Forward: My assertion is that the proposed app should be owned by the government, as it will form a natural monopoly. If it is successful, and it probably would be, then private ownership would achieve nothing but the syphoning-off of millions of dollars, and for what is really just a commonsense application.
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The idea is similar to Uber Eats. It's a template that literally all New Zealand eateries can use to sell their products online, with great efficiency.
From the user end, the app will provide the following options:
1. Eat in.
2. Delivery.
3. Pick up.
4. Drive through.
5. Drive up.
Drive up:
The first 4 are self-explanatory, but the drive-up option is new.
The idea is that the customer has their food dropped off to them directly, in their car, which is parked close by - most typically on the side of the road.
Using this option, the customer inputs their car type and registration within the app, and alerts the eatery of their approximate arrival time. For example, they may input "15 minutes" at the point that they start driving to the eatery from work. When they arrive at the eatery, they then hit the "here" icon.
The GPS signal will tell the eatery approximately where the car is. The service person will then run out and drop the food to you while you stay in your car. (They might charge say an extra $1 for their ~50 metre scooter ride)
Each eatery can set their own rates for drive-up's, deliveries and eat-in, etc. It's totally flexible.
Eat in:
Using QR codes, a customer will be able to sit at a table, scan the QR code of the specific table they're seated at, and then make their order via the app from there. The eatery in turn knows exactly what table to drop the food off to. That's efficient of course, and it's good for the customer as there's no need to wait in a standing queue to order, which can be tedious.
By making Kiwi-Kai a standardised app that any eatery can use, and ideally for free (again it should be a government service), even the smallest operations can enjoy the efficiencies provided by the app.
Covid-19:
Needless to say, the proposed Kiwi-Kai app offers another critical advantage, right now. It makes it easier to operate an eatery in spite of lockdowns, which could otherwise be commercially devastating.
If people can have their order dropped off to their cars at level-3 lockdown, then that would be invaluable for optimising quarantining and protecting consumer demand.
Extension:
There's no reason why the Kiwi-Kai app cannot expand to retail products. Logically it would. This again is why we want to think about making the app a public utility. We don't want to pointlessly give that money away to the next Jeff Bezos.
Development:
I would recommend the government head-hunts for an individual with a track record in successfully developing software in the private sector, and then commissioning them to organise the development of the app. Use someone practical to develop the user-interface. The focus should be 100% ease-of-use and standardisation. The Kiwi-Kai app should be built as a transaction facility - not an advertising platform.
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Further thinking......
Tipping:
A tipping option could also be organised within the app, so customers can tip a specific person in exchange for excellent service, and without any fuss. Tips should not be taxed or recognised as earnings by the government (just like cash tipping). This initiative would probably work wonders for improving customer service in New Zealand.
Flexible pricing:
Prices can be changed instantly via the app. This is a great way for eateries to offer clearance deals and reduce waste. Again, it's similar to Uber taxi's. Prices can also be higher for eat-in ahead of take-away options, as take-away does not require the provision of premises.
Note also, people can search for discount locations, and/or agree to receiving alerts from eateries offering clearance deals, and the search/alert function can be linked to GPS boundaries so to be particularity efficient.
Webcam view:
If people want to eat out, but do not want to eat in a crowded restaurant or cafe', then they can see a real-time webcam view of a given restaurant. This function can be directly integrated with the app.
Customer accountability:
The app could also provide a customer feedback function, so eateries win the reputations they deserve, positive and negative, and receive the feedback they need.
GPS-based delivery:
The app can also facilitate GPS-based delivery. For example, if a group of friends on a beach want to order a meal, the meal can be brought to them directly, on the beach.
Multi-point ordering:
A group of people all want to go to the café and pre-order their meal on the phone. How tedious, slow and confusing if you're the guy taking all the orders...
A better option, is for the app to generate an on-screen QR-code that allows other phones to instantly link to the same master order point, so everyone can take care of their own order at the same time. I'm sure this would be loved by groups.
Food transparency:
It would be ideal to allow eateries to include access to ingredients lists, for every food option. This could be presented as a text script or a short video, so people can see exactly what they are eating.
This kind of transparency would have the effect of driving a demand-bias for more healthy food, as eateries that create taste with less sugar, fat and salt, will naturally be favoured, other things being equal.
Far reaching impact of the app:
The 'killer app' within the app is the drive-up option, as it represents the most timely and painless way to collect a meal, other than home delivery.
I predict the app would spawn the creation of supermarket-sized kitchen complexes, typically built on cheap land to the side of commuter highways, that provide for drive-up collection only.
Due to the then achievable economies-of-scale with large operations; fast food product throughput (always fresh food); and comprehensive quality control, we could expect the provided meals to be both economical and high quality - compounding demand. Large scale facilities like this could reduce home-cooking to hobby status.
The future (robotics):
When people order prescription glasses online, all they do on the website is punch in their prescription and that alone programmes a computer in America to robotically cut and shape their glasses. The result is perfect prescription-glasses posted to them for about $20 and within a few days. The entire process is automated - ultimate streamlining.
By ordering food on a Kiwi-Kai app we can, over time, do the same thing (in part) with food. Your order can directly programme a robotic coffee machine (they exist) or an automated pizza production line, etc. The result is reduced costs, and more detailed and even exact customisation. The app will of course retain your personal recipes (that are of course saved in the app).
Superior management for eateries:
The system allows precise demand and cost graphs to be viewed over time, for different items sold, making it easier for eateries to engineer their menu to better match changing demands, and for better pricing. In fact the app can automatically alert eateries on their menus, for where they might want to review things. It can literally tell them, directly, how to make the best profit.
Driverless delivery:
A road-worthy driverless "chilly bin" is inevitable, and hopefully only a couple of years away. These micro-cars will make home delivery much more affordable and timely. The Kiwi-Kai app would seamlessly integrate with this technology and reinforce its utility.
Micro-cars will also drive new demand for hiring infrequently used products, as opposed buying. The Kiwi-Kai app can accommodate hiring along with other retail.
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