Panera Bread loyalty members can now ask Alexa to order lunch.
The fast-casual chain said Wednesday that MyPanera members can order hands-free via Alexa on Echo Show devices.
First they have to store a payment method with the Echo Show account, and, if ordering delivery, their address in their MyPanera account. Then, all they need to do is ask Alexa to order whatever they like off the menu for pickup or delivery.
Panera officials said they worked with Amazon to enable Alexa to learn the menu. Guests can customize their meal or make substitutions, or track delivery. They can also use the method to order beverages through the Unlimited Sip Club subscription program, but they cannot redeem MyPanera rewards using Alexa.
“While our guests love the Panera app, we know there are times where it’s just more convenient to be hands-free and order by voice, and we are thrilled to work with Amazon to design and offer another convenient way to order Panera,” said George Hanson, Panera’s chief digital officer, in a statement. “We’re continuing to push the boundaries of what we can do to make our MyPanera members’ lives easier, and we’re just at the beginning of what is possible in the world of conversational commerce.”
Last week Panera became the first restaurant chain to test allowing loyalty members to sign in and pay using the Amazon One system, which can read the unique signature of the palm of your hand.
Alexa has the skills to order from a number of restaurant chains, including Domino’s, Chipotle and delivery marketplaces like Grubhub.
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