REDWOOD CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Presto, a leading provider of restaurant labor productivity technologies, today announced a partnership with technology startup Ottonomy, allowing Presto customers to utilize autonomous delivery vehicles for contactless curbside and parking lot deliveries. Guests can order and pay using Presto’s touch or voice products and receive food delivered via Ottonomy’s vehicles. The partnership reflects Presto’s commitment to finding innovative solutions to the labor shortage challenge being faced by the restaurant industry.
Curbside orders have seen a significant increase in volume over the past few years. However, the rise in digital sales has also created significant operational and financial challenges for restaurant management, especially against the backdrop of the ongoing labor shortage. According to a recent study, 50% of restaurant operators are planning to deploy automation technology to 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.”
Ottonomy’s autonomous delivery vehicles will allow Presto customers to deliver food items to guests at the curbside, parking lot, and beyond. Ottonomy’s proprietary technology helps its delivery vehicles navigate seamlessly in both indoor and outdoor environments using 3D Lidar and multiple-camera mapping with no human assistance. Decentralized vehicle-to-vehicle communication with situational awareness allows the delivery vehicles to navigate crowded environments, making them one of the most advanced solutions available in the industry today.
“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.”
On November 10, 2021, Presto announced the execution of a definitive merger agreement with Ventoux CCM Acquisition Corp. (NASDAQ: VTAQ), a publicly traded special purpose acquisition company (“Ventoux”), that will result in Presto becoming a publicly listed company. Upon closing, the combined company (the “Company”) will be renamed Presto Technologies, Inc. and expects to trade on Nasdaq.
For more information on this partnership, visit presto.com/autonomous-vehicle. To schedule a demo or learn more about Presto’s products, please contact mktg@presto.com or visit presto.com.
About Presto
Presto overlays next-gen digital solutions onto the physical world. Our enterprise-grade touch, vision, and voice technologies help hospitality businesses thrive while delighting guests. With over 250,000 systems shipped, we are one of the largest labor automation technology providers in the industry. Founded at M.I.T. in 2008, Presto is headquartered in Silicon Valley, Calif. with customers including many of the top 20 restaurant chains in the U.S.
About Ottonomy
Ottonomy is a U.S. startup providing contactless deliveries using fully autonomous robots. Its primary focus is on helping retailers and restaurants automate indoor and outdoor contactless deliveries. The co-founding team has widespread experience in autonomous cars and warehousing robots. Ottonomy was recognized as among the top 50 robotics companies worldwide in 2021 by Robotics Business Review and has won the Mobility Startup Award given by Plug & Play Accelerator and the Sustainability Product of the Year Award given by the Business Intelligence Group. The company is backed by Connetic Ventures and angel investors. For more information on Ottonomy, please visit ottonomy.io.