Deals on Wheels for Autonomous, Self-Driving Cars & Robotaxis - Shop n Ride CEO Gary Goralnick

When there are autonomous cars and robotaxis on the road, what will people be doing when they are not driving? Shop n Ride CEO, Gary Goralnick, has been thinking about how he can help local retailers influence riders in self-driving vehicles since 2014. Shop n Ride is a patented platform for turning autonomous cars into profit centres on wheels.

Goralnick owns shopping centres in Southern California.

"Years ago, I heard some things about self-driving, when they were just talking about it. So I came up with the idea that to help brick-and-mortar stores or shopping centres. You could order from within the car, and then the car would take you there. I envisioned that if you are looking for a product, you could enter the product. Then while riding, prices come out at you. Then you could purchase it. The car can take you to it at that time or later," says Goralnick.

While some are expecting autonomous cars to offer entertainment, Goralnick sees people wanting to do life tasks in the vehicle.

"It is about their real life-not just entertainment, but things they need and things that they can potentially want from within the car," he says.

He explains Shop n Ride this way. While in the vehicle, there is something you want to buy. You put in the product name. The screen will show offers from local businesses or advertising for the product.

With a few swipes, a product such as coffee is ordered and purchased. Then the car drives to the retailer. The retailer can either offer curbside pickup or in-store pickup. The software works either on the vehicle screen or the rider's smartphone. He notes that the screen is more comfortable and convenient in the car.

"It is so great to have a big screen at your fingertips. It is like being at home. You would rather use your big screen for ordering than your phone."

The retailers are offered software for ordering. The software notifies them when the vehicle is expected and when it is coming to pick up the purchase.

He says when robotaxis are deployed Shop n Ride could be more convenient then Grubhub or Uber Eats, "because you really do not need them in the middle. Shop n Ride takes a small fee rather than taking a big charge, which is really hurting restaurants at the moment."

Goralnick says he is talking to a quick-serve franchised restaurant chain.

"They are excited about it and see a future in it." 

Levelling The Playing Field

Shop n Drive will serve independent businesses and also connect to social media. For example, he says, someone on Facebook Marketplace, eBay, or Craigslist is selling a table, the item is shown in the Shop n Ride app and the rider is taken to the seller.

He wants to support independent retailers. He says Shop n Ride helps level the playing field. It gives retailers a chance to put their products in front of people when people ask for that type of product.

Goralnick says he is open to white-label licensing of the software for automakers or robotaxi providers to help them differentiate their self-driving cars.

"Shop n Ride is like a riding in a billboard that takes you there," explains Goralnick. "Which is better than roadside billboards by the time you get someplace, you forget about them."

Road-Ready Software

Along with purchasing food or products, the platform offers advertising. The advertising component can generate revenue for robotaxi and automotive companies. Ads could advertise sales, special events, local restaurants, hair salons, gyms, entertainment or services.

"Over time, the car companies can make ongoing revenue rather than just selling a car. This is what they all dream about. With the Shop n Ride app store advertising, they can make ongoing revenue," says Goralnick.

In future versions of Shop n' Ride, Goralnick imagines that Shop n Ride can schedule items for the car to pick up without a rider in the car. Today, the software is ready for the road.

"We have the software right now and are ready for customers - It is amazing how it all works," he says.