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I mentioned this in another topic, but grocery shopping. The entire process seems inefficient. New idea... You place an order online or on your mobile phone wh

I mentioned this in another topic, but grocery shopping. The entire process seems inefficient. New idea... You place an order online or on your mobile phone while you're at work, or on the bus. After you decide on your order, the app generates a unique code. The grocery store is now replaced with an automated warehouse, with pickup or drive-through windows. You walk up to a window, scan your unique code that was generated earlier, swipe your credit card to confirm, and the warehouse automatically picks your items and out they come in bags. You toss them in your trunk if it's a drive-through, or just carry them away if these are city center stores. Optionally, the store could have a little room to pick your own fruit and veggies, in case you prefer to see them. This makes the whole process a lot more flexible. You could even remove the concept of placing orders and generating codes, and instead have a grocery store account for your household. For example, you ask your son to pick the groceries down the street. After he leaves, you realize you want some curry powder. You just click a button on your phone to add curry powder to the online list, and that's it. Your son doesn't even need to know, he just shows up at the window, scans your family card or enters a password, and out comes your groceries, including the newly added curry powder. After he gets the groceries, the online list clears.

workhere-io 13y ago
Or even better, you could order your food in a mobile app (or on a website), and the supermarket would deliver to your home later at a time you choose, e.g. between 4 and 5 PM. Several supermarkets such as http://www.nemlig.com/ http://www.nemlig.com/ do this in Denmark for a delivery price of just $3.5.
- GFischer 13y ago
  I agree, we actually sketched a very similar process (and a business model canvas) with some friends during a brainstorming idea :) . One particularly promising idea was combining internet orders, with a pick-up place like BufferBox. We also added some ideas to our canvas that were more specific to my country, but it's definitely viable and among my favourite things I'd do if I was able to do a startup. I hope someone is able to do it. https://www.bufferbox.com/ https://www.bufferbox.com/ Edit: swapbox too, it seems bufferbox is winding down which is sad. https://www.swapbox.com/ https://www.swapbox.com/ I don't see if those offer refrigerated holding. I think a similar service, specializing in foodstuffs, has a niche.
- natdempk 13y ago
  This exists for certain stores/markets in the US. Its called Peapod and is available for Ahold subsidiaries. (mainly Stop and Shop) The problem with it is their interface/website is terrible and I would rather not get my groceries from Stop and Shop, so if you could provide this for arbitrary stores that would be awesome. I know other startups have tried in this area since the dot-com boom. (the semi-infamous Webvan) Currently it seems like Instacart is the lead contender in this area. I haven't tried them, but it looks like they just came to my area recently, so I might in the future.
- anywherenotes 13y ago
  Shop Rite delivers: http://www.shoprite.com/srfh_delivery/ http://www.shoprite.com/srfh_delivery/ I'm pretty sure we ordered once from there, and I don't see that store listed here.

workhere-io 13y ago

Or even better, you could order your food in a mobile app (or on a website), and the supermarket would deliver to your home later at a time you choose, e.g. between 4 and 5 PM. Several supermarkets such as http://www.nemlig.com/ http://www.nemlig.com/ do this in Denmark for a delivery price of just $3.5.

GFischer 13y ago
I agree, we actually sketched a very similar process (and a business model canvas) with some friends during a brainstorming idea :) . One particularly promising idea was combining internet orders, with a pick-up place like BufferBox. We also added some ideas to our canvas that were more specific to my country, but it's definitely viable and among my favourite things I'd do if I was able to do a startup. I hope someone is able to do it. https://www.bufferbox.com/ https://www.bufferbox.com/ Edit: swapbox too, it seems bufferbox is winding down which is sad. https://www.swapbox.com/ https://www.swapbox.com/ I don't see if those offer refrigerated holding. I think a similar service, specializing in foodstuffs, has a niche.
natdempk 13y ago
This exists for certain stores/markets in the US. Its called Peapod and is available for Ahold subsidiaries. (mainly Stop and Shop) The problem with it is their interface/website is terrible and I would rather not get my groceries from Stop and Shop, so if you could provide this for arbitrary stores that would be awesome. I know other startups have tried in this area since the dot-com boom. (the semi-infamous Webvan) Currently it seems like Instacart is the lead contender in this area. I haven't tried them, but it looks like they just came to my area recently, so I might in the future.
anywherenotes 13y ago
Shop Rite delivers: http://www.shoprite.com/srfh_delivery/ http://www.shoprite.com/srfh_delivery/ I'm pretty sure we ordered once from there, and I don't see that store listed here.