Houston restaurateur John Carlew has seen many changes in the food service industry during his 37 years in the business. Now, Carlew aims to shake up the local restaurant scene with new technology that turns any restaurant into a drive-thru restaurant – and does so with zero construction costs.
Carlew and entrepreneur Chris Spradlin today launched an Indiegogo campaign for their DRIVE-THRU On Demand mobile app. The pair plans to revolutionize food service by providing convenience, quality food options and personal safety to consumers, while enhancing the bottom line for their restaurant partners.
“We designed DRIVE-THRU On Demand to address the needs of both consumers and restaurants,” said Carlew. “Consumers no longer have to choose between taste, health or convenience, and locally owned restaurants will be able to compete with the national brands on a much larger scale.”
Carlew has played an integral role in opening nearly 200 national restaurants such as Chick-fil-A, Quiznos and Cicis, and now champions locally owned restaurants by helping them compete more aggressively with national chains for a piece of the multi-billion dollar drive-thru industry. The app is being debuted in Houston, Carlew’s hometown, because the city is a hub of innovation in the food and dining industry.
In just a few months, Carlew and Spradlin have raised nearly $300,000 to fund DRIVE-THRU On Demand. With the app at 95% completion, DRIVE-THRU On Demand is now seeking support to launch in the Houston market area this year by tapping into the crowdfunding and user participation that can be generated by Indiegogo.
Once it is launched, the free DRIVE-THRU On Demand app will centralize the ordering, payment and pick-up processes for all partner restaurants in one platform. In-app alert systems will allow consumers to pick up freshly prepared food without waiting in line, parking or getting out of their cars and for only a $1.79 convenience fee regardless of the size of the order.
“The concept is best explained like this,” Carlew said. “A busy mother wants a healthy option for her family, but has neither the time nor energy for their favorite sit-down restaurant. She uses DRIVE-THRU On Demand to order and pay on her phone and is notified when the order is ready through in-app notifications. By tapping the ‘I’m here’ button in the app, the restaurant is alerted of her arrival and the food is brought out to her car. She now has a fresh, quality meal without ever getting herself or her children out of the car.”
As it stands now, typically only large chains can afford the technology to compete in today’s restaurant marketplace. DRIVE-THRU On Demand’s patent-pending technology levels the playing field for local restaurants and is the first technological mechanism to compete in the drive-thru industry by making drive-thru convenience possible for any restaurant of any size and with far superior in-app notification, alert and payment systems. Moreover, the app also provides a safer alternative for consumers who feel insecure about home-delivery by a stranger, or are unsatisfied with the typical quality and order accuracy of drive-thru and delivery food.
The app’s Indiegogo campaign offers perks for customer participation including social media and commercial recognition, early-app access, profit percentages and paybacks. The campaign runs from today until August 20, 2017 and campaign participants are also invited to cast their votes at www.drivethruondemand.com to nominate their favorite restaurants for the DRIVE-THRU On Demand app.
Carlew stressed that DRIVE-THRU On Demand IS NOT A FOOD DELIVERY APP, many of which include costly fees to consumers to have food delivered by strangers to consumers’ private homes.
“DRIVE-THRU On Demand gives consumers access to all of their favorite restaurants within one app,” said Carlew, “and unlike delivery services and apps, quality and customer service stay in the restaurant’s hands.”
The app also allows restaurants to reap the benefits of having a drive-thru, without incurring the excessive costs of construction and personnel needed to provide that service.
“Technology and customer convenience are redefining the traditional restaurant experience,” said Spradlin. “Our app combines these elements, giving consumers the convenience they demand without sacrificing the quality meals they want. DRIVE-THRU On Demand makes every restaurant a drive-thru restaurant.”
Join DRIVE-THRU On Demand’s Indiegogo campaign and nominate restaurants for the app at Indiegogo Link. More information also is available at DRIVE-THRU On Demand’s website, www.drivethruondemand.com and social media channels, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
