Presto, Ottonomy Team Up to Offer Autonomous Delivery for Curbside Orders
December 7, 2021
Presto, which develops productivity technologies for restaurants, has announced a partnership with Ottonomy that would allow Presto customers to use autonomous delivery vehicles for contactless curbside and parking lot deliveries. Guests will be able to order and pay using Presto’s touch or voice products, and receive food delivered by an Ottonomy vehicle. The partnership reflects a commitment to finding innovative solutions to address restaurant labor shortages, Presto said.
Over the past few years, curbside orders have seen a significant increase in volume, yet this has created operational and financial challenges for restaurant management, especially against a backdrop of an ongoing labor shortage. A recent study showed that 50% of restaurant operators are planning to deploy automation technologies to help fill labor gaps.
“The ongoing labor shortage is preventing restaurants from maximizing the revenue potential of digital channels,” said Rajat Suri, founder and CEO of Presto. “Restaurants often partner with third-party delivery channels, which can have a significant impact on net margin. In partnership with Ottonomy, we can enable restaurants to become more agile in managing staff deployments and associated costs.”
The Ottonomy delivery vehicles allow Presto’s customers to deliver food items to guests at the curbside, parking lot, or beyond. The technology allows delivery vehicles to navigate in both indoor and outdoor environments, through the use of 3D lidar and multiple-camera mapping, with no human assistance. Decentralized vehicle-to-vehicle communication with situational awareness allows the vehicles to navigate crowded environments, the company said.
“At Ottonomy, we are committed to bringing anytime, anywhere deliveries to the restaurant industry,” said Ritukar Vijay, CEO of Ottonomy. “Combined with Presto’s exciting offerings in conversational AI, computer vision, and integrated touch, this partnership can enable restaurants to boost their efficiency and serve guests with greater efficiency.”
For more details on the partnership, visit this website.
