MASON, Ohio, Sept. 1, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Apex Order
Pickup Solutions, a leading global provider of self-serve automated
pickup solutions for use in foodservice, retail and b-to-b
ecommerce, and Welbilt, Inc. (NYSE:WBT), a leading global provider
of commercial foodservice equipment, today announce the launch of
OrderHQ™, a smart locker series that integrates with existing point
of sale and other back-of-house management systems to make it
easier for restaurants to offer quick and convenient order pickup
experiences.
The 3rd generation of smart lockers designed by Apex,
the OrderHQ Series will be manufactured by Welbilt's
Merco® brand in the United
States and sold under both the Apex and Merco brands.
Contactless pickup in seconds
The OrderHQ Series
automates the last inch of the digital journey, providing customers
and delivery service providers with a secure, quick, and easy way
to pick up their order and be on their way. Order-ready
notifications are sent at the optimal time to minimize wait time
and include a unique pickup code to authenticate at the locker. The
compartments also feature indicator lights to help guide customers
to find their order for pickup. The entire pickup process lasts
less than 10 seconds.
Enhanced data visibility
Powered by ApexIQ™ software,
the OrderHQ locker solution provides restaurant operators data
insights to enhance the customer experience and improve
efficiency for off-premises orders. Using enhanced sensing
technology combined with integration to front and back of house
systems, operators will know the time it took to prepare and load
the order, as well as the dwell time of the order in the pickup
locker. This helps operators minimize dwell time and maintain food
quality while gaining valuable insights into their operations.
Increasing labor efficiency
The OrderHQ Series offers
both Flow-Thru and Front-Load options. The lockers come in floor
and countertop models to optimize usage within a variety of
restaurant footprints. The system is also easily scalable by adding
lockers as needed. Branding options are available to allow
operators to design the lockers as an extension of their brand
experience. Employees can now focus almost exclusively on making
and loading orders: the order load is frictionless, while the order
hand-off is automated. This significantly reduces the amount of
labor required to manage off-premises orders.
"With OrderHQ, restaurant and foodservice operators have a
secure and contactless way to streamline order fulfillment and
pickup," said Apex Order Pickup Solutions Chief Executive Officer
Mike Wills. "This next-generation
design incorporates features to further streamline the operational
experience and make it easier for their team members to load orders
into the locker and move on to the next customer."
Commenting of the joint launch of the OrderHQ Series, Nick
Patterson, Vice President and Managing Director at Merco, said:
"Restaurants and foodservice operators have increasingly turned to
Apex to help them successfully offer contactless order pickup
options during the pandemic and provide expert guidance in making
this process as efficient as possible. The launch of the OrderHQ
Series brings together two leaders in the foodservice industry and
expands the solutions Merco can offer restaurant operators around
the world."
The new OrderHQ Series will be on display during The Show Beyond
The Show live broadcast from Welbilt Headquarters on Thursday, September 2 and at FSTec in
Dallas, TX at Apex Order Pickup
Solutions Booth 602.
About Apex Order Pickup Solutions
Apex is a leading global provider of self-serve automated pickup
solutions for use in foodservice, retail and b-to-b ecommerce. The
Apex Heated Pickup Station was a recipient of the 2019 Kitchen
Innovations Award from the National Restaurant Association. Apex
contactless order pickup solutions are in use in over 5,000
locations globally. Apex is headquartered in Mason, Ohio. For more information, visit
www.apexorderpickup.com.
About Welbilt, Inc.
Welbilt, Inc. provides the world's top chefs, premier chain
operators and growing independents with industry-leading equipment
and solutions. Our innovative products and solutions are powered by
our deep knowledge, operator insights, and culinary expertise. Our
portfolio of award-winning product brands includes Cleveland™,
Convotherm®, Crem®, Delfield®,
Frymaster®, Garland®, Kolpak®,
Lincoln®,
Manitowoc® Ice, Merco®, Merrychef®
and Multiplex®. These product brands are supported by
three service brands: KitchenCare®, our aftermarket
parts and service brand, FitKitchen®, our
fully-integrated kitchen systems brand, and
KitchenConnect®, our cloud-based digital platform brand.
Headquartered in the Tampa Bay
region of Florida and operating 19
manufacturing facilities throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia, we sell through a global network of over
5,000 distributors, dealers, buying groups and manufacturers'
representatives in over 100 countries. We have approximately 4,600
employees and generated sales of $1.2
billion in 2020. For more information, visit
www.welbilt.com.
View original
content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/demand-for-efficient-order-handoff-inspires-orderhq-lockers-301367120.html
SOURCE Apex Order Pickup Solutions
