Starbucks has introduced a pick-up service in China called Starbucks Curbside, where customers can order a coffee while driving and be guided to the nearest store to collect it from the curb.

The service, which was built in collaboration with Amap, a producer of digital map content, provides users in Beijing and Shanghai with a customised, hassle-free method to enjoy their coffee during rush hour traffic.

Starbucks says the service – inspired by consumer feedback – is currently available in 150 stores in Beijing and Shanghai, with plans to expand to more than 1000 locations throughout China over the next year.

“We have created a revolutionary new retail channel, offering customers elevated convenience enabled by Amap’s precise geographical positioning and time estimation technologies,” said Judy Zhang, VP of digital ventures at Starbucks China. 

 To use the service, customers enter their destination in Amap, and then click on the Starbucks Curbside symbol to order their drink. Using real-time route planning and location-monitoring technologies, the system identifies and directs the driver to the most convenient cafe along the route. The technology predicts when consumers will arrive at designated pick-up spots and calculates the best time for Starbucks staff to brew and deliver the beverages.

When a customer arrives at the specified pick-up area, all they have to do is roll down their car window to pick up their orders without having to get out of their car. 

In another innovation, Starbucks last month unveiled a new product, Oleato, in Italy – an olive-oil-infused coffee range, which the company describes as “revolutionary”.