Pipedream

Not Just a Pipe Dream: Automation in Food & Retail Once upon a time, walking into stores was the only way customers could access fast food, groceries, and retail products. Since then, we have come a long way, especially in the wake of the pandemic. From online shopping to in-store kiosks—and everything in between—customers can now customize how they receive their orders, faster and more cost-effective than ever. Last year saw game-changing innovations in retail, from AI enablement and predictive analytics to robot delivery systems. In line with evolving consumer digital preferences, most brands have also enhanced their apps to make digital ordering easier, while adding upselling and personalization. In today’s labor market, employee retention and efficiency are critical. Labor efficiency means significant cost savings, which can be reinvested to enhance customer experience and tech… providing compelling ROI for automation technology. Food & retail automation is undeniably on the rise. To no one's surprise, younger generations show the least interest in human interaction, with some even preferring entirely contactless experiences. Have you seen those takeout delivery robots on college campuses? And what about those underground delivery robots? What is Underground Automation? At Pipedream, we’re rethinking logistics in a way that’s never been done before: underground, with just a bit of magic. Pipedream delivers food, groceries, retail products through autonomous shuttles that run through underground pipes. Pipedream’s Instant Pickup system streamlines labor and operational efficiency by automating pickups. Beyond cost savings, the system improves the guest experience with quick, interactive ordering and relieves team members by handling time-consuming, physically demanding tasks. What is Instant Pickup? An underground pipe serves as the conduit through which an autonomous shuttle carries up to 40 lb of items. Staff members simply prepare the order and place it in the system. Once the order is transported to the customer’s parking spot, the order will be automatically taken above ground to the customer. The Instant Pickup system is designed to align with evolving consumer preferences, integrating with brand apps to enhance loyalty and support off-premise/omnichannel operations. Stay tuned for an exciting development this quarter! #fastfood #automation #robotics #omnichannel #grocery #retail #qsr #startups

They said it would be a difficult road. They said construction would be tricky. Those in the industry said it would take months to install… at minimum. But it took 3 days. And it was a reasonably simple process. Last week, we installed the world's first Instant Pickup restaurant system enabled by underground shuttles. ? As of the time of this message, the underground construction is complete and our engineers are busy testing the electronics system to be placed within the pipes. Installation takes just 3 days with zero business downtime. How? We use proven underground construction methods and materials—the same reliable approach used in traditional plumbing systems. ? The Pipedream modular system enables pickup wherever you need it—curbside, drive-thru, or even delivering orders to nearby parking lots or strip mall locations. The shuttles will soon run inside of the corrugated black pipe, moving back and forth delivering meals. The cylindrical vaults serve as the access points where food will enter and then exit to reach customers (see my last post for video render). Now why install a system like this? 1. It's crazy fast: Forget long drive-thru lines and crowded parking lots. Our 15-second pickup system will set the standard in pickup efficiency. Every 5 seconds saved from a drive-thru yields $9,500 per store per year (Intouch Insight). 2. Labor efficiency: Keep team members where they're needed, interfacing with guests or preparing food; not delivering orders. 3. Customer experience: In an age of instant gratification, customers want fresh, affordable food, and they want it fast. (And how cool is a magic portal that delivers whatever you want, instantly?) 4. Digital mix: Digital ordering means better data, better personalization, and ultimately, more revenue for restaurants. Pipedream's system integrates with mobile app and POS systems, rewarding mobile downloads with instant service. Interested in seeing the Pipedream system for yourself? Message or comment to learn more. #qsr #fastfood #innovation #startups #technology #restauranttech #franchise

Every construction quote we got for this Instant Pickup install said it would take 4-8 weeks MINIMUM. We were able to finish the install in 4 days WITHOUT closing the drive thru. For future installs, we are adding in a couple new processes that have it down to 2-3 days. The only reason this happened is the Pipedream team's (especially Sara Fox, P.E. (FL, TX) who lead this project) relentless pursuit to doing things very quickly and very well. Everything from the way the robot and portal is designed, to our supply chain management, to our construction processes is custom designed to make installation as cheap and fast as possible. With a good enough team and lots of focus, you don't have to choose between fast, cheap, and good. You can hit all three. That's what the team was able to achieve here, and that is the standard we will continue to hold whether we are building a system across a parking lot or across the city. We still have a long way to go, but are super excited to see just how cheap and fast we can actually make it! Can't wait for people to try Instant Pickup. I think being able to pick something up in 15 seconds is going to be even more magical than people think. #startups #qsr #innovation #automation #realestate

Underground Robots Explained: The Future of Fast Food Imagine a world where fast food is turned into instant food. Instead of waiting in long drive-thru lines for your morning brew or lunchtime tacos, you will soon be able to zip in and out, and get on with your day almost instantly. Pipedream will soon make this a reality. The fastest drive-thru times are currently around 4 minutes, which is brilliant (go Taco Bell!). But in a world of bigger, better, faster, the restaurant industry is always looking to innovate to get to the next level: better speed, better service, advanced technology. We at Pipedream have now created our third iteration of our robot, which can reach speeds of over 50 mph! This robot runs inside of a (food safe) underground HDPE pipe and can deliver your burger and fries within 15 seconds. You got that right. 15 seconds. That is the same amount of time it takes to pour a cup of coffee, send a quick text, or check your phone for notifications. Essentially, our modular system has 3 components: the robot, the pipe, and the portal. There is an input portal and an output portal. The input portal is where the food goes in, typically from a kitchen. The order is then automatically conveyed to an underground chamber where it is placed on our very speedy robot. The robot then runs inside the pipe and exits back above ground wherever the output portal is placed, be it curbside, drive-thru, or in a nearby parking lot. And that’s it. Relatively simple, with infinite permutations. Our founders were inspired by the underground plumbing system (of all systems!). They thought, why not make Delivery the next utility, much like water, sewage, or electricity systems. We as a society are dependent on prepared foods, grocery and convenience items in our daily lives. Why not make obtaining these products faster, easier, and cheaper. This, in sum, is the large picture goal of Pipedream. What does this have to do with fast food drive-thrus? Everything. Fast food is our first, exciting proof of concept. This is one of the commodities we get and want the fastest; dare I say instantly? Not only can we make fast food pickup more efficient, we can do the same for curbside pickup for grocery, retailers, and more. We have already built out a fully-functional mile-long underground delivery loop in Georgia, demonstrating the viability of our technology. We are so excited to break ground this week at a top fast food chain, where our system will be soon available for a visit. Would you try out our system? #qsr #fastfood #techstartup #startups #robotics #innovation

For my #QSR folks, I highly recommend going through this article and report that came out this morning. Congrats to the unsurprising chart toppers! One key takeaway that stood out to me was the growing customer receptivity to new tech. While 45% of those surveyed initially reported "not liking the idea" of Voice AI in drive-thrus, 61% who actually tried it enjoyed the experience. The convergence of tech and innovation in QSR is inevitable. As someone in the tech space, I’ve seen firsthand how the right innovations can drastically improve efficiency. At Pipedream, we’re working on Instant Pickup for QSRs using underground shuttles, delivering orders in under 30 seconds. According to the study, cutting just 5 seconds from drive-thru service times could add $9,500 per year per store. These drive-thru studies from Intouch Insight have been critical in staying ahead of trends and gaining clarity on QSR metrics. #fastfood #qsr #hyperlogistics #startups #tech #innovation

We're #hiring a new Firmware & Controls Engineer in Austin, Texas Metropolitan Area. Apply today or share this post with your network.

We're #hiring a new Construction Manager in Austin, Texas Metropolitan Area. Apply today or share this post with your network.

As we approach our first Pipedream network installs, we are looking to expand our team with a skilled Construction Manager. If you're ready for an exciting challenge, apply now or share with someone who might be interested. Join us in revolutionizing delivery! #hyperlogistics #pipedream #futureofdelivery #autonomousdelivery #startups #engineering #constructionjobs

I recently had a fascinating conversation with Canon Reeves, CTO and Co-founder of Pipedream Labs, on my podcast. Here are three key takeaways: 1. Pipedream is developing a network of thin underground pipes and autonomous robots for urban delivery. This system could transform last-mile logistics, starting with drive-thru restaurants and potentially scaling to entire cities. 2. Their modular design approach enables rapid iteration and scalability. By focusing on customer-driven development, they're creating a system that can adapt to various environments and use cases. 3. Pipedream's innovative instant pickup system revolutionizes the traditional drive-thru model. By creating underground automated pickup and drive-thru stations, they're enabling restaurants, grocery stores, and retailers to increase capacity and revenue without expanding their physical footprint. If you're interested in urban infrastructure, robotics, or innovative logistics solutions, check out the full episode. Links are in the comments. I recommend listening at 1.5x speed. #UrbanInnovation #Robotics #LastMileDelivery

Building the world's coolest instant pickup experience one part at a time.