Domino's and Nuro are exploring the future of autonomous pizza delivery with R2, a custom on-road vehicle that's launching in Houston. As of this week, customers who place prepaid orders online, during select days and times, will get their pizza delivered from Domino's in Woodland Heights via Nuro's R2 robot. Unlike many last-mile solutions that operate on sidewalks, this autonomous and occupantless delivery vehicle is capable of being on the road and it boasts regulatory approval by the US Department of Transportation.
After their order has been placed and paid for, customers will be able to get text alerts notifying them of R2's precise location, plus a unique PIN for securely retrieving their order. With this program, Domino's hopes to "better understand how customers respond to the deliveries, how they interact with the robot and how it affects store operations."
On-Road Delivery Robots
Domino's and Nuro Launched an Autonomous Pizza Delivery Solution
Trend Themes
1. Autonomous On-road Delivery - The trend of on-road delivery robots with regulatory approval is disrupting last-mile delivery and means potential cost savings for businesses in the long term.
2. Occupantless Delivery Vehicles - The trend of occupantless delivery vehicles is creating opportunities for companies to cut delivery costs and explore new business models.
3. Custom Delivery Solutions - The trend of custom and branded delivery solutions is expanding opportunities for companies to provide unique and tailored experiences for their customers.
Industry Implications
1. Food Industry - On-road delivery robots have disruptive innovation potential for the food industry by increasing delivery efficiency and addressing the labor shortage in the industry.
2. Logistics Industry - The logistics industry can benefit from on-road delivery robots by reducing delivery costs and increasing delivery speed and accuracy.
3. Retail Industry - The retail industry can leverage on-road delivery robots to provide more convenient and personalized delivery experiences for their customers.