UAE’s Talabat, GrubTech partner to debut 3D printed smart locker systems for Expo 2020

GrubTech, a platform for restaurants and cloud kitchens partnered with UAE’s delivery platform Talabat to launch the first 3D printed smart locker system.

The Smart 3D locker system provides talabat’s customers with a contactless pick up option across Expo 2020 pavilions. It will also help restaurants and businesses address operational challenges, and help them improve their operations.

Customers will be able to place their order on the talabat’s application and be notified when their order is ready for pickup from the assigned locker. Once at the locker, the customer will scan their unique in-app QR code for automatic unlocking.

The GrubTech’s system is manufactured by the UAE-based 3D printing bureau, Immensa Technology Labs. All lockers are installed with a printed proprietary circuit board, a technology designed and developed by GrubTech that mechanically supports and electrically connects with any device, allowing organisations to control and monitor all lockers remotely. Smart lockers will be positioned at the talabat pavilion at Expo for a convenient order pick-up experience.

“The Smart 3D Locker System is a result of the progressive thinking of talabat, in combination with GrubTech’s cutting edge technology and the advanced digital engineering of Immensa. We are seeing much more innovation coming from the region.” said Fahmi AlShawwa, CEO Immensa.

Mohamed Hamedi, chief technology officer at GrubTech, commented: “One of the key challenges faced by restaurant operators is the labour-intensive pickup process for any off-premise orders. The integrated technology enables organisations to follow the process and optimise costs via digital access management, live monitoring and data analysis. GrubTech’s smart locker system can help restaurant operators or retailers streamline the pickup of all orders received. Operators can also improve and refine internal processes and systems by analysing the data collected from the smart locker dystem,” added Hamedi.

Jeremy Doutte, vice president UAE at talabat, said: “As talabat continues to grow, innovation and technology remain key areas we are constantly striving to improve across all our business operations. Expo 2020 opened up a world of opportunities, enabling us to explore new ways to deliver food to millions of expected visitors as the official food delivery provider.”

“By working closely with tech partners such as GrubTech, we are able to introduce different modes of delivery while having full control and visibility on the end-to-end order journey. Customers will be able to pick up their orders from smart lockers at Expo for the first time, a solution that could potentially be implemented even outside of Expo in the future.”

Expo 2020 Dubai is scheduled to launch on October 1, 2021 and will run for 182 days, until March 31, 2022.