Drive-thrus have been a staple for quick service restaurants for decades. In fact, the first true drive-thru restaurant was built in 1947 on Route 66, although several other restaurant brands claim the title as well. Although the drive-thru experience has certainly evolved since then, the foundational goals remain the same: increase speed of service and deliver a convenient experience for your guests. DRIVETHRUCITY

In the past few years, we’ve seen drive-thru traffic increase by 10-20% for many high-volume QSRs. As consumers become more and more tech savvy, restaurant brands are looking for ways to enhance the drive-thru experience. But the challenges for the industry remain: how do you improve the experience without disrupting it for the consumer while also adding valuable pieces of technology? How do you leave an impression with a customer when the goal remains to get them thru the line and on their way quickly? How do you maintain a level of personalization without slowing down the line?

Whether you are actively thinking of ways to update your drive-thru service, or you haven’t started yet, here are a few ideas to consider to enhance the experience while still focusing on your two core objectives: speed of service and guest convenience. DRIVETHRUCITY

Strategically think of the flow of traffic

For many brands who have seen a big uptick in drive-thru traffic, this directly impacts your parking lot. You may have significantly more cars on the property, creating grid lock within the lot for parked guests or maybe even the main roads surrounding your locations. Here are three ways to alleviate disrupted flow of traffic:

1. Transition your drive-thru to a multi-lane format. This could be a Y-lane, or even a double lane if you have the space. Brands like Checker’s Rally’s and McDonald’s have developed footprints to manage the length of the line by maximizing side-by-side space.

2. Leverage signs and cones to direct flow of traffic. If you have multiple entrances, use cones or posts to communicate lanes or flow direction. You can also install signage to direct traffic such as pick-up, dine-in and drive-thru to certain areas of your lots.

3. Utilize line busting and handhelds. Place your staff outside to take orders when the cars pull up. Learn from Chick-fil-A in what they’ve termed “face-to-face ordering.” This form of line busting includes one team member walking the line to take orders while another comes to take payments. This allows cars to move twice as fast as the traditional speaker box method. Similarly, handhelds are also great to use to increase the speed of service. They get orders in faster and ultimately fulfilled faster too. Handhelds are a great technology to implement line busting for the drive-thru and you can leverage them in other ways like in-store or for managers. Here’s six reasons handhelds are great for your business. DRIVETHRUCITY

Keep speed at the forefront of every drive-thru enhancement

There are different types of drive-thru users: those who are happy with ordering while in the line and those who prefer to order ahead and pick up in the drive-thru window. Digital ordering has accelerated the drive-thru experience and more guests are adopting this stream of ordering. For the guests who order ahead, they don’t want to risk getting stuck behind cars who may still need to order. If you have a large mobile order customer base, consider a designated lane for those guests. This could be a double lane with one dedicated to drive-thru ordering and the other dedicated to mobile orders only. Or maybe you have staff positioned to mark order ahead customers and have them pull up to a different section of the lot. You could also consider curbside pick-ups for all mobile orders to alleviate traffic for both groups and have dedicated staff managing getting those orders out to these guests. Wendy’s uncovered their new idea called Global Next Gen which includes a dedicated drive-thru window that serves only delivery drivers and is connected to a special kitchen to boost efficiency. Similarly, Chick-fil-A has been rolling out an express drive-thru lane where guests order ahead, find the express lane, scan a QR code, and pick up their food without waiting in the normal line. DRIVETHRUCITY

Leverage AI and machine learning intelligence for the drive-thru

With continued innovation in the restaurant space as it relates to AI, we’re seeing opportunity to infuse machine learning and intelligence into drive-thru technologies. This could be automated order taking, beacon technology, visualization, etc. Examples of this could be a license plate recognition program that knows your previous orders or geo-locators that can track your location in relation to the restaurant’s proximity and send offers to your mobile phone.

Think about environmentally sustainable options

Another trend in the drive-thru space is becoming more environmentally sustainable. After smog cleared and wildlife reappeared during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, people tangibly saw how their activities negatively affect the globe. Restaurant operators, and many others, started to put action behind their thoughts of building a more sustainable experience. We all know that cars idling in drive-thru lanes can release greenhouse gas which has a direct impact our ozone. Cars that are built with “stop-start” systems cut fuel and eliminate idle emissions. The U.S. Department of Energy estimated that eliminating idling would be the same as taking 5 million vehicles off the roads. There’s an ongoing debate over whether drive-thru can be fully green or not. Some say they can be sustainable in “every way except the one that matters most — greenhouse gas emissions” which is the most important because idling cars emit such high levels of emissions. By increasing speed of operations and focusing on moving guests through lines efficiently, you can decrease the amount of time idling for cars. Make sure you don’t use sustainability as a buzz word without real action to back it up. People care more about truth and honesty when it comes to the environment. DRIVETHRUCITY

Shifting your fast casual brand to fast pick-up

Fast casual restaurants have typically been counter service. Even if they had digital or online ordering, it was primarily for in-store pick-up. Particularly due to the pandemic, these brands are seeing the increase in demand for drive-thru pick-up lanes. Therefore, we’re seeing the shift to include drive-thru operations into the design plans and continued investment in the technology and infrastructure to implement drive-thru service. Brands such as Chipotle use a drive-thru lane for mobile order pick-ups only, while brands like Panera Bread have implemented both order pick-up and order at the window methods.

But even while all these ideas are ones to consider, it’s important to introduce the right technology to support your operational model. When making investments in technology, brands are looking to get 7-10 years out of the equipment so you should also consider the services attached to any investment. Consider a partner who provides professional services, deployment services and preventative maintenance to ensure you are maximizing your spend and getting the best out of your investment. DRIVETHRUCITY

Drive Thru Intercom Kit - Drive Thru Vehicle Detection - Food Truck Drive Thru Headset System - Drive Thru Food Truck Intercom Kit - Drive thru beverage business - Coffee stand - coffee shop - coffee trailer - how to

Electronic Product Design and Development Company. Electronics Manufacturing Services (EMS) Prototyping & Product Design Services For Industrial & Consumer Electronics. Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) Drive Thru Electronic Equipment - drive-thru communication equipment, drive-thru systems, drive-thru timers, drive-thru intercoms, vehicle detectors, sensors. Indoor Digital Menus. XMOD, LLC Authorized Dealer. UTAH, Nationwide. Manufacturer of parking control systems, automatic gate openers sensors. Drive Thru Headset Repair. Repair Shop. Food Truck Drive Thru Intercom Systems. Drive Thru Speakers. Drive Thru communication equipment. Brands: HME, 3M, PAR, Panasonic, NEXEO HDX, G5, Sony, OMRON, TI, NXP, Microchip, NXP. DRIVETHRUCITY - XMOD TEKS.

hme
headphone repair
drive xt
iq charger
headset repair shop near me
headset fix near me
sound system repair near me
drive in speaker
xt repairs
3m headphones
3m intercom
headset repair near me
g5 charger
ion headphones
drive thru headset systems for restaurants
restaurant earpieces
panasonic phone repair
panasonic headset
thru it all
mcdonalds headphones
eos hd
drive thru intercom kit for restaurants
hme headset
3m headset drive thru
refurbished battery
panasonic repair
3m headsets
basestations
drive through intercom
iq drive
restaurant drive thru equipment
3m headset
earbud repair shop
3m intercom system
drive thru motion sensors
hme repairs
headset ear pads
drive thru speaker
speaker posts
drive thru systems
drive thru intercom
headphones repair
drive thru system
3m g5 battery
restaurant headsets
drive thru equipment
headset parts
hd headset
used 3m xt 1 headset for sale
drive up equipment
hme metal sales
drive thru timers
iq portable charger
battery par
drive thru systems for restaurants
hme headset replacement parts
drive thru window repair
drive iq
drive through systems
3m speaker
3m headset repair
drive-thru systems
3m c1060 headset manual
hme customer service
all in one headset
battery pack belt
drive through intercom system
hme parts
battery belt
headset repair
iq headphones
refurbished headset
drive thru mic
drive thru audio
hme wireless
drive through speaker
ion wireless headphones
3m c1060
used drive thru equipment
iq battery charger
hd headsets
drive thru intercom kit
3m xt 1 headset
headset for restaurants
drive thru window parts
headset repairs near me
3m battery
hme headsets for sale
3m drive thru headset g5
3m g5 headset price
drive-thru menu board speaker
headset batteries
vehicle detectors
drive through microphone
hme 6000
drive through equipment
3m drive thru headset g5 manual
drive thru menu board speaker
hme odyssey headset
headset repair service
3m headphone
intercom system repair
headset repair shop
drive thru ordering speaker
servicing headset
xt1 battery
car detector
hme system
3m headsets for drive thru
drive-thru speaker
3m headphone replacement pads
headset inc
hme battery pack
g5 battery
xt 1
xt battery
post speaker
headset service
3m earphone
xt-1
hme battery
speaker post
3m g5 headset parts
iq wireless
panasonic headsets
foam earpads
headphone repairs
3m c1060 headset
repair headsets
hme headset pads
3m g5
drive up speaker system
drive accessories
headset panasonic
hs6200 headset
headsets for restaurants
3m replacement ear pads
hme zoom timer troubleshooting
drive thru microphone
repair headset
headset charger
hme headsets how to program
3m drive thru headset g5 for sale
refurbished headsets
hme wireless iq
3m speakers
battery belts
3m wireless headsets
drive thru microphone system
drivein speaker
3m batteries
earbud repair near me
3m headsets for drive thru manual
headset system
vehicle detector
3m headphones parts
panasonic phone system repair
best drive thru system
mcdonalds drive thru timer
drive speaker
hme mb300
3m g5 headset manual
hme hs6200 manual
drive thru window repair near me
headset services
hme loop detector
drive through speaker box
3m supply
hme microphone
headset systems
bat50 battery
headset part
3m wireless intercom system
headset charging station
hme kit
drive thru accessories
panasonic phone system repair service
xt batteries
headset repairs
qsr timer
wireless base stations
battery refurbished
hme ion iq
fast food headset price
hme drive thru support
how to program 3m headsets
hme wireless iq headset registration
mcdonald's drive-thru headset
xt1 accessories
drive thru loop installation
drive through speakers
wendy's headset
3m g5 headset system
drive repairs
3m drive thru headset troubleshooting
ion microphone replacement
refurbished system
hme wireless range
3m xt-1 base station
speed thru headsets
drive thru package
dr headset
3m charger
3m drive thru
headset chargers
base station power supply
drive thru installation
drive-thru installation
intercom system for drive thru
best drive thru timer system
3m earmuff replacement pads
zoom drive-thru
drivethru headset
dt headsets
Drive Up Equipment Repairs
drive-thru accessories
quick service timer
drive-thru loop detector
headsets for fast food restaurants
drive-thru system installation
drive-thru equipment
best drive-thru system
headset phone repair
drive thru installations
drive through system
drive-thru intercom kit for restaurants
eoss speakers
inc headset
i q drive
drive-thru window parts
drive through system cost
drive-thru microphone system
par drive thru
drive-thru speaker systems
6100 headset
base station repair
restaurant drive-thru systems
how do drive-thrus detect cars
panasonic phone system repair near me
drive thru intercom speaker
drive-thru installation
headset foams
drive-thru headset for sale
drive-thru timers
drive thru equipment store
drive thru system cost
a1060 battery
restaurant drive-thru systems
drive-thru mic
par drive-thru
charger headset
3m wireless headset
headsets repair
drive-up equipment
drive-thru intercom speaker
drive-thru system for restaurants
handsfree repair shop
restaurant drive thru system
base station with
drive thru hardware
drive thru machine
headset repair services
drive-thru microphone
top drive thru systems
drive-thru system
par drivethru
drive-thru window repair near me
drive-thru machine
drive thru systems communications
remote lane drive thru equipment
drive-thru speaker and headset
hme battery box
drive thru wireless systems
how to program hme headset
drive-thru installations
what headsets are used for drive thru service
kfc headsets
headset 3m
drive-thru system installation
g5 1 6
Food service drive-thru equipment
3m all in one
drive-thru ordering speaker
3m headset ear pads
drive in speaker for sale
kfc headsets
hme ion iq headset
drive-thru window installation near me
Drive up system
drive earphones
drive in stations
drive-thru vehicle detection system
drive-thru headsets price
service headset
drive thru speaker and headset
drive-thru timer system
drive-thru microphone system
speakers post
headset repair services
wireless drive-thru intercom system
wireless equipment repair
intercom systems for restaurants
parts for drive thru headsets
drive thru parts
drive microphone
drive thru speakers
3m systems
par headsets
hme ion headset
hme batteries
hme drive-thru support
drive batteries
drive thru headset png
headset refurbished
3m par
drive-thru system for sale
hme wireless inc