Hy-Vee Grocery Curbside Pickup Kiosk

Key Challenges: How to Improve the Customer Experience and Boost Efficiency

During the COVID-19 pandemic, ecommerce business saw a significant increase, and online grocery store shopping was no exception. Hy-Vee’s stores were not designed to accommodate such a rapid increase in pick up or delivery, and they needed more adequate storage to prepare for online shoppers.

To improve efficiency, Hy-Vee wanted to be able to prepare online orders a couple of hours before the designated pickup or delivery time. Similarly, they wanted to streamline the pickup process by creating a hub away from the store entrance so customers could quickly and easily access their pickup orders.

The Solution: Smooth Site Set-up and A Double-Wide Container Structure

Working with Falcon Structures, Hy-Vee received a fleet of 40-foot, double-wide shipping containers that were placed in the parking lots of various stores throughout its eight-state region. The units were modified by Falcon to include wall insulation, air conditioning, personnel doors, and lighting. The kiosk set-up crew found the Falcon unit installation to be simple and quick due to time-saving modifications such as simple electrical connections and easy-to-install ridge-caps, which connect the roofs of the two containers. The simplicity of the installation helped eliminate anticipated labor costs for Hy-Vee – getting the units online more easily than expected.

Ultimately, the curbside pickup experience drastically improved once the container structures were in use. Eight drive-up lanes directly across from the kiosk increased efficiency and the units continue to alleviate parking lot traffic. Each store location was thrilled to receive the container structure because it equipped each store to handle the increased pickup volume, and in some locations, it replaced a rental unit – creating a more professional brand experience. Hy-Vee feels confident that as future challenges arise, its e-commerce capacity will continue to operate smoothly.