk Out technology to a convenience store on the Pittsburgh campus. The Market at Towers will install Amazon’s Just Walk Out technology, allowing guests a fast and frictionless way to shop.

Read more: Skip the line with the Market at Towers’ new AI upgrades

 2.    Aramark has big plans for tech innovation on campuses this fall

Among the technology innovations being introduced on college campuses by Aramark this fall is The Drop, a mobile platform that allows contactless, digital-only ordering for pick-up or delivery and offers brands and menu items not necessarily on the campus. Campus community members will also be able to access SAM, a virtual assistant that delivers around-the-clock answers to meal plans and dining questions, and have the CampusDish website at their fingertips via a brand-new app.

Read more: Aramark Collegiate Hospitality Uses Data Insight to Drive New Innovation and a Sense of Home as Students Head Back to Campus

Related:5 things: Grants target school nutrition programs in small and rural districts

3.    C-store chain adding self-checkout kiosks

Convenience store chain Refuel, which has more than 200 stores in five states, will deploy 15 Mashgin touchless self-checkout kiosks at 10 locations. With the units, customers will have the choice to use the self-checkout machines to purchase packaged items and grab-and-go foods, pay for fuel purchases and use their Refuel Rewards card to earn or redeem points, though they also retain the option to pay using a credit or debit card, mobile wallet or cash.

Read more: Refuel c-store chain intros self-checkout kiosks

4.    Are the streets safe for delivery robots?

The popularity of remote food delivery skyrocketed during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the trend has continued to help businesses thrive years later. Unfortunately, some of the autonomous delivery vehicles are taking a beating, with several viral videos showing people kicking the robots over and even stealing the products inside. Businesses who use self-driving delivery technology are starting to be affected by the prevalence of vandals and thieves disrupting the delivery process.

Read more: Vandals, thieves attacking L.A. food delivery robots

5.    Potbelly continues digital kitchen rollout

Related:5 things: Hospital’s “little free pantry” addresses community food insecurity

Potbelly Corp., the sandwich brand, is continuing its digital kitchen rollout, targeting higher-volume restaurants and all new franchise openings, President/CEO Bob Wright said. The Chicago-based company added a dozen more stores to its Potbelly Digital Kitchen rollout in its first 2023 fiscal quarter and expects to have the operations-enhancing platform in 100 restaurants by year’s end.

Read more: Potbelly continues digital kitchen rollout in new stores

Bonus: Back to School: Quality, convenience, tech and sustainability trends drive campus dining

Contact Mike Buzalka at [email protected]